USA > New York > Oneida County > History of Oneida County, New York : from 1700 to the present time, Volume II > Part 21
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59
Reared at home Roswell Lee Fairbank acquired his education in the public schools and the Academy of the Deanville Educational Association. After leaving school Mr. Fairbank taught in the winter and worked at the cabinet- makers trade until 1887. when he came to Utica and entered the employ of Charles C. Kellogg. During the first year he held the position of cabinet maker and assistant superintendent, but from 1888 until 1891 he manufactured on contract for the company. Hle subsequently became superintendent over the manufacturing end of the business and he is now superintendent and estimator.
At the village of Deanville, in 1874, occurred the marriage of Mr. Fairbank and Miss Emma J. Young, who is deceased, a daughter of George A. and Adeline ( Miller) Young. One son, Dr. Stuart J. Fairbank. was born to them. In 1892 Mr. Fairbank was again married, his present wife formerly being Miss Fannie Alice Waite, a daughter of the Rev. Hiram H. and Sally ( Randall) Waite.
Mr. and Mrs. Fairbank are affiliated with Plymouth Congregational church, of which he has been a trustee for about eight years, while he accords his poli- tical allegiance to the republican party in state and national elections, but casts an independent ballot for municipal offices. During the long period of his residence in Utiea Mr. Fairbank has made many friends, who accord him their regard.
CHARLES EDWIN SMITH. M. D.
Dr. Charles Edwin Smith, is one of the oldest, if not the oldest, medical practitioner in the state of New York, still devoting his time and energies to professional duties although he has passed the seventy-fourth milestone on life's journey. Ile makes his home in Whitesboro, where he was born on the 22d of
229
HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY
March, 1837, his parents being Edwin and Helen (Burns) Smith. The father, who was one of the earliest settlers of Whitesboro, came from Connecticut to the Empire state and here passed away in 1885, having reached a venerable age.
Dr. Smith was one of a family of three children. After completing his lit- erary education in the Whitestown Seminary he entered the Albany Medical College, from which he was graduated in 1858. IIe then returned to Whites- boro, where he has practiced medicine continuously since, covering a period of fifty-three years. In all this time he has kept abreast with the leaders of the profession in his knowledge of those truths which science and experience have brought forth. He has read broadly and is thoroughly conversant with the work of the most progressive members of the profession. That his judgment has sought out practical methods is shown in the excellent results which have followed his labors and that he has ever enjoyed the respect and confidence of his fellow practitioners is indicated in the fact that he has been elected to the presidency of the Oneida County Medical Society and has been sent as a dele- gate to the State Medical Society. He was formerly a member of the staff of St. Luke's Hospital for a number of years and throughout the period of his residence here has enjoyed a large general practice, to the interests of which he is most loyal, holding at all times to a high standard of professional service.
Dr. Smith has been married twice. He wedded a Miss Marchisi and to them was born a child, who, like the mother, has passed away. For his second wife Dr. Smith chose Anna Louise Malsan, a daughter of Henry Malsan, of Whites- town. There are three living children of this marriage: Bertha B., the wife of Bernard D. Foster, of Utica, New York; Claude S., of Whitesboro; and Adrian S. Malsan, also of Utica.
Dr. Smith is a member of Faxton Lodge, No. 697, A. F. & A. M .; Oneida Chapter, No. 57, R. A. M .; Utiea Commandery, No. 3, K. T .; and Ziyara Temple of the Mystic Shrine, having thus attained high rank in Masonry. IIis po- litical allegiance has always been given to the republican party and for a period of twenty years he served as postmaster of Whitesboro, while for many years he was also health officer for the town of Whitestown. He has a wide ac- quaintance in his part of the county and wherever known is tendered the high regard and good will which are ever accorded in recognition of genuine personal worth.
VARNEY BERNARD IIAMLIN, M. D.
Fifteen years ago Dr. Varney Bernard Hamlin first became affiliated with the medical fraternity of Clinton. During that period he has established a place for himself, and has become recognized as one of the thoroughly reliable and efficient physicians of the village. He is a native of Oneida county, hav- ing been born in Oriskany Falls on the 3d of December. 1869. HIe is a son of Dr. Charles W. and Dora A. (Varney) Hamlin, the father a native of Oneida and the mother of Herkimer county. Dr. Charles W. Hamlin, who for twenty-
230
HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY
seven years was engaged in the practice of medicine in Middleville, Herkimer county, this state, was a direct descendant of Giles Hamlin who emigrated from England to the colonies in 1650, while Dr. Hamlin's father, Joseph S. Ham- lin settled in this county in 1810.
Reared in the parental home Varney Bernard Hamlin obtained his ele- mentary education in the public schools, after the completion of which he was sent to the military school at Tivoli on the Hudson to complete his academic studies. Having derided long previously that he would adopt the profession of his father for his life vocation Dr. Hamlin matrienlated at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, which is affiliated with Columbia University of New York city, from which institution he was awarded the degree of doctor of medicine with the class of 1893. Following his graduation he served as interne in a New York hospital for one year and came to Clinton, where he established an office and engaged in practicing. In the choice of a profession Dr. Hamlin very happily selected the one for which he unquestionably was best adapted, possessing the mental qualification as well as the personality and pleasing man- ner so essential to success in this vocation.
Dr. Hamlin was married on the 27th of March, 1894, in New York city to Miss Alma Donaldson Hoffman who is a native of that city as were her parents, Frank and Margaret ( Donaldson) Hoffman. Two children have been born to them, a son and a daughter, Charles Hoffman and Anna Gertrude.
The religious affiliation of the family is with the Episcopal denomination of which Dr. and Mrs. Hamlin are communicants. ITis fraternal relations are confined to his membership in the Masonic fraternity, his local identification being with Clinton Lodge, No. 169, A. F. & A. M. He also belongs to the Sken- andoah Club, while he maintains relations with his fellow practitioners through the medium of the Oneida County Medieal Society and the New York State Medical Society, in both of which he holds membership. In politics a republi- can Dr. Hamlin always casts his ballot for the candidates of that body. he takes an active interest in all municipal affairs, particularly those of a govern- mental nature, and has served as trustee of the village. A man of broad gen- eral culture and scholarly instincts Dr. Hamlin is one of the progressive repre- sentatives of his profession. the standards of which he is constantly striving to uplift.
WILLIAM KERNAN.
For a period of fifty-Four years William Kernan has been identified with the legal profession of Utica. Of Irish extraction Mr. Kernan was born in the town of Tyrone. Steuben county, New York, in September. 1831. and is a son of William and Rose A. (Stubbs) Kernan, natives of the Emerald isle. Will- iam Kernan, Sr., emigrated from there in his early manhood. arriving in the United States in 1801. Two years thereafter he removed to the said town of Tyrone where he subsequently met and married Miss Stubbs, who eame with her family from Dublin to the United States in 1806. The young people be-
231
IHISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY
gan their domestie life in the town of Tyrone where Mr. Kernan engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1857, in which year the family eame to Utiea. Here Mrs. Kernan passed away in 1862, Mr. Kernan surviving until 1870, his demise occurring in the month of Mareh.
The boyhood and early youth of William were spent upon the farm in Ty- rone, in whose common schools he acquired his elementary education. Having decided to adopt the profession of law for his life vocation, after the comple- tion of his education in the public and private schools of Utica, he entered the office of his brother Francis, where he studied legal principles until 1857, at which time he was admitted to the bar. After acquiring his license he began practicing in the office where he had studied, being admitted as junior partner in the firm of Kernan, Quin & Kernan.
In 1862 Mr. Kernan was united in marriage to Miss Franees Warnick, a daughter of Leslie A. Warnick of this city, and they became the parents of seven children, four of whom are living: Ellen W .; Edward F .; James S .; and Warnick J., who is associated with his father in the practice of the law.
The family are all communicants of the Roman Catholic church, belonging to St. John's parish, of which church Mr. Kernan is one of the trustees, and he is also a trustee of the St. Agnes cemetery and of the St. Vincent Industrial School. His political support he accords the democratic party, but he has always been too deeply absorbed in his profession to actively participate in civic affairs, although he served as school commissioner for three or four terms. He is a trustee of the Utica Savings bank, which official position he has held for many years, and he is also a member of the Fort Schuyler Club. Despite the fact of his eighty years, Mr. Kernan still maintains his relations with the professional world, among whose members in Utica he is accorded the esteem and respect ever due to one of his years, who has led an upright and honorable life.
FRANK C. OGDEN.
Among the substantial citizens of Utica is Frank C. Ogden, who for more than twenty-five years has been connected with the mercantile interests of the city and is one of its most snecessful business men.
Ile was born at Binghamton, New York, February 12. 1862, a son of Henry B. and Caroline E. (Clark) Ogden. He received his early education in the public schools of Binghamton and, in 1881, removed to New Hartford and en- gaged in the coal business. Four years later he formed a partnership in Utiea, under the title of Hayes & Ogden, in the grain and feed business. In 1891 Mr. Hayes sold his interest to J. Arthur Clark and the title of the firm was changed to Ogden & Clark. In 1907 Mr. Ogden purchased the interest of his partner and has since operated under his own name.
Through sound judgment and the application of liberal and progressive prineiples the business has grown to large proportions and yields a handsome revenue upon the investment. It has been a principle with the management to supply its patrons with the greatest promptness and to their full satisfaction.
232
HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY
The remarkable success of the house is principally due to Mr. Ogden, who has been connected with it from the start and is thoroughly acquainted with every detail of the business. Its reputation is based on the great principles of hon- esty and fairness, which seldom fail to receive merited reward. In addition to his interest in the line to which he has for many years given his close atten- tion Mr. Ogden is a director of the Utica City National Bank. He is also president of the New Hartford Cotton Company of New llartford, the oldest cotton mill in New York state.
On June 1, 1887, he was united in marriage to Miss Clara N. Babcock, a daughter of George and Elizabeth (Clark) Babcock, of New Hartford, and three children have been born unto them: Elizabeth C., who is now the wife of William A. Soper, of Chicago; George B., a student at Hamilton College; and HI. Bradley, attending school. Mr. Ogden is not connected with any fra- ternal organization, but as an enthusiastic devotee of golf holds membership in the Yahnundahsis Golf Club. In his association with others he has shown a spirit of helpfulness and brotherly kindness and he is a liberal contributor to all worthy causes. Pleasing in manner and genial in address he is one of the most companionable of men, and the family home at New Hartford is a center of hospitality, where friends may always be assured of a hearty greeting. He ranks as one of the leaders in Oneida county-a man whose word is inviolate and whose influence is always in support of truth, justice and the upbuilding oľ the community.
WALTER JEROME GREEN.
Walter Jerome Green, who passed away in Utica on the 27th of January, 1885, was one of the city's most prominent business men and respected resi- dents. Ile was a leading factor in financial cireles as a member of the banking house of Charles Green & Son, of Utiea, and was also the president and owner of the Jacksonville, St. Augustine and Ilalifax River Railroad of Florida. IIe is survived by his widow and one son. Ilis birth occurred in Hubbardsville, Mad- ison county, New York, on the 10th of October, 1842, his father being Charles Green, who was born at Sangerfield, Oneida county, on the 28th of May, 1811. The latter was prominently identified with financial interests in Utica for a number of years, being one of the oldest and best known bankers and business men of this part of the state. David Green, the paternal grandfather of our subject, was born at South East, Putnam county, New York, his ancestors, John Alden and Priscilla Nolines, coming to America in the Mayflower. He was re- lated to General Nathaniel Green of Revolutionary fame. His mother, who in her maidenhood bore the name of Deliverance Hatch, was a native of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Her mother was a Sears, to which family David Green was likewise related.
The mother of Walter Jerome Green bore the maiden name of Mary Jane Hubbard and was a resident of Hubbardsville, Madison county, New York. She was a descendant of Lientenant Joseph Kellogg, of Hadley, Massachusetts.
4414"
235
HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY
IIer parents, Oliver Kellogg and Mary (Meachem) Hubbard, were both natives of Connecticut, the former of Windsor and the latter of Simsbury, that state.
Walter Jerome Green received a liberal education in his youth, attending Cazenovia Seminary and Madison University. Desiring to become a member of the legal fraternity, he qualified for practice by an extensive course of study and was graduated from Albany University in 1864. At the end of two years, however, he abandoned a promising career as an attorney because the increas- ing importance of his father's business made it desirable for him to come to his assistance. Soon afterward he was admitted to a partnership in the bank and the name of the firm became Charles Green & Son. Young though he was, his enterprising spirit soon made itself felt in the affairs of his father's business, which gradually broadened its field of operations and took a leading place among similar enterprises in the central part of the state. An import- ant department in the business of the house was the trade in hops, which became so extensive as to place the firm among the largest dealers in this country. To meet the demand for reliable intelligence bearing on the hop trade, the firm published a journal known as Charles Green & Son's Hop Paper, a large, hand- somnely printed, four-page folio of twenty-eight columns, of which an edition of about five thousand was issued, gratuitously, each quarter.
Mr. Green became interested in a railroad projeet in Florida which prom- ised the happiest results. Seeking a new field for investment of his capital, his attention was drawn to the lack of modern transportation facilities in the fruit- growing section of that state; and, guided by the promptings of his judgment, which on many previous occasions had been exercised with the most fortunate results, he threw both energy and money into the scheme. The outcome of this effort was the Jacksonville, St. Augustine and Halifax River Railroad, of which Mr. Green was president and the entire owner. This road began at Jackson- ville on the St. John's river, in the northeastern corner of the state, extended southwardly and eastwardly to St. Augustine on the Atlantic coast and was thirty-seven miles in length. The road connected with the Atlantic Coast Stean- ship Company, running outside to New Smyrna on the Halifax coast. Mr. Green's intentions were to extend the road a distance of one hundred and six miles to New Smyrna. This would have afforded quick and cheap trans- portation between Jacksonville and the Halifax and Indian river coun try. Although recently constructed, the road received an extensive patronage and its energetic president and his assistants gave ample proof of their ability to meet every demand that should be made upon them. It ran through a fertile and rapidly developing region and shortened the time of transport between the orange country of the east coast of Florida and New York by some eight days- a most important consideration under any circumstances, but more especially so in view of the perishable nature of the delicate fruit transported. While the possibilities of this section of Florida as a fruit-growing country and health resort had long been known and to some extent developed, progress had been slow and nneertain owing to the lack of railroad facilities. Mr. Green's enter- prise bid fair to remedy this drawback completely, and the beneficent effects were perceptible in a great variety of ways in the fertile, beautiful and salubri- ous peninsula traversed by his road. Among the most notable results was the
236
HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY
laying out of new towns between St. Augustine and Jacksonville. Here the balmy breezes from the Atlantic, softened and toned by their passage through miles of health-giving pine forests. impart a recuperative property to the air which cannot fail to make the locality. a favorite resort for invalids, while its casy accessibility must also contribute greatly to its popularity. The im- potus given to the whole peninsula by the building of the Jacksonville, St. Augustine and Halifax River Railroad rapidly attracted northern cap- ital. and it is probably no more than just to say that this project. so success- fully inaugurated and carried through by Mr. Green, has had more to do with the upbuilding of this part of the state of Florida than any other influence. The railroad rapidly enlarged its terminal facilities and was supplied by its active president with additional freight and passenger cars, including two new parlor cars and a magnificent new ferry boat. The Mechanic, one hundred and forty fret in length and said to be the finest looking craft of its kind in any waters south of New York city, capable of carrying eighteen hundred people and fif. teen large teams. The arrival of The Mechanic recorded another step taken by Mr. Green to secure for Jacksonville the immense trade that was developing along the South Atlantic coast and the railroad. being now equipped with two steamers, was better than ever prepared to command it. Speaking of the death of Mr. Green, the Florida Times-Union said: "A host of friends in Jacksonville wore shocked this morning by the announcement of the death of W. Jerome Green of Utica. New York. At once the flags on the steam ferry line were displayed at half-mast and the office in this city draped in mourning. In the death of Mr. Green Jacksonville loses one of her best friends, for he realized that the interests of his road and those of the city were identical and shaped the management and policy of the road accordingly. Our business men feel deeply his death, for it was well known that it was his policy to push the road to Daytona and points farther south with all possible speed. While it is true that Jacksonville, in the death of Mr. Green. has lost a friend, it is still more true, if possible, that the whole Halifax coast has suffered a much more serious loss. Mr. Green's wife and son and friends have the deepest sympathies of our entire community in their sad bereavement." On the death of Mr. Green the property was left to trustees for his son. In 1886 it was sold to II. MI. Flagler of New York, who has carried out the plans and ideas of its previous owner.
In the varied enterprises in which he had been engaged Mr. Green showed himself possessed of superior intelligence and judgment and a rare degree of push and energy. le seldom entered upon a project as a mere speculation and what. to less far-sighted and sagacious persons. might seem fraught with disaster. proved in his competent hands prolific of success. Not alone in Utica but throughout the central part of the state, where his business relations were numerous, important and in active operation for a score of years, he was highly respected as an honorable and successful banker and merchant and an upright man. In the south, where his capital, intelligence and energy provided con- genial and profitable employment, the results of his labors were recognized as alike beneficent and progressive. Returning from active labors in Florida in the winter of 1884-5. he was passing some time at his home in Utica, when he was stricken with apoplexy and died. Bright, genial. hospitable, well informed
237
HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY
and entertaining, he had a large number of friends to whom his sudden and un. expected death was the occasion of profound sorrow.
On the 26th of June, 1867, Mr. Green was united in marriage to Miss Sarah L. Swartwont, a daughter of Henry Swartwout, of Troy, New York. The mother of Mrs. Green was Maria Lester Ketelhuyn, who was a descendant of Joachim Ketelhuyn, who in 1650 was one of the founders of Beverwyck, later called Al- bany, New York. The ancestral estates of the Ketelhuyn family were known as early as 1451 as Ketelshagen on the Island of Rugen, the family being long famous in the history of its nobility. Mrs. Green is a descendant of William Ketelhuyn, of Saratoga, New York, who in 1734 was the owner of land ten miles square in what is now the village of Saratoga. Her father was a descendant of Tomys Swartwout and Heynaricke Barents, who were married in Amsterdam, Holland, May 10, 1631, and came to New Netherlands, in March, 1652.
It is related of Captain Abraham Swartwout that probably the first dis- play of the American flag at a military post was at Fort Schuyler, on the site of Rome, New York. The fort was besieged early in the month of August, 1777, and the garrison were without a flag, so they made one according to the prescrip- tion of congress by entting up sheets to form white stripes, bits of scarlet cloth for the red stripes, and the blue ground for the stars was composed of portions of a cloth cloak belonging to Captain Abraham Swartwout, of Dutchess county, New York, and the flag was unfurled August 3, 1777.
Exceptionally far-seeing and possessing rare judgment in business matters, Mr. Green accumulated a handsome property. He spared no pains to render his home beautiful and attractive within and without, and the residence on Rutger place, where his widow still lives, is one of the handsomest in Utica.
BENJAMIN HOSLEY STONE.
Benjamin Hosley Stone, son of Walter C. Stone, and his successor as the proprietor and editor of the Advance-Journal of Camden, was born in this city, February 9, 1875. He attended the Camden union school from which he was graduated with the class of 1894. In the meantime he had spent two years, from 1889 until 1891, at the Cornwall Heights School, a preparatory sehool at Cornwall-on-Hudson, conducted by his uncle, Rev. Carlos II. Stone. Following his graduation he entered his father's newspaper office and sta- tionery store and was his able assistant in both branches of business until ad- mitted to a partnership. As he became familiar with the different phases of both branches of the business his father gradually turned over to him the task of buying stoek and managing the store and printing office. For several sum- mers before his father's death he was left in entire charge of the business dur- ing the father's absence of six weeks or two months in the west. Ile was made executor of the estate and as such managed the business and in the fall of 1909 purchased both the printing office and the store. The Advance-Journal had al- ways been a four-page paper and in 1909 there were nine columns to the page. On the 1st of July, 1910, it was changed to a six-column, eight-page
235
IHISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY
sheet. During the summer of 1911 the building in which the paper was pub- lished was purchased by B. HI. Stone and the business office was improved on its removal to the rear of the building, giving more space and better light. The Advance-Journal is a publication of which the town has every reason to be proud. It advocates the welfare and upbuilding of Camden and the sur- rounding country and its support is of a practical, helpful nature. In addi- tion to the fact that it is largely devoted to local news there is also a good gen eral news department and an intelligent discussion of the vital interests and questions of the day.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.