History of Oneida County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 92

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 92

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HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

laboring all the time. In the course of time they developed two first and two second violin players and a viola, and succeeded in harmonizing admirably. This orchestra first appeared in public for the Enharmonic Society, which encouraged its members, and its second effort, in behalf of Westminster Church, was very satisfactory to all concerned.

Shortly afterwards the idea occurred to Colonel Gray that the orchestra would gain much valuable experience and the patrons of the lecture course could be pleasantly entertained if the Philharmonics would volunteer to furnish music. The project was favorably considered, and since that time the Philharmonics have played before every lecture, greatly to the satisfaction of the early goers to those entertainments. The progress and improvement of the organization was a marvel to many, but it has not been accomplished with- out very hard work and considerable expense. When the society began to receive favorable notice from the press and public, Messrs. McCormack, Vinn, and Waters, thrce expe- rienced musicians, joined it. Then the piano was discarded, the new instrumental force more than supplying its place: The success of the past year has been greater than was expected, and more than satisfied the most sanguine friends of the project.

The civil organization of the Philharmonic Society is as follows: President, Hon. W. J. Bacon; Vice-President, O. F. McCormack ; Treasurer, Edward Norris ; Secretary, J. B. Howe. The present orchestra comprises the follow- ing musicians : manager, I. J. Gray ; leader of orchestra, Otto Dosenbach ; piano accompanist, C. J. Barton ; first violin, Mr. Dosenbach ; second, Messrs. Nickel, Chandler, and Schrempf; viola, Messrs. Wilson and Middeil; 'cello, Mr. Howe; double bass, Mr. Waters ; flute, Mr. Gray ; clarionets, first, Mr. Veun ; second, Mr. Sickel ; cornets, first, Mr. McCormack ; second, Mr. Maynard ; French horn, Mr. Schrempf; trombone, Mr. Geiger; bassoon, Mr. Ran- dall ; petite tambour, Mr. Hodiger ; grand tambour, Mr. Gibbs.

UTICA MAENNERCHOR.

The Utica Maennerchor was organized January 8, 1865. It was formed by the consolidation of the old Concordia and Leiderkrantz Societies with the purpose of promoting a love for music among the Germans of the city. Its first organization embraced ten members, among whom were John C. Schreiber, Edward Gebhart, John Gicrsbach, Nicholas Triebel, Fred. Schmidt, Fred. Helm, and C. C. Hornung. The first musical director was R. Ritz, and the first meetings were held on Columbia Street, in a building now occupied as a public school. Mr. Ritz was succeeded by Professor Mitzki, and he by Professor Sutorius, who conducted the club successfully for four years. Its present conductor, Mr. Zarth, is a pupil of Professor Sutorius, and was a former member of the club. The Utica Maenner- chor were the recipients in 1866 of a very beautiful ban- ner from the German ladies of the city, which they have borne with much pride on all occasions when they have appeared in public. The club have participated in several large musical demonstrations and have always acquitted themselves with credit. They were present at the Saen- gerfest in Philadelphia, in 1867, and at Baltimore on the

occasion of its meeting, in 1869, and in New York at the Saengerbund, in 1871.

In 1874, by invitation of the Utica Maennerchor, the Saengerfest was held in this city, and more than 300 guests were elegantly entertained by the club. A grand proces- sion marched through the streets, which were decorated by the citizens in honor of the event. In the evening the various clubs competed for prizes, and the following day an excursion and picnic was tendered the guests by their hospitable entertainers. The project, which was one of considerable magnitude, was altogether successful, and re- flected great credit upon President Schmidt and his able corps of coadjutors. The present officers of the club are : President, - Gussing; Vice-President, Anton Rohm ; Secretary, Conrad Snyder; Musical Director, N. Zarth.

GERMANIA INDUSTRIAL ASSOCIATION.

In the year 1871 the German population of the city of Utica held a grand festival to celebrate the victories of the Prussian arms in the late Franco-Prussian war. A hand- some surplus having remained in the hands of the finance committee, a meeting was held to determine to what use the balance of funds in their hands should be devoted. After some delihcration it was decided that the money should be used in the founding of a society which should have for its general object the improvement and instruction of its members. On July 31, 1871, the following offi- cers were elected : John Biederman, President ; Lawrence Conrad, Vice-President ; Nicholas Zark, Secretary ; and Charles Hutten, Treasurer. These officers having been authorized to name the society, christened it the " Utica Germania Association." At a subsequent meeting the fol- lowing officers were elected : John Biederman, President; John C. Schreiber, Vice-President; Neil Zarth, Recording Secretary ; Dr. J. W. Klages, Corresponding Secretary ; and Charles Hutten, Treasurer. April 6, 1874, the society was incorporated under the name of the " Germania Industrial Association," having for its chief object the promotion of industry in all departments of knowledge. A board of trustees was elected, consisting of Edward G. Kunkelly, John Biederman, Charles Sutorius, Genrge Wendheim, Charles Hutten, Ernst H. Reusswig, George Fulmer, Dr. F. W. Klages, and John Nelbach. The society numbers among its members over 100 of the best representatives of the German population of the city. It has been instru- mental in cultivating the pure German language among its people, and has elevated their tastes by the encouragement of reading, and especially by their devotion to music in all its branches. The entertainments given by them at their well-appointed rooms are among the most instructive and pleasing. Its present officers are : President, Otto E. Gue- lich; Vice-President, Herman Winchenbach ; Finance Sec- retary, George M. Stroebel; Recording Secretary, Dr. F. W. Klages; Treasurer, William Reichert.

ST. GEORGE'S SOCIETY.

There are traditions of a St. George's Society which existed in Utica carly in the present century, though little is known concerning that organization. The present flourishing St. George's Society was organized on the 9th day of Novem-

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HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

ber, 1857, its style and title being the "St. George's So- ciety of Utica," and its object, the relief of Englishmen in distress and the cultivation of social intercourse among its members. The society accomplishes much good in a quiet way, the motto on its seal being " Charity vaunteth not itself"; but has not confined its benevolence exclu- sively to the city of Utica, as was manifested during the year 1862. The Lancashire operatives at that period were in great distress owing to the cotton embargo, caused by the Rebellion in the Southern States. At that time the society and its friends in the city of Utica, touched by the sufferings of their countrymen, sent, through the British consul-general, to Lancashire nearly one thousand dollars for the relief of the operatives. In acknowledgment of their kindness they received from the consul an elaborately engrossed receipt, which hangs, beautifully framed, upon the walls of the room.

The North American St. George's Union, which now has its affiliated societies throughout the United States and Canada, may be said to have had its first inception in the Utica society. It was there that the organic resolutions of the union were framed, and a delegate sent to a conference of neighboring societies, which assembled at Syracuse on the 21st of February, 1873, when the organic resolutions were passed without amendment and the union formed. The Utica St. George's Society meets monthly, and its subscriptions to the charity-box are voluntary. The officers are elected annually.

THE EISTEDDFOD.

This word means a congress of bards and literati, a sit- ting, a meeting, an assembly. It is held annually on the 1st of January, under the auspices of the Cymreigyddion, or Welsh Literary Society. It was established Jan. 1, 1856. Prizes are given for the best compositions in prose, poetry, and music, and in the Eisteddfod the prizes are awarded to the successful competitors. The prizes vary from $1 up to $200, according to the subject. The essays are on different subjects in agriculture, philosophy, politics, polit- ical economy, history, biography, mathematics, astronomy, navigation, physiology, theology, chemistry, etc. The Eis- teddfod was a congress of bards among the ancient Britons, and they were priests, teachers, and philosophers; but now poetry is the only characteristic preserved by which the bard is recognized. After passing the gradations of tuition as a poet he is styled Bard of the Isle of Britain, a title that originated with the system. His dress was uni-colored, of sky-blue, an emblem of peace and truth ; his person was sacred, and he might pass in safety through hostile coun- tries; he never bore arms, neither was a naked weapon to be held in his presence. On the introduction of Chris- tianity into Britain the bard still acted as a priest, under . the privilege of his order, and his maxims were perfectly consonant with the doctrines of Revelation, and the system still remains the same. The leading maxims of bardism are perfect equality, peace, moral rectitude, and the investi- gation of nature, having for its motto " The truth against the world."

The officers of the Cymreigyddion for the present year are: President, Jonn W. Jones; Vice-President, Rees

Thomas; Corresponding Secretary, Richard E. Roberts ; Recording Secretary, James Roberts; Treasurer, Rev. Wil- liam O. Williams.

UTICA PARK ASSOCIATION.

The Utica Park Association was organized in the year 1871, with a capital stock of $80,000, and is one of the tracks of the so-called Grand Circuit, which includes the tracks of Cleveland, Buffalo, Rochester, Utica, Poughkeep- sie, Springfield, and Hartford.

The grounds are beautifully located in the eastern part of the city, about a mile and a half from Genesee Street, and contain about 170 acres. The extended view of the Mohawk Valley from the grand stand is remarkable for its beauty and characteristic scenery.

The following premiums were offered at the various meetings: in 1872, $30,000; 1873, $40,000; 1874, $33,900; 1875, $36,000; 1876, $25,000; 1877, $23,500; 1878, $14,000.

The President of the association is C. W. Hutchinson ; Treasurer, M. G. Thomson ; Secretary, B. A. Clark.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

WILLIAM J. BACON

was born in Williamstown, Mass., Feb. 18, 1803. He is son of Ezekiel and grandson of John, who were lineal de- scendants of Nathaniel Bacon, who emigrated from Eng- land and settled in Massachusetts in 1642, and was councilman in the old colony of Plymouth. His grand- father, John Bacon, of Stockbridge, Mass., represented Berkshire County in the Massachusetts Senate, and was president of that body in 1800. He also represented that county in Congress from 1801 to 1803, and was subsequently presiding judge of the Berkshire Common Pleas for several years. His father, Ezekiel Bacon, was a member of the Massachusetts Legislature in 1805 and 1806. From 1807 to 1813 he represented Berkshire County in Congress, and in the latter year was appointed Chief-Justice of the Mas- sachusetts Common Pleas and Circuit Courts, a position which he held but a short time, resigning the office on being ap- pointed Comptroller of the Treasury in 1814.

He cast his first vote for Thomas Jefferson in 1800, and his last vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1864, having voted at every interveniog presidential election during a period of sixty-four years. He died at the age of ninety-five years.

At the early age of nineteen, William J. Bacon graduated at Hamilton College, New York, in the class of 1822, re- ceiving then the degree of A.B .; three years afterwards the degree of A.M., and about 1852 the degree of LL.D., from the same institution.

Immediately after leaving college he began the study of law in the office of General Joseph Kirkland, of Utica, N. Y. He spent one year of study at the law school of Judge Gould, successor of Judge Tapping Reeve, founder of the well-known and widely celebrated law school at Litchfield, Conn. He was admitted to practice as an at-

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HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

torney in 1825, and three years thereafter as counselor in the courts of the State of New York, and at once began the practice of his profession, from the active prosecution of which, however, he was somewhat diverted for about two years by becoming, in connection with the late Samuel D. Dakin, a joint editor and proprietor of the Utica Ga- zette. Having disposed of his interest in the paper he resumed the profession of the law, and in the year 1830 formed a partnership with his brother-in-law, Charles P. Kirkland, which continued for nearly twenty years, and until his partner's removal to the city of New York, and his own election in 1850 as a member of the Legislature of the State of New York. In 1853 he was elected Justice of the Supreme Court for eight years, and

of Second National Bank of Utica, Director of Utica Water-works Company, Trustee and President of Utica Savings Bank, Trustee of the Home of the Home- less, Consulting Manager of the Utica Orphan Asylum, Counselor of Oneida County Historical Society, President of Utica Philharmonic Society, and Director of Oneida County Bible Society for upwards of twenty-five years.

In the year 1828, October 23, Judge Bacon married Eliza, daughter of General Joseph Kirkland, of Utica. His children are Cornelia Goldthwaite, wife of S. W. Crit- tenden, of Cleveland, Ohio; Fanny Elizabeth; Eliza, an infant daughter, who died in 1845, and William Kirkland Bacon, who was adjutant of a New York regimeut and was killed at Fredericksburg, December, 1862. After the de-

in 1862 re-elected for a second term. On leaving the hench in 1870 he never resumed the practice of his profession, strictly speaking, although he was frequently consulted as counsel and engaged in the trial of causes as referee. At the fall election in 1876, Judge Bacon was elected to the Forty-fifth Congress from the Oneida district, and is still a member of that body. Judge Bacon has been or is still officially connected with the following literary, business, and charitable associations and institutions :

Trustee of Hamilton College, Director and Vice-Presi- dent of the Utica Gas Company, Director and President of Forest Hill Cemetery Association, Director of Utica and Black River Railroad Company, Director of Utica Cotton Mills, Director of Utica Globe Woolen Mills, Director

cease of his first wife, in December, 1872, he was married to his present wife, Mrs. Susan Sloan Gillette. It is a fact worthy of note in sketching this narrative of three generations, that Judge Bacon is the third of the name in direct descent that has been elected to the State Legislature, to Congress, and also held a judicial position.

ROBERT MIDDLETON

was born in the city of Aberdeen, Scotland, May 17, 1826. He is third son in a family of eight children of Robert Middleton and May Burnett, both natives of Aberdeen. His father was a manufacturer by occupation while in Scot- land, emigrated to America with his family (except the eld- est son) in the year 1840, and settled in Middle Granville,

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HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Washington Co., N. Y., and during the balance of his life followed farming, and died where he first settled, in the year 1876, aged eighty-six years. His wife died in the year 1856, aged fifty-two. At the time of writing this sketch, all the children are deceased except Isaac, the eldest son (who subsequently came to this country), James, a resident of Granville, with his sister Betsey, and Robert.

At the age of eighteen, Mr. Middleton went to Lowell, Mass., and engaged for six years with the Lowell Carpet Company, and the following seven years with the Merrimac Woolen Company, where he officiated as assistant superin- tendent of the company's mills. During these years he became impressed with manufacturing business, and had become so schooled in that direction that his subsequent life has been spent in connection with similar operations. In the year 1857, May 10, he came to Utica, and, on account of his large experience in the manufacture of woolen fabrics, he was at once engaged by Mr. Theodore S. Faxton, Presi- dent of the Globe Woolen Company, of Utica, to take charge of their mills, as agent and superintendent. His practical experience in this branch of business, his comprehensive knowledge of every part of machinery, and his aim to se- cure the highest results from the business, during the twenty- two years he has held the supervision and management of the business, have demonstrated his qualifications to the com- plete satisfaction of the stockholders; and it is only just to say that the quality of goods produced, standing as high as any in the American market, is due, most wholly, to the management and supervision of Mr. Middleton.

Mr. Middleton, thongh not an active politician, yet regards the right of suffrage of great value to every citizen, and has during his life been identified with the Republican party.

In the year 1849 he married Miss Lucy Ann, danghter of Ira Cummings, of Greenfield, N. H., by whom he has one son, Walter B., and three daughters,-Ella, wife of James G. Hunt, M.D., of Utica, Mary, and Florence.

THOMAS HOPPER

was born where he now resides, in the city of Utica, N. Y., January 31, 1807. His father, Captain James Hopper, was a native of England. For many years he was in com- mand of vessels, in the English merchant service, and owned shares in them and their cargoes. During the war between his own country and France he commanded an armed vessel of sixteen guns, and, furnished with letters of marque from the British admiralty, he crnised in the South Seas. Attacked at one time by a superior force, his vessel was taken after a brave defense, and he was carried prisoner to France. Thence he was released by being exchanged --- he and another captain-for the celebrated Marshal Jnnot, captured in Egypt. Some little time afterwards he came to America, his principal object in coming being to obtain in- demnity for the loss of another and smaller vessel that had fallen into the hands of the French by reason of informa- tion furnished them by an American as to its situation and the practicability of its seizure, and which, after such seiz- ure, was sold to parties from America.

He engaged General Hamilton, in New York, as coun- sel, but failed in. securing the object of his visit. By him he was prevailed upon to come to Utica and see the coun-

try, which visit occurred in the year 1801. Shortly after his arrival he bought considerable land on the southern borders of the village. Forty-nine acres of it were the cleared farm of Benjamin Hammond, in great lot No. 95, which the latter had obtained from John Bellinger. In part it was a portion of the Holland purchase, and other smaller parts were bought of John Post, Richard Kimball, and Jonathan Evans. On this purchase Captain Hopper put up a house that he enlarged upon the arrival of his family,

and engaged in farming, and also in tanning, to neither of which pursuits he had ever been accustomed. He im- ported tanners from the East, paying them high wages, and as the stumps on his farm were offensive to him, he ex- pended freely for the labor of having them grubbed up and removed. Hence his projects failed of being very remuner- ative, and he besides lost considerable in the Utica Glass Company. The land which he bought increased in value, and became ultimately, through the skillful management of his sons, a quite handsome estate. Captain Hopper was honest and highly respectable, but as he lived a little apart from most of the other village residents, he was not much concerned in affairs of general interest.

His death occurred May 16, 1816. His wife afterwards married Joshua Wyman, but died Dec. 11, 1843, and it is remarkable that she predicted the day of her death full a month before its occurrence. Their children were George J., born in England, and quite recently deceased ; Elizabeth Ann, died in 1843; Thomas, and Mary (Mrs. Bradley, afterwards Mrs. McClure), who are still resident.

Thomas Hopper spent his boyhood days at home, and received the opportunities of an education afforded by the common school and the old Utica Academy. He early in life was impressed with the idea of leading a business life, and at the age of twenty-six engaged in the mercantile business in Utica, which, however, he continned only some four years, and turned his attention to dealing in real estate, improving the property first purchased by his father, by erecting residences which now form one of the finest por- tions of the city. This business he has continued until the present time in Utica and New York, spending the time from 1835 to 1844 in the latter place.

Soon after his return from New York, Mr. Hopper, not- withstanding much opposition, instigated, and with the as- sistance of a few others favorable to the scheme, projected, and he himself constructed the fine system of water-works now so much admired in the city, and became one of nine of the first directors, which office he still holds, and for the past six years bas been its treasurer and president. In this work of care Mr. Hopper never has consented to receive any remuneration. He was one of the first movers in the organization of the cemetery association, which has brought to a successful completion one of the finest cemetery plats of the State, and upon which, partially at his own expense, he has erected very fine and almost palatial accommoda- tions for the convenience and comfort of friends during in- clement weather on burial occasions.

Following the footsteps of his father (one of the first members of Trinity Church), he is identified with church and other kindred interests tending to educate and elevate the rising generation. He has been a director in the First

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HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

National Bank of Utica for many years, and was treasurer of the Bishop's fund for the diocese of Western New York for fourteen years under Bishops De Lancey, Cox, and Huntington.

In politics he has never taken an active part, and has always declined any political preferment or publicity, and although identified with the Republican party, has not been zealously partisan when he conceived right measures repre- sented by men of integrity of the opposition. Mr. Hopper is a man of great consideration, candor, and integrity of purpose, and has spent an active business life.

THEODORE S. FAXTON

is a man of marked and distinguishing traits of character, allied in business of wide extent and almost universal neces- sity, who has passed in Utica long years of continuous and well-rewarded endeavor, and in the course of his life has been a leader in most of the undertakings of the place. He was a native of Conway, Mass., born in the year 1792 or 1794, Jan. 10, and came to the village of Utica to reside in 1812, although he had previous to that time lived in the vicinity. In 1813 he obtained a position as driver on the stage, and held the reins of a four-in-hand every day until 1817, except for the space of six months, which time was spent in the school at Clinton. And though after this time it was only now and then that he mounted the box, yet such was his acknowledged skill as a reins-man, that on occasions of ceremony, or when something extraordinary was required, he was the one that was usually selected as most competent to do honor to the service. One of the most satisfactory remembrances of his life in this direction is the one that recalls the visit of Lafayette in 1825, when with six dash- ing grays and the old Van Rensselaer carriage he drove to? Whitestown, where the distinguished "guest was to be -re -: ceived. A second, when between midnight and early bed- time the following night, with fresh relays of horses, he: made the trip to Albany, carrying six of Utica's honored citizens,-James Platt, Richard R. Lansing; John HE Os! trom, Charles P. Kirkland, Joseph S. Porter, and William Williams, arriving at that city before the opening of the Legislature ; and returning, completing by going to New Hartford, a distance of some two hundred miles, in less than twelve hours. A solitary, but not less exciting, ride of those early times was his well-planned and self-executed, and almost unparalleled swiftness and courage, in overtaking and the capture of a thief in the pine-woods, above Troy, the particulars of which are given by Dr. Bagg, in his " Pio- neer History of Utica," and very full details of Mr. Faxton's early life. In the year 1822 he became a partner with Mr. Childs, in the firm of Parker & Co., in the conveyance of passengers and goods between Utica and Albany, which at that time was a large and important business, there being subsequently eight daily lines of stages running east and west through Utica, besides four lines running north and south, with the departure and arrival of eighty-four stages daily. This vast and increasing transport the firm con- tinued for ten years after the death of the senior partner, Mr. Parker, and down to the year 1838. This firm erected the Exchange building, on the site of the old Canal Coffee- House, and held real estate in common.

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History of Oneida County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 92

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

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