History of Onondaga County, New York, Part 51

Author: Clayton, W.W. (W. Woodford)
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., D. Mason & Co.
Number of Pages: 840

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CAPTAIN OLIVER TEALL.

Whoever has known much of Syracuse must have known something of Oliver Teall. He was a conspicuous man in this place from the time that the village first made its appearance in the cedar swamps, through all its stages of growth until it became a thriving city, spreading its skirts upon the surrounding hills. More than fifty years ago he was to be seen early and late, vigorously direct- ing, as general superintendent, the repairs and im- provements on the middle section of the Eric Canal. This brought him daily into contact with large numbers of persons, and he was extensively known for his activity, efficiency and exactness.

Subsequently, the buyers and sellers of real estate found it convenient, if not needful, to have somewhat to do with Captain Teall, whose wise foresight of the future growth of Syracuse, led him to become an owner of valuable lots in many parts of what is now the city.

Then, again, when the municipal project to in- troduce good water into the village was about to be abandoned to individual enterprise, he became, and was for a number of years, the almost sole pro- prietor of the aqueduct ; and the Teall water came to be as familiarly spoken of in Syracuse as the Cro- ton in New York, if we may compare so small a matter with so large a one. The quality of the water, at first so named, was very poor, but the in- clefatigable man spared no pains until he had found and become the owner of a copious spring of a pure article, formed an able company, and introduced, by a well-made aqueduct, an abundant supply of water, which he need never be ashamed should bear his name. Every part of the construction of this valu- able improvement was superintended by him person- ally, so that to all the inhabitants, from the least to the greatest, this public servant was familiarly known.

When the Onondaga County Bank, the first in-

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stitution of the kind in Syracuse, was established in 1829, Captain Teall was elected one of its Directors, and subsequently its President, in which position he continued till the expiration of its charter in 1854. At certain hours of the day, there- fore, he was generally seen in or near the house where men having money, or needing money, are wont to congregate, and his shrewdness, foresight and incorruptible integrity have served many a man a good turn, who was at his wit's end to get out of a pecuniary embarrassment, or to make a profitable investment of some surplus gains.

The cause of Education in Syracuse acknowl- edges him to have been one of its earliest and most earnest promoters. Travelers who pass over the railroad by daylight, can hardly fail to notice an unduly tall brick building in the eastern portion of Syracuse. If benevolent, they will rejoice to learn that it is now an asylum for orphan children, and children worse off than orphans ; an institution well endowed, and sustained by the united, cordial coop- eration of all the Protestant sects in the city, giving a comfortable home and an excellent discipline to two hundred destitute little ones. But, if they in- quire into its history, they will be informed that it was not originally intended for the charitable pur- pose to which it is now put. It was erected about forty years ago by Captain Teall, Aaron Burt Esq., Hon. Harvey Baldwin, Thomas Rose, and others, for an academy, and was so used for a dozen years ; but, being located too far from what subsequently became the center of the city, to be convenient as a day school, and yet too near to be resorted to as a boarding school, it languished, notwithstanding the exertions of its three principal patrons, and many years ago became the property of the Onondaga County Orphan Asylum. It is, however, still a monument to the enterprise of Captain Teall and his associates, and of their zeal in the cause of ed- ucation.

But it has not been merely as a man of business and thrift that the subject of this memoir has been principally known to his fellow-citizens and heard of throughout the State. He was one of the earliest and most steadfast friends of the temperance re- form. His name will go down to posterity as the untiring fellow-laborer of E. C. Delevan, Gerrit Smith, Herman Camp, Charles A. Wheaton, Chan- cellor Walworth, and other pioneers in this great enterprise. His labors were not most conspicuous, however, at public meetings. Although a frequent attendant at them, he was always a diligent laborer at home and throughout his immediate neighbor- hood. He did not content himself with recom-

mending to others a disagreeable and laborious duty. Were pledges to be obtained or memorials to the legislature to be circulated for signatures, Captain Teall was ever ready to present them to his neigh- bors and townsmen, and press them upon their favorable regards.

His principles he carried into practice on every occasion, and no opportunity was suffered to pass without giving effect thereto. At one of the meet- ings of the directors of the Onondaga County Bank, held December, 1845, at which were present such men as John Wilkinson, Hiram Putnam, David S. Colvin, Johnson Hall, Horace White, and Hamilton White, he presented the following preamble and resolution, which were adopted unanimously :

" WHEREAS, An application has been made to this bank for a small subscription to aid the efforts of persons engaged in the temperance reform, and as nothing in the judgment of the most sound and prudent men adds more to the permanency of our rights than the extension of this great reformation ; it is, therefore,

" Resolved, That the cashier be authorized to pay the sum of twenty-five dollars to aid the fund to be raised in the county, for the purpose of distributing an appeal to the voters of the State of New York, lately published by the Executive Committee of the New York State Temperance Society."

Many persons would have thought that a Board of Directors of a moneyed corporation was the last place to have presented such a document, but " knowing the right, he dare maintain it " under all hazards.

His abstinence, however, reached farther than to intoxicating liquors. He would include in his pro- scription whatever articles of food or habits of living are known to be prejudicial to the health, or mental, or moral vigor of man. He canvassed Syracuse in person, and appealed to thousands of its inhab- itants to dissuade them from the use of tobacco. It may be too true that his unwearied exertions have made but little visible impression upon those who were addicted to this nauseous weed ; but very many, through his influence, are rejoicing in their exemption from the offensive habit. He would never concede that reason and conscience, health and purity should be subjugated to appetite. But he insisted, with a distinctness, pertinacity, and earnestness, which evinced his deep sincerity and commanded the respect of many who have not yielded to his appeals, that it is a sin to violate any of the laws of life and health, laws instituted by Almighty God, as plainly as those that were pro- claimed by Moses from Mount Sinai. This great doctrine he inculcated wherever he could get ears to hear it, and enforced it by a life eminently con-

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sistent, and by the manifestation in his own person of a degree of health, vigor, and power of endur- ance, seldom seen in a man of his years.

Although the temperance cause received so much attention from Captain Teall, and made such large demands upon his time and his purse, he also en- tered with zeal into other important reforms.

He early engaged in opposition to the law by which debtors might be incarcerated like felons, nor did he cease from his efforts until that law was repealed. In the height of the controversy on that reform he was one of a number who went to the Onondaga county jail, paid the jailor's demands against all the debtors in his custody, threw open the prison doors, and led them forth into the light and air of freedom, of which misfortune ought never to deprive a man.

He was also untiring in his efforts to procure the passage of the homestead exemption law, and never relinquished his labors on that behalf, believing as he did, that a still larger amount of property should be ensured to the families of men against the con- tingencies of trade, as well as the rapacity of hard- hearted creditors.

To mention but one more of the objects of benevolence to which he addressed himself, the law authorizing married females to hold property independently of their husbands, was, in its very in- ception, duly appreciated by Captain Teall, and warmly advocated. This was an important step in the restoration of women to that condition of equality in which they were originally created, and to which they have an unalienable right.

Now, whoever knows anything of the origin of human laws, will acknowledge that we are much more indebted for our social improvements to the wisdom, benevolence, and exertions of private citi- zens, than we are to the final action of legislators, who tardily follow where the leaders of public opin- ion draw them, and, at last, merely give a govern- mental sanction to what has already become the known will of the sovereign people. Captain Teall was, in fact, for many years, one of the law- makers of this State. Some of the best laws that have been put upon our statute-books, have been enacted by the influence that he, and men like him, have exerted upon the public mind.

It will, therefore, be interesting to our readers to know some of the principal facts of his personal history. It will be particularly instructive and en- couraging to young men of limited means and few literary advantages to be informed that Captain Teall qualified himself for great usefulness in so- ciety by the force of good common sense, fidelity

to every obligation and the fearless avowal of what- ever he believed to be true and right.

Oliver Teall was born August 5, 17SS, in the town of Killingworth, Conn. His great-grandfather came from Holland, and settled in this country a number of years previous to the Revolution. His father, with four brothers, served their country in the war for American independence, in all, nearly six years each. Eighteen months of his term his father spent as a prisoner, having been captured at Horse Neck, at the time when General Putnam made his almost miraculous escape.

Soon after the close of the war his father, Dr. Timothy Teall, resumed his profession, and, about 1791, removed with his wife (whose maiden name was Phoebe Hull) and several children from Kil- lingworth into the town of Manlius, Onondaga County. He was one of the first settlers in this region. Being poor, he purchased a farm on credit. It was a tract of military land, and he was put to no little trouble and expense to get a good title to it. He pursued his medical profession until called into public life. He served many years as a magis- trate and a deputy-sheriff, and transacted a great deal of business for his fellow-citizens, in various capacities. Shortly after their removal into Man- lius, Mrs. Teall died, leaving her husband with six children, four daughters and two sons. Oliver, the subject of this biography, was then but about four years of age. The oldest child was a daughter, of but twelve years, and upon her devolved the princi- pal charge of the family, much of the time, too, in the absence of their father.

Oliver, so soon as he was able, was put to work upon the farm, much of it then being yet unre- claimed from the woods. And there he continued to toil until he was 17 or 18 years old, when he was allowed to deal for himself, with the understanding that he was to work on the farm when not other- wise employed. His facilities for acquiring literary information all this while were, of course, very slen- der. He has been heard to say that all his school- ing did not amount to more than one year at a com- mon district school. Yet, so soon as he had been taught to read, he began to occupy his little leisure time in the perusal of such books as were within his reach. Often did he pursue his studies by fire or torch light, until, at about the age of twenty, he was thought to be qualified to be teacher. Instruct- ing others, is the most profitable mental and moral discipline to one who undertakes the task with the determination to be faithful. While thus engaged, and during the winter months of several years, be- fore and after, Mr. Teall himself made very rapid

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improvement. About this time he read several of his father's medical works, thinking that he might, at a future day, become a physician. Afterwards he read Blackstone's Commentaries, not knowing but his preference would be for the law. Before, however, he was twenty years of age, he concluded to take his chance in the world without any particu- lar profession.

He soon after engaged in various branches of busi- ness. For a while he conducted a limekiln, labor- ing at it himself very hard. Then he entered into partnership in the tanning, currying and shoemaking business. Afterwards he engaged in iron smithing, in its various branches. Thus he acquired a great deal of practical information in a variety of useful arts, which was of inestimable value to him in sub- sequent life.

Habits of economy were commenced in him almost as soon as his habits of industry. When quite a boy he had earned twelve shillings, and that small sum (which was then a great one to him) he put out to interest at 7 per cent. This was the beginning of his financial operations, a suitable prelude to that course which led him to become the president of a bank, and the head of several large pecuniary investments.

In the war of 1812 he commanded a company, which he ordered to muster in Manlius, and marched to Oswego, when it was threatened by the enemy. Hence the title by which he was so familiarly known.

At an early period of life, Captain Teall com- menced his speculations in real estate, the buying of water-powers, erecting mills, carrying them on a while, and, when he had made them valuable, selling them to advantage. The experience which he gained in these transactions, qualified him for an enterprise which, in the event, greatly enhanced his property, and made him more than ever known and respected by the business-men of this part of the Empire State. In 1818, he took what was then a large contract on the middle section of the Erie Canal. The whole work was an experiment. Many persons in the State were utterly incredulous of its success. The amount involved in the job he had taken was much larger than he had ever before attempted to manage. Laborers were not so easily obtained then as now. Difficulties sprang up thickly in his way. He became alarmed at the undertaking, and offered the canal commissioners $500 to release him from his contract. They utterly refused to do so. This roused all his energies. He addressed himself to the work with a determination that few could command. He ac-

complished it some time before the day specified ; and disclosed those qualities, that were so appreci- ated by the commissioners, that, at the completion of the middle section of the canal, he was appointed superintendent of a portion of it, and served in that capacity for six years. Here he was called upon to direct important improvements and repairs, and to expend very large sums of money. The thorough- ness of the work done under his supervision, and the accuracy of his accounts, inspired all who were cognizant of his skill and fidelity with the highest confidence.

It was during this period that he invented the machine, called " The Under-water Excavator," for deepening canals. It answered the purpose well and he obtained a patent for it.

But it was at a still earlier date that he embraced a principle, which, could it be universally adopted by the people from Albany to Buffalo, would be an incomparably greater blessing to the state and county, than this far-famed canal has been. In 1819, Captain Teall followed the then almost universal custom of furnishing ardent spirits to his workmen and of drinking with them himself. It so happened that when erecting a grist-mill in the town of Sullivan, his foreman had hired a man somewhat famous in that neighborhood as a hard- drinker. This annoyed Mr. Teall. He was willing to drink with decent men, but to join in his pota- tions with a drunkard was mortifying to his self- respect. Probably some words to that effect dropped from his lips, which were reported to the new-comer. For, the next day, when the Captain had drank himself, and, as usual, passed the bottle to his workmen, all partook, excepting only the man at whom he had taken offense. The reputed inebriate utterly refused the tempting draught. Though urged, he would not be induced to taste it. This unexpected occurrence awakened in the Captain's mind a train of reflections, which led to the determination that he would never again be instrumental in the seduction of sober men, or the temptation of those whom the sin of intemperance most easily beset. He at once renounced the use of distilled spirits, and shortly after intoxicating drinks of every description. To the resolution then formed he adhered without deviation to the end of his life.

His early studies of the laws of life and health, already referred to, disposed him the more readily to refrain from an indulgence which the slightest observation is sufficient to show, is most prejudicial to the physical, mental, and moral welfare of man. For the same reason, Mr. Teall abstained from the

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use of tobacco. Subsequent observation and thought led him to abandon the use of tea and coffee, and from 1840, of flesh, fish and fowl. In these respects, many regarded him as abstemious overmuch, and were willing to believe that he rejected what the divine Author of all intended for the food of man, and what therefore cannot be rejected without injury. But the subject of our memoir was surely a witness against all the common as- sumptions on this point. He lived to the age of sixty-nine, in the enjoyment of perfect health, free from every kind of ache or pain, able to endure as much bodily exertion as any man in the city, and to expose himself with impunity to all kinds of weather, seldom if ever wearing an outer garment. He lost not a day by sickness, nor expended a shilling in the purchase of medicine for many years. Indeed he considered sickness prima facie evidence of some moral obliquity. "How is your health ?" was said to him one morning. " Very good," was his reply ; " what think you I have been doing, that I should be sick ?"

But with all his physical hardihood, and his in- domitable energy and perseverance, though he was never known to relinquish a purpose he had deter- mined to accomplish, Captain Teall always mani- fested a peaceable and friendly spirit. So averse to litigation was he that, notwithstanding the magni- tude of his business transactions, and the great number and variety of persons he dealt with, he never in his life had a contested lawsuit. In the settlement of his father's estate, he left it to be di- vided by his brother and sisters as they might see best. And in all his intercourse with men, at the same time that he was noted for shrewdness, he was uniformly fair and honorable.

In 1809 Capt. Teall married Catherine Walter, a farmer's daughter, in the town of Manlius. She was frugal, industrious, gentle, distinguished for her general benevolence, and for her untiring devo- tion to her family. She died September 30, 1836. By her he had five children, two sons and three daughters. The eldest son was educated at West Point Academy, and has since died. His other children are Eliza, (Mrs. Amos Benedict,) Phæbe A., (Mrs. Geo. J. Gardner, ) and William W., all residents of this city, and Maria (Mrs. Judge Divine,) of San Francisco, Cal.

Soon after his marriage, he purchased a farm in Manlius, and erected a commodious stone house, which he expected would be his dwelling-place so long as he should live on earth. But on his ap- pointment to a superintendency upon the Erie Canal, he removed to that part of Syracuse which

was called Lodi, purchased of the State the right to the surplus waters of the west end of the Rome level, and erected mills, which for a number of years he managed in addition to his public busi- ness.

Thus he became an inhabitant of this place in its infancy. He grew with its growth, and strength- ened with its strength ; and he was highly respected as one of the conscript fathers of Syracuse.

In the summer of 1857, he was attacked with a disease of the lungs which at first assumed a serious and alarming appearance. By advice of physicians he was taken to the sea-shore in the hope that a change of climate might restore his wonted powers. In this, however, his friends were doomed to disap- pointment, as he rapidly became worse. They, therefore, started for home with him and on arriving at New York the most skillful medical aid was pro- cured, but without avail. Leaving New York for Catskill he was able to reach Newburgh only, when he was met by the unerring messenger, and on the 15th day of August, 1857, summoned to his final rest at the age of 69 years and 10 days.

His funeral was attended by a large concourse of people, the following named persons, all very old residents of the city, (not one of whom is now liv- ing) acting as pall-bearers, viz: Robert Furman, Oliver R. Strong, Johnson Hall, Hiram Putnam, Moses D. Burnet, David G. Colvin, Amos P. Gran- ger and Henry Rhoades. The Rev. Samuel J. May, a constant fellow-laborer in the cause of re- form, delivered a very eloquent discourse upon the life and character of the deceased, paying a hand- some tribute to his excellent qualities and unfeigned virtues, and his exalted worth as a man and a Chris- tian.

Corporations and civic associations adopted reso- lutions of sympathy and condolence, and by repre- sentation or in a body, attended his funeral. The Common Council was specially convened by mes- sage from the Mayor, in the following language : " Death has taken from us a man venerable for his years and private virtue-a citizen who has been identified with the growth and progress of Syracuse from its commencement to the present time," and recommending that suitable action be taken there- upon. The Common Council, among other resolu- tions, adopted the following : " Resolved, That in the death of Oliver Teall, Syracuse is called to mourn. One of her gray-haired sires has gone to his last rest ; a familiar face, an upright man, a useful citizen, has been removed from among us, and we are truly called to sorrow." Monumental eulogies and obituary notices were published in the

Y Jardines

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newspapers of the day, and private letters of sym- pathy were tendered the friends of the deceased. Every mark of honor and respect which could be rendered to a private citizen, were given, and the entire community felt that a great man had fallen. As a true expression of the feelings of the commu- nity, we append the following extract from the local journals of the day : "Capt. Teall was a man of great activity and energy, and untiring industry, and every reform found in him a zealous, efficient and consistent advocate and liberal friend. * *

He was honorable and upright in all his dealings, charitable and humane in his disposition, and lived and died without an enemy."

GEORGE J. GARDNER, ESQ.

George Judd Gardner was born in Boston, Mass., July 19, 1818, and was one of seven children of Thos. Gardner and Anna Judd. When he was about eight years old his parents removed to New York City. He was at school in Public School House No. 2, on Henry street, where one of the public schools of the city is standing at this day. His father died when he was still a boy. In the year 1829, he lived for a time on a farm in Ontario county, with Peleg Redfield, father of Lewis H. Redfield, Esq., of Syracuse. Mr. Peleg Redfield's wife was sister of Mr. Gardner's mother. At this time Lewis H. Redfield had just removed from Onondaga Hollow (as it was then called) to Syracuse, and become publisher of the " Onondaga Register and Syra- cuse Gazette." Young Gardner then came to Syra- cuse, and learned in his cousin's office the business of a printer. Part of his duty was to deliver papers at " the Hollow," going thither on horseback once a week. In 1831, Mr. Redfield sold out his paper (he had been a publisher at Onondaga Valley a number of years before coming to Syracuse) but retained his bookstore, in which Mr. Gardner be- came clerk. This bookstore was in a brick block which occupied a portion of the present site of the Onondaga County Savings Bank. When this block was burned in " the great fire" of 1834, the . store was kept temporarily in the "Yellow Build- ing " which stood where is now the Bastable Ar- cade. Afterwards it was moved back into the " Davis, Redfield and Colvin Block," which was built where is now the east end of the Onondaga County Savings Bank. In 1841, Mr. Gardner went into business for himself, as successor to Mr. Redfield in the bookstore. Shortly before this, oc- curred the death of his beloved and widowed mother.

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History of Onondaga County, New York, Part 51

Author: Clayton, W.W. (W. Woodford) Publication date: 1878 Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., D. Mason & Co. Number of Pages: 840

Author: Clayton, W.W. (W. Woodford)
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., D. Mason & Co.
Number of Pages: 840