History of Oneida County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 103

Author: Durant, Samuel W
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Fariss
Number of Pages: 920


USA > New York > Oneida County > History of Oneida County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 103


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 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137 | Part 138 | Part 139 | Part 140 | Part 141 | Part 142 | Part 143 | Part 144 | Part 145 | Part 146 | Part 147 | Part 148 | Part 149 | Part 150 | Part 151 | Part 152 | Part 153 | Part 154 | Part 155 | Part 156 | Part 157 | Part 158 | Part 159 | Part 160 | Part 161 | Part 162 | Part 163 | Part 164 | Part 165 | Part 166 | Part 167 | Part 168 | Part 169 | Part 170 | Part 171 | Part 172 | Part 173 | Part 174 | Part 175 | Part 176 | Part 177 | Part 178 | Part 179 | Part 180 | Part 181 | Part 182 | Part 183 | Part 184


The aldermen are cleeted for one, two, and three years. In the following list of city officers from 1871 to 1878, in- clusive, only the newly-elected aldermen are given for each year.


1871 .- Mayor, George Merrill. First Ward : Super- visor, H. O. Southworth; Alderman, John Shortall. Sce-


ond Ward : Supervisor, George Barnard; Alderman, An- drew Effler. Third Ward: Supervisor, John Reifert; Alderman, Christian Nestle. Fourth Ward : Supervisor, Daniel Hager; Alderman, Walter Lamb. Fifth Ward : Supervisor, Alfred Ethridge ; Alderman, Jerome Graves.


1872 .- Mayor, George Merrill. First Ward : Super- visor, H. O. Southworth ; Aldermen, Frank S. Midlam, George P. Russ; Second Ward, Supervisor, George Bar- nard; Alderman, Andrew J. Sink. Third Ward: Super- visor, James D. Corcoran ; Alderman, Dennis J. Griffin. Fourth Ward : Supervisor, D. Hager ; Alderman, G. G. Armstrong. Fifth Ward : Supervisor, A. Ethridge; Al- derman, William Jackson.


1873 .- Mayor, George Merrill. First Ward : Super- visor, N. H. Leffingwell; Alderman, D. L. Ketcham. Second Ward : Supervisor, George Barnard; Alderman, George P. Goodier. Third Ward : Supervisor, J. D. Cor- coran ; Alderman, Peter Quinn. Fourth Ward : Super- visor, George W. G. Kinney ; Alderman, Alfred Sandford.


1874 .- Mayor, George Merrill. First Ward : Supervisor, N. H. Leffingwell ; Alderman, Richard W. Jones. Second Ward: Supervisor, George Barnard ; Alderman, Laurence Bower. Third Ward : Supervisor, J. D. Corcoran ; Alder- man, Joseph Kapfer. Fourth Ward: Supervisor, E. Tiff- any ; Alderman, Samuel M. Cole. Fifth Ward: Supervisor, G. W. G. Kinney ; Alderman, Cyrus D. Prescott.


1875 .- Mayor, Samuel B. Stevens. First Ward: Su- pervisor, N. H. Leffingwell. Alderman, F. B. Beers. See- ond Ward : Supervisor, George Barnard ; Alderman, John Kelley. Third Ward : Supervisor, J. D. Corcoran ; Alder- man, M. M. Burlison. Fourth Ward: Supervisor, E. Tiffany ; Alderman, J. L. Mudge. Fifth Ward : Super- visor, G. W. G. Kinney ; Alderman, R. T. Walker.


1876 .- Mayor, S. B. Stevens. First Ward : Supervisor, N. H. Leffingwell; Alderman, John Shortall. Second Ward : Supervisor, Lawrence Gaheen ; Alderman, Peter Cole. Third Ward : Supervisor, J. D. Corcoran ; Alder- man, William Shanley. Fourth Ward : Supervisor, E. Tiffany ; Alderman, F. E. Mitchell. Fifth Ward : Super- visor, G. W. G. Kinney ; Alderman, Don P. MeHarg.


1877 .- Mayor, Edward L. Stevens. First Ward : Su- pervisor, N. II. Leffingwell ; Alderman, John Grosvenor. Second Ward : Supervisor, L. Gaheen ; Alderman, John Foy. Third Ward : Supervisor, W. J. Cramond; Alder- man, Thomas Casey. Fourth Ward : Supervisor, Homer T. Fowler; Alderman, Samuel Millington. Fifth Ward : Super- visor, G. W. G. Kinney ; Alderman, Henry M. Lawton.


1878 .- Mayor, Edward L. Stevens; Recorder, James Parks; Justice of the Peace, George W. Davis; Constables, George Lawlor, Martin Toepp, Daniel Petrie, David W. Healt. First Ward : Supervisor, N. H. Leffingwell ; Al- dermen, Franklin B. Beers, John Shortall, John Grosvenor; Assessor, IFenry M. Crumb; Collector, Lawrence Casey ; Commissioner of Highways, D. C. Carpenter ; Inspectors of Election, W. D. Reese, H. P. Mallery, Harrison Han- nahs, Sceond Ward : Supervisor, L. Gaheen ; Aldermen, Isaac Singleton, Peter Cole, John Foy ; Assessor, M. H. Tennant ; Collector, Fred Rostizer ; Commissioner of High- ways, James P. Root; Inspectors of Election, H. H. Sey- mour, Frederick Schroth, Martin Hyde. Third Ward :


# Down.


388


HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.


Supervisor, Wilson Smith ; Aldermen, L. E. Seymour, William Shanley, Thomas Casey ; Assessor, Patrick Caul- field ; Collector, John H. Behan; Commissioner of High- ways, Chauncey A. Thayer ; Inspeetors of Election, Timo- thy Curtain, Jr., John F. Kehoe, George Vogt. Fourth Ward : Supervisor, Homer T. Fowler ; Aldermen, William H. Davies, F. E. Mitchell, S. Millington ; Assessor, Hiram B. Lorin ; Collector, Richard R. Edwards; Commissioner of Highways, John Hyde; Inspectors of Election, Louis E. Dunning, Judson R. Ward, John Vroman. Fifth Ward : Supervisor, David G. Evans; Alderman, Jerome Graves, D. P. McHarg, H. M. Lawton ; Assessor, Henry G. Wright ; Collcetor, Hanley H. Glines; Commissioner of Highways, Joseph F. Wilcox ; Inspectors of Election, Gustavus M. Palmer, Lebbeus E. Elmer, Adam K. Adams.


R. E. Sutton, M.D., has held the position of eity cham- berlain sinee the place became a eity in 1870.


FIRE DEPARTMENT.


How early the village possessed apparatus for extinguish- ing fires is not now known, although it must have been as early as 1812-15. We find recorded in the old village records, that on the 21st of April, 1825, " at a meeting of the freeholders and inhabitants of the village of Rome at the court-house, pursuant to public notice legally given, it was ' Resolved, That the village purchase a new engine,' " and a tax nf $900 and collector's fees was voted to be raised to make said purchase, and pay for the manufacture of such ladders, fire-hooks, fire-buckets, ete., as were neces- sary, and to build a new engine-house, repair the town well, etc. On the 6th of June, 1825, the trustees appointed twenty persons to serve as a regular fire company, and by- laws were adopted for their observance. The company organized the following Wednesday. Previous to this time the inhabitants had been required to furnish themselves with buekets, etc., to aid in extinguishing fires, and strict regulations were passed by the village fathers respecting the duties of the citizens in case of fire.


Fire Company No. 2 was formed in May, 1827, and consisted of fourteen members, to which twelve more were added August 21 of the same year. The hand-engine proeured in 1825 was purchased in New York, and cost, aside from transportation, ete., the sum of $400. The Rome fire department was incorporated by an Aet of the Legislature passed April 12, 1855. In 1866 a steam fire- engine, manufactured by Cole Brothers, of Pawtucket, R. I., was purchased at a cost of $4000; the tender cost $700, and the hose purchased with it, $3767.89. The old hand-engine and the old hose were repaired the same year. In 1867 a second steamer was purchased of the same eom- pany. The department in 1878 consisted of the following six companies, named in the order of their organization :


General Gansevoort Engine Company, No. 1 .- 40 members ; Delos Wright, foreman.


Stryker Hose Company, No. 1 .- 40 members; Milo Burns, foreman.


Fort Stanwix Engine Company, No. 2 .- 40 members ; Morris Dee, foreman.


Etna Hose Company, No. 2 .- 40 members; Wendell Neiss, foreman.


Washington Hose Company, No. 3 .- 40 members; Lewis Getbehead, foreman.


Mohawk IIose Company, No. 4 .- 40 members; George Slosson, foreman.


The department officers are: Chief Engineer, David G. Evans; First Assistant Engineer, Edward Rail; Second Assistant Engineer, George Earheart.


There is also a board of directors, composed of two members from each company, who have general charge of the department, attend to the receipt and disbursement of moneys, etc. There are about 3000 feet of good, service- able hose on hand, part rubber and part leather. The fires for the past two or three years have been comparatively few, and in no case have the flames spread from the build- ings in which they originated. The efficiency of the water- works renders it unnecessary to use the steamers except in ease of accident. The place has suffered from several very heavy fires, the first of any note occurring, in 1844, on the south side of Dominick Street. On the 22d of February of that year all the buildings were destroyed between the present sites of the First National and Central National Banks. On the same ground the present block was imme- diately erected by Henry Tibbitts. In the third story of the new building was " Tibbitts' Hall," an important place in the Rome of " those days." From 1848 to 1850 the courts were held there, while Rome was without a court-house.


The 6th of January, 1846, will long be remembered by the citizens of the place as the day on which occurred the " great fire." This disastrous conflagration was caused by a small fire breaking forth in a shoe-shop, which was kept up-stairs in the west end of the " checkered building," on the north side of Dominick Street. All the property fromn the " American" corner to the old Bank of Rome was destroyed. The next morning, on the " American" block property and near the alley, George Fox was instantly killed by a brick which fell from a chimney and struek him upon the head. The present " American Block" was erected the same year by Jesse Matteson and S. W. Mudge, and the " Empire Block," also the same year, by Simon Matteson. During that year and the next the burnt dis- trict was partially rebuilt. Among the buildings erected was the hotel now known as the " Willett House," built in 1847 by Dr. H. H. Pope. The balance of the property on the ground swept by that fire has been erected sioce. The present elegant briek edifice on the corner of Dominick and Washington Streets, known as the " MeHarg Block," has been recently built and fitted up for stores, offices, halls, ete., by D. P. MeHarg, and is the finest business block in the city.


On Sunday, July 29, 1866, a disastrous fire occurred in Rome, destroying the fine brick bloek on James Street, north of Stone Alley, known as the " Elm Row," involving a loss of $150,000 to $200,000. This fire was supposed to liave been of incendiary origin, and broke out in the stage barn in the rear of the " Willett House." The rear portions of that building, the " American Block," and others were several times on fire. Aid was sent from Utica and Syracuse in the shape of two steamers from the former place and one steamer and two hose companies from the latter. Several persons were severely injured during the


389


HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.


conflagration, and one fireman was killed. Since that time Rome has suffered but little fromn fire.


ROME CITY WATER-WORKS.


The present system of water-works in Rome was estab- lished in 1872. George Merrill, at that time mayor of the city, visited some of the principal cities in the Union and examined their water systems, and finally the commis- sioners adopted the machinery made at Watertown, N. Y., as being the cheapest, most durable, and most powerful of any which had come under their inspection. Two pumps are in use, made on the horizontal, double-action plan, and have a capacity of 84 gallons per revolution, with a force of 535 horse-power. The daily average of water pumped is 900,000 gallons, while, if necessary, the amount can be raised to 1,200,000. The water-pressure has been tested as high as 160 pounds to the square inch ; with this force the hose belonging to the city would burst in pieces. The usual pressure is 50 pounds at the works, or 60 at the city, the fall in the intervening distance, and the advantage of a straight pipe, raising it 10 pounds; 100 ponods per square inch is the highest ever used. The pumps are run entirely by water-power, the dam being six feet in height. A short raceway is used, and a turbine-wheel with surface capable of taking 1840 inches of water. The average daily ron is fourteen hours, the pumps not being kept in operation Sundays nor nights, except in case of necessity. The water is elevated 65 feet into a circular reservoir 21 feet in depth and 297 in diameter, having a capacity for 9,000,000 galloos. This reservoir is kept constantly full. There are in the city about 13 miles of water-mains and a few over 100 hydrants. The original cost of the works, or the amount for which borids were issued, was $160,000; this has been increased to about $172,000 at the present date (July, 1878). Not more than twenty-five dollars have been laid out for repairs. Until the winter of 1877-78 telegraphic signals were established between the city and the water- works ; but the telephone has since been introduced, and works very satisfactorily. William N. Mott, a man of much experience with machinery, is chief engineer, and has his residence at Ridge Mills, where the works are lo- cated. The general superintendent is Charles T. Hayden, with the office at Rome. The members of the Water Board are Mayor E. L. Stevens, B. J. Beach, G. V. Sel- den, John J. Parry, Theodore Comstock. The system has proved very effective here, and although numerous alarais of fire have been given in the city, the force of the streamns from the hydrants is such that flames are speedily extin- guished.


THE ROME GASLIGIIT COMPANY


was organized in 1852. Its present officers are: President, Enoch B. Armstrong; Superintendent, J. D. Higgins ; Treasurer, F. H. Thomas. The capital amounts to $35,- 000, in shares of $100 each. There are about 8 miles of gas-mains and 75 street-lamps. The coal used, principally the Youghiogheny, amounts to from 400 to 500 tons an- Dually.


ROME CEMETERY ASSOCIATION.


The old cemetery, decded by Dominick Lynch to the trustees of the village of Rome in 1823, and bounded cast


by James Street, north by Bloomfield, west by Washing- ton, and south by an alley, in the course of years became filled with the earthly remains of the citizens, and it was found necessary to enlarge it or lay out another in some other locality. Accordingly the " Rome Cemetery Associ- ation" was organized August 7, 1851, by the election of trustees, " and its incorporation was immediately after com- pleted in the manner prescribed by the general law of the State authorizing and regulating the incorporation of rural cemetery associations; but it was not until a year later, and after a careful examination of every piece of ground sug- gested as suitable, that the present site was selected as being, in view of all considerations of distance, elevation, character of soil, convenience and safety of access, price, and capability for improvement, the best that could be ob- tained in the neighborhood of the village. The means with which to purchase and improve the ground were pro- cured by a subscription in the form of a contract between the subscribers and the association, providing that all sums subscribed should be regarded as loans to be repaid with interest whenever, after the debt to be contracted for the purchase of the site should be paid, the receipts of the asso- ciation should enable it to make such repayment, and that each subscriber might apply any part of his subscription to the purchase of a lot in the cemetery for himself, and should be allowed a deduction of twenty per cent. from the estab- lished price for so much as should be paid by his subscrip- tion. The available subscriptions amounted to $3600."*


Twenty-five acres of land were purchased from the farm of Thomas Williams, at a cost of $2313.50, and Howard Daniels, of New York, was employed to lay out and im- prove the cemetery. July 19, 1853, the grounds were dedicated, with appropriate religious services, and a portion of them brought into use. The present appearance of this cemetery is most beautiful, and it is a credit to the enterprise and taste of the citizens of Rome. It is located at the head of Thomas Street, and now contains about thirty acres. The present officers are the following persons, viz. : Trustees, Edward Huntington, A. H. Brainerd, John Stryker, B. J. Beach, G. N. Bissell, M. C. West, A. P. Tuller, J. D. Ely, L. E. Ehner, Francis Ethridge, Thomas G. Nock, James S. Dyett ; President, G. N. Bissell ; Vice-President, Thomas G. Nock ; Treasurer, Samuel Wardwell; Secretary, L. E. Elmer; Superintendent, Lysander Cole.


MANUFACTURES.


Rome Iron- Works .- A company was organized in 1866, with a capital of $100,000, to establish in Rome a rolling- mill for the manufacture of railroad iron. On Saturday, May 26, of that year, the following were chosen trustees of the company, viz. : Edward Huntington, John Stryker, David Utley, Addison Day, A. H. Brainard, G. N. Bissell, William L. Howland, B. J. Beach, E. B. Armstrong. The organization was perfected by electing, for President, Edward Huntington ; Vice-President, A. H. Brainard ; Secretary and Treasurer, William L. Howland. The first purchase of land as a site for the mill included two acres of land near the New York Central Railroad, and between


# Historical pamphlet upon the cemetery, 1854.


390


HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.


that and the Black River Canal. A puddling-mill stand- ing east of the rolling-mill was begun in 1869, and finished the same winter. The rail-mill was burned April 24, 1871, involving a loss of $125,000, and throwing over 150 men out of employment. It was immediately rebuilt on the same ground. This mill, when running in full force, furnishes employment to 200 men, or more, and mannfac- tures railroad iron exclusively. Its present officers are : Trustees, G. N. Bissell, Thomas G. Nock, B. J. Beach, James S. Whaley, Thomas H. Stryker, Francis H. Thomas, William R. Huntington, Edward Huntington, Abijah Cur- tiss ; Inspectors, Alfred Sandford, Judson R. Ward, John Hook; President, Edward Huntington ; Vice-President, James S. Whaley.


Rome Merchant-Iron Mill .- This company was organ- ized Thursday, July 9, 1868, and the following officers elected, viz. : Trustees, Edward Huntington, J. B. Hyde, S. B. Stevens, Thomas G. Nock, A. Ethridge, Enocli B. Armstrong, B. J. Beach, David Utley, John B. Jervis. The capital stock was fixed at $75,000. July 11, 1868, the Board met and elected Samnel B. Stevens, President ; B. J. Beach, Vice-President; Jabez B. Hyde, Manager, Secretary, and Treasurer. The land for the location of the buildings was purchased of John Stryker, and the building erected. An addition is being built the present season (1878), on the side next to the canal, 40 by 100 feet in dimensions. The present capital of the company is $125,- 000. From 50 to 80 men are employed, and all classes of square, round, and flat merchant iron are manufactured. The officers are : President, Enoch B. Armstrong; Vice- President, Bloomfield J. Beach ; Secretary, John B. Jervis ; Treasurer, A. P. Rand.


The Rome Iron and Steel Bloom Company was organ- ized in 1868, and ten acres of ground for the location of buildings purchased on the north side of the Erie Canal, near the bridge of the Rome, Watertown and Ogdensburg Railway. The purpose of this company was to manufacture wrought-iron and steel directly from the ore by "Jameson's Patent Process." The mill was operated for several years, but is at present lying idle.


An extensive boot- and shoe-factory was established in 1868, by Messrs. Kingsbury, Abbott & Hale, on John Street, near the depot. The firm had previously occupied rooms on Dominick Street, but, owing to increase of busi- ness, were forced to seek larger quarters. The new build- ing was constructed of brick ; was four stories high ; and the institution at one time furnished employment to over 200 hands.


Fuller's Earth-Soap Company .- A large bed of fuller's earth was discovered some years since in the town of Vienna, on the land belonging to Hon. Chauncey Brodock. In the spring of 1866 a company was formed for manufac- turing it into soap, with a capital of $400,000, in 8000 shares of $50 each. The mine discovered varied in depth from fif- teen to thirty-five feet. The material called " fuller's earth" is so named from its being an almost indispensable article in the manufacture of woolen cloths. Its cost, as imported from Europe, was from $35 to $60 per ton. The bed in Vienna was the second discovered, and the largest known, in the United States. The earth is slaty in color, entirely


devoid of grit or common clay, and of a greasy, soapy na- ture. By a chemical process it is transformed into an ex- cellent soap. But little business is done in this line in Rome at present.


Petroleum Excitement .- In 1865-66 the people of Cen- tral New York became much interested in the oil dis- coveries in Pennsylvania, and great excitement was conse- quent upon the assertion that oil could be found here as well as in the latter State, and in paying quantities. Several companies were formed for the purpose of testing the mat- ter, and real estate in supposed " oil districts" commanded wonderful prices. One company, known as the " Rome and Maple Creek Oil Company," had a large capital, and expended it in a vain attempt to find " paying" quantities of the great money-making material. Occasional " symp- toms' were seen, but it is at this time well known that petroleum cannot exist in this locality in quantities suffi- cient to pay the expense of boring wells.


Steam Planing-Mill .- One of the oldest institutions of this kind in the State was torn down in the spring of 1870, upon the completion of the new one by Messrs. Selden & Sanford. The old mill was built in 1845, by Messrs. Albert Soper, Woodman Kimball, and Adam Van Patten, and was 80 by 50 feet in dimensions. The first engine used was one of 25 horse-power. The mill was located a few rods east of South Washington Street, between Front Street and the Erie Canal, and immediately east of the new one.


SINK'S OPERA-HOUSE.


This fine building is located on the south side of Domi- nick Street, east of James, and was built by A. J. Sink, in 1869, at a cost of $50,000. The audience-room is designed to seat 1400 persons. The building is of brick ; contains two store-rooms on the ground-floor and offices and dwel- ling-apartments above, besides the audience-room. It was opened to the public on the evening of Sept. 27, 1869, the play of " Nita, or Woman's Constaney," being produced by M'lle Zoe and her New York company.


Among the other prominent buildings in Rome is the " Commercial Hotel," which was opened April 1, 1868, by Messrs. Thomson & Rowe, and known then as the " Thom- son House."


One of the finest blocks in the city is the " Ethridge Block," on the southeast corner of Dominick and Washing- ton Streets. It was built in 1863, by Alfred Ethridge; is 120 by 42 feet in dimensions, three stories and a basement, and constructed of brick.


ROME POST-OFFICE


was established about 1798, and Matthew Brown, Jr., ap- pointed first postmaster. He kept the office in his store on the east side of James Street. Joshua Hatheway was ap- pointed about 1807-8, and held the position until his death in 1836. He was succeeded by his son, Jay Hatheway, who remained in office until 1849, when R. G. Savery was appointed ; the latter was succeeded in 1852 by A. J. Row- ley. D. E. Wager succeeded Mr. Rowley in 1857, and the place was filled in 1861 by the appointment of E. H. Shel- 'ley. Mr. Shelley's successor was S. P. Lewis, appointed in August, 1866, by President Johnson. Mr. Shelley was


391


HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.


re-appointed in the spring of 1867, and was succeeded in 1870 by B. Whitman Williams, the present incumbent. The office is pleasantly located in the north end of the fine McHarg Block, corner of Washington and Dominick Streets.


BANKS.


Fort Stanwix National Bank .- This is the oldest bank- ing institution now in existence in the city. It was organized as a State bank in 1847, and began business in February, 1848, with David Utley, President; W. W. Nellis, Cashier; and H. G. Utley, Teller. It was organized as a National Bank in 1865, with a capital of $150,000, the same it had under the old management as a State Bank. Its present officers are : President, David Utley, who has held the position con- tinuously since 1848; Vice-President, H. G. Utley; Cashier, George Barnard ; Directors, David Utley, E. B. Armstrong, N. H. Leffingwell, B. J. Beach, Daniel G. Dorrance, H. D. Spencer, Squire Utley, James S. Whaley, H. G. Utley, Thomas G. Nock, G. V. Selden, P. V. Rogers, E. A. Walsworth.


First National Bank .- This was incorporated as the " Rome Exchange Bank" in 1851, and began business in August of that year, with R. B. Doxtater as president and F. H. Thomas cashier. It was organized as a National Bank in 1865, with a capital of $100,000. Its present offi- cers are : President, Edward Huntington ; Vice-President, G. N. Bissell ; Cashier, F. H. Thomas ; Directors, E. Hunt- ington, G. N. Bissell, F. H. Thomas, Thomas G. Nock, David Utley, Israel Denio,. H. Brainerd, Edward Bar- nard, B. J. Beach. It occupies the premises of the old Rome Exchange Bank, No. 37 Dominick Street.


Central National Bank* organized in 1854 as the " Oneida Central Bank," and changed to a National Bank in 1865, with a capital of $100,000. Its present officers are: President, Samuel B. Stevens ; Vice-President, Alfred Ethridge ; Cashier, C. S. Griffin ; Directors, S. B. Ste- vens, Stephen Van Dresar, S. S. T. Smith, M. C. West, D. P. McHarg, Solomon Tuttle, E. L. Stevens, Alfred Eth- ridge, Henry Patrick, F. D. Fifield, John Halstead, Phineas Abbe, Henry Johnson, Albert Orton, E. B. Armstrong.


Bank of Rome .- This was the title of an institution which flourished for many years, until 1863, when its charter expired and its affairs were wound up. John Stry- ker was its president for many years; George R. Thomas, present cashier of the Second National Bank in Utica, was long cashier of the old " Bank of Rome," and held that posi- tion wheo its business was closed up. The present " Bank of Rome" was organized under the State law in 1875, with a capital of $100,000. Its officers for 1878 are : President, W. J. P. Kingsley ; Vice-President, R. M. Bingham ; Cashier, Samuel Wardwell ; Directors, W. J .. P. Kingsley, R. M. Bingham, E. L. Stevens, A. P. Tuller, H. M. Law- ton, E. Comstock, J. C. Smith, T. B. Slingerland, A. Sand- ford, Charles Rathbun, S. Wardwell, T. D. Roberts, Wil- liam Brill, W. J. Lasher, H. J. Hitchcock.




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.