History of Oswego County, New York, with illustrations and Biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 43

Author: Johnson, Crisfield. cn
Publication date: 1877
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.H. Everts & co.
Number of Pages: 798

USA > New York > Oswego County > History of Oswego County, New York, with illustrations and Biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 43

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FIRST NATIONAL BANK .- This bank was organized on the twenty-third day of January, 1864, with a capital of one hundred thousand dollars. The following-named persons composed the first board of directors: Thomas Kingsford, Theodore Irwin, Elias Root, John R. Noyes, Amos A. Bradley. Thomas Kingsford was the first presi- dent, Theodore Irwin vice-president, and Amos C. Bradley cashier. In February, 1865, Thomas S. Mott became president, and the capital stock was increased to two hun- dred and fifty thousand dollars. In the month of January, 1866, Mr. Bradley was succeeded by J. D. W. Case. The present directors are as follows : Thomas S. Mott, John T. Mott, J. D. W. Case, John K. Post, and Dwight Herrick. The present officers are Thomas S. Mott, president ; J. D. W. Case, cashier.

THE SECOND NATIONAL BANK was organized Janu- ary 26, 1864. The following-named persons composed the first board of directors : Leonard Ames, Alfred A. Howlett, Gilbert Mollison, Isaac L. Merriam, Theodore W. Wells, Henry S. Conde, William Gardner, John C. Churchill. First officers were as follows, viz .: Leonard Ames, presi- dent ; Samuel B. Johnson, vice-president ; and Henry S. Chandler, cashier. Mr. Ames has remained president of the bank from its organization to the present time. Mr. Chandler remained cashier until July 1, 1864, when Mar- shall B. Clarke was appointed. January 20, 1872, George M. Williams was appointed vice Clarke, deceased. Mr. Williams soon after resigned, and May 6, 1872, E. P. Burt was appointed, who officiated until December 23, 1873, when his connection with the bank ceased, and the office was vacant until April 22, 1874, when L. H. Conklin, the present county treasurer, was chosen to that position. Mr. Conklin remained cashier until February 28, 1876, when he was succeeded by the present cashier, Heury R. Carrier. Capital, one hundred and twenty thousand dol- lars.

OSWEGO CITY SAVINGS BANK .- This institution was incorporated by act of legislature passed March 4, 1859. The following-named persons were its incorporators: Wil- liam H. Herrick, Stephen H. Lathrop, William H. Wheeler, Thomas Kingsford, Royal L. Maek, William O. Hubbard, Orville J. Harmon, John N. Collins, Enoch B. Talcott,

Joel Turrill, and Sylvester Doolittle. The first officers were as follows, viz. : Thomas Kingsford, president ; S. II. Lathrop, Orville J. Harmon, vice-presidents ; E. B. Talcott, attorney ; IIenry L. Davis, treasurer; Loren E. Goulding, secretary. The present officers are the same as upon the incorporation of the bank, except that Luther Wright is president, vice Kingsford, deceased, and O. J. Harmon vice Taleott, deceased. The present trustees are as follows: L. Wright, S. H. Lathrop, O. J. Harmon, D. Herrick, W. H. Wheeler, J. K. Post, S. Doolittle, J. N. Collins, W. II. Herrick, Gilbert Mollison, II. L. Davis.

THE OSWEGO COUNTY SAVINGS BANK was chartered May 6, 1870. The following were the first officers and trustees, viz. : Oficers-President, Alanson S. Page ; vice- presidents, John B. Edwards, Moses Merrick, Charles II. Cross; Attorney, Gilbert E. Parsons; Secretary, Alonzo H. Failing; Treasurer, Joseph B. Lathrop. Trustees, Alanson S. Page, Moses Merick, Gilbert E. Parsons, Delos De Wolf, Daniel L. Couch, Cheney Ames, Charles Rhodes, John II. Mann, Peter Lappin, Benjamin C. Turner, Jules Wendell, Harvey Palmer, John B. Edwards, Charles H. Cross, Alonzo H. Failing, Charles Doolittle, George B. Sloan, Samnel B. Johnson, John L. MeWhorter, William Wales, Robert Scott, John Dunn, Jr., O. M. Bond, Benjamin L. Stone, Andrew Miller. The present officers are as follows : President, John B. Edwards; Vice-Presidents, Samuel B. Jehusen, Manister Worts, Robert Scott ; Attorney, Gilbert E. Parsons; Secretary, Alonzo HI. Failing; Treasurer, Joseph B. Lathrop.

THE BANK OF OSWEGO was organized in 1871, with a capital of one hundred thousand dollars. The first offi- cers were P. Remington, president, and S. II. Lathrop, cashier. They are the present officers.

MILLS AND ELEVATORS.

The milling interest of Oswego has long been the lead- ing business of the city, and is destined to remain. The fine water privilege afforded by the Oswego river early stimulated capitalists to ereet mills along its banks, and although several have been destroyed by fire, there are now twelve in operation, with sixty-five run of stone, and a grinding capacity of five thousand three hundred barrels per day.

Below are given the names of the various mills, present proprietors, and their predecessors,-so far as we have been able to secure them,-the number of runs of stone in each mill, together with grinding capacity and number of men employed.

THE EXCHANGE MILLS were erected by Abram Varick, in the year 1834, and, after numerous changes in the proprietorship, in 1865 came into the possession of Jenkins, Hover & Co. Although the " Co." of this firm has changed from time to time, Messrs. Jenkins and Iever have remained, and are the present senior proprietors. The firm consists of Isaac G. Jenkins, Joseph Hover, J. A. Benzing, and J. B. H. Mongin. The mill has five run of stone, with a capacity of five hundred barrels per day. Employ forty men.

PEARL MILLS were erected in 1848, by William Lewis. They subsequently passed into the hands of Robert F. Sage,

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HISTORY OF OSWEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.

and in 1875 came into the possession of Jenkins, Hover & Co. These mills have five run of stone, with a grinding capacity of four hundred barrels per day. The enterprising owners, in 1872, manufactured one hundred and forty-three thousand seven hundred and twenty barrels of flour.

RECIPROCITY MILLS AND ELEVATOR were erected by George and Cheney Ames. They subsequently passed into the hands of Cheney Ames, and are now owned by him. The mill has five run of stone, with a grinding capacity of three hundred barrels per day. Employ five men. Capacity of elevator, one hundred and fifty thousand bushels.

EMPIRE MILLS AND ELEVATOR were erected by Syl- vester Doolittle, in 1843-44. They were destroyed by fire in the great conflagration of 1852, and immediately rebuilt by Mr. Doolittle. In 1864 they passed into the hands of Jenkins & Doolittle, and in 1874 Mr. Jenkins disposed of his interest to Benjamin Doolittle, the present owner. The mill is operated by Doolittle, Ames & Co. The mill has five run of stone, and a capacity of five hundred and fifty barrels per day. Employ twenty men. Capacity of eleva- tor, seventy thousand bushels.

WASHINGTON MILLS AND ELEVATOR .- A mill was erected on the site of the present Washington mills in 1842, by Penfield, Lyon & Co., and was destroyed by fire in 1853. It was immediately rebuilt by the same firm, and is still conducted under the same firm-name, although Mr. J. B. Penfield died July 8, 1873. The mill has six run of stone, with a capacity for grinding five hundred barrels per twenty-four hours. Employ seventeen men. Capacity of elevator, three hundred thousand bushels.

SKENANDOAH MILLS .- These mills were purchased by Penfield, Lyon & Co., in 1852, as successors of Cochrane & Lyon. They have five run of stone, with a capacity of nearly five hundred barrels per day. Employ thirteen men.

THE SENECA MILLS were located at Seneea Hill, four miles south of Oswego, and were erected in 1847-48, by M. Merrick & Co. The mill had fifteen run of stone, with a grinding capacity of twelve hundred barrels per day. It had a larger capacity than any mill in the United States at that time. It was destroyed by fire in 1864.

COLUMBIA MILL AND ELEVATOR .- A mill was erected upon the site of this one a number of years prior to 1853, by Truman Wyman. In the year 1853 it was burned, and soon after rebuilt by Mr. Wyman. In 1860 it came into the possession of M. Merrick and Jesse Hoyt, the present proprietors. It has five run of stone, with a grinding capacity of four hundred to five hundred barrels per day. Capacity of elevator, two hundred thousand bushels.

CUMBERLAND MILLS were erected in 1846, and re- - modeled and rebuilt in 1866. The original proprietors were Hatch & Stevens. It was rebuilt by Mollison & Hastings, by whom it was operated until the spring of 1877, when it come into the possession of O. H. Hastings & Co. It has seven run of stone, with a grinding capacity of five hundred and sixty barrels per day. Employ twelve men.

ONTARIO MILLS .- In 1866 Messrs. Dunn & Cummings purchased these mills, and continued the business until 1869, when Mr. Cummings purchased his partner's interest,

and has since conducted the business as sole proprietor. It has six run of stone, with a capacity of six hundred barrels per day. Employ twelve men.

ATLAS MILLS .- The present proprietor of these mills, Mr. J. Dunn, purchased them of Wheeler, Fort & Co. in October, 1876. They have five run of stone, with a grind- ing capacity of four hundred barrels per day. Employ fifteen men.

OSWEGO CITY MILLS were erected by Mr. Stewart in 1872, and business was commenced by M. B. Place & Co., and continued by them about one year, when it passed into the hands of the present proprietors, Messrs. Wilson, Stewart & Place. It has four run of stone, with grinding capacity of two hundred barrels per day. Employ eight men.

LAKE ONTARIO MILLS .- A mill was originally erected on the site now occupied by the Lake Ontario mills by Messrs. Bronson & Morgan in 1828. It stood until 1847, when it was replaced by a new structure, owned and ope- rated by Fitzhugh & Littlejohn, who conducted the busi- ness until the fire of 1853, when the mill was destroyed. They rebuilt it the following year, and were succeeded in the ownership of the property by Luther Wright, and he by Lathrop, Smith & Co.,-they successively by Howlett, Gardner & Co., Howlett, Lathrop & Co., the Oswego Mill- ing Company, and by the present proprietors, Durston & Royce. It bas seven run of stone, and a grinding capacity of four hundred barrels per day. Storage for one hundred and twenty-five thousand bushels of grain.

NORTHWESTERN ELEVATOR, Irwin & Sloan, proprietors. -This elevator was erected in 1864, and destroyed by fire in 1867. It was immediately rebuilt, and doing business in the following year. It has a capacity of four hundred and fifty thousand bushels. Its receiving capacity is eight thousand bushels per hour. The building is one hundred and twenty-five by one hundred and thirty-two feet in size, and nine stories in height. It is covered with corrugated iron, except the rear walls, which are of brick, and is care- fully protected from fire internally by water-works so ar- ranged as to discharge on each floor. It is an immense establishment, furnished with all the modern improvements for elevating, is operated by a fine one-hundred horse-power engine in rear of the main building, and is the largest and finest elevator on the lake. The elevator has done a very large Canada business, principally in barley. Messrs. Irwin & Sloan are the heaviest barley-dealers in the State of New York, and annually handle over three million bushels of . various kinds of grain.

MARINE ELEVATOR was erected in 1862 by Ames, Mol- lison & Hastings, and the business conducted by them until 1874, when George Ames disposed of his interest to Hast- ings & Dowdle, the present proprietors. It has a capacity of one hundred and fifty thousand bushels, and is sixty-six by seventy feet, and six stories in height.

CORN EXCHANGE ELEVATOR .- This business was com- menced by Henry Ames in 1862, and conducted by him a number of years, and subsequently passed into the posses- sion of A. F. Smith & Co. In 1871 it came into the hands of the present proprietor, C. C. Morton. Capacity, two hundred and fifty thousand bushels.

A LITTLE.

Cheney Any

CHENEY AMES was born in Mexico, Oswego County, June 19, 1808,-one of the many sons of Leonard Ames, one of the pioneers of that county. At the early age of thirteen he was apprenticed to a hatter, in Delphi, Onondaga county, and finished his apprenticeship in Cortland, New York. But the business was distasteful to him, and, as his knowledge of the world increased, he longed to be identified with its progress, and turned his attention to reading and study, thereby gaining a prominence among his associates and acquaintances which he was able to hold from that time; and, as he advanced to manhood, he at once assumed its responsibilities, becoming a member and trustee of the Presbyterian church in the year 1830, and was married in 1833 to Miss Emily North, of Otsego county. In the spring of 1837 he removed to the then village of Oswego, and identified himself with the commercial in- terests of that place, where he still resides, and where his en- prise and public spirit have been turned to good account. IIis first act was to raise one thousand dollars to improve the rude highway from Scriba to Oswego; soon after he was called upon to present a petition to the legislature to repeal the char- ter of the old toll-bridge, and succeeded against strong oppo- sition. In 1847 his wife died, and his family was temporarily scattered. Again his services were required in Albany in securing the city charter for Oswego, and while so engaged he learned that the land under water west of Fort Ontario had never been ceded to the United States, but still belonged to the State of New York. He immediately made application that it be ceded to the city of Oswego, and it was granted, thereby securing to the city a valuable gift which they after- wards sold for a large sum. Subsequently, in the struggle for legislative aid to enlarge the Oswego canal, he represented the interests of Oswego, watching and manipulating affairs very ably, proving more than a match for his determined and powerful opponents, who were seeking the same aid for the Erie canal to the exclusion of the Oswego. He also engi- neered and directed the deepening and excavating of the main channel of the Oswego river in front of the line of eleva- tors, thereby greatly benefiting the interests of commerce. In 1854 he married his present wife, Miss Kate Brown, of Burlington, Vermont.

In 1858 he was unanimously nominated and elected to the State senate, where he served his constituency ably and faith- fully, occupying the responsible position of chairman of the committee of commerce and navigation.

At the breaking out of the war he was appointed a member of the war committee by Governor Morgan, and from that time until peace was declared he never flinched from the sternest duty. He gave his oldest son to the cause he loved so well (and a nobler son never entered the service of the Union). Entering the army at the opening of the war, he bore its hardships and shared its struggles until the end, when the Master called him to go up higher. In 1864 Mr. Ames was again called to represent his district in the senate, serving a second time as chairman of the committee of commerce and navigation, and also on committees of minor importance.

While there he secured the charter for the Normal school, and from that time made it the special object of his care and attention until it was in successful operation, and now is re- warded by its reputation as one of the finest institutions of the kind in the country. But it was thought incomplete without a boarding-house for its pupils. The success of this object, too, devolved upon Mr. Ames, and he started the pro- ject as a stock company, taking the first five hundred dollars of the stock himself, and soon had the satisfaction of seeing the establishment in complete running order,-an ornament to the city and its founders. When his legislative duties were at an end he turned his attention to manufacturing interests, first introducing the manufacture of water-lime and plaster, which has since largely increased ; he then established the first knitting-factory, and that business, too, has since been quadrupled. Ile imported the first logs from Canada for the lumber trade. He was also first to move in the Syracuse and Binghamton railroad, in which he was largely interested until its completion. The Rome and Oswego road he carried almost single-handed through all its trials and difficulties until it became a success. The New York and Oswego Midland railroad he, with a few others, pushed through the entire line, but not without pecuniary disaster to all concerned. He has recently been elected as postmaster of the city, and is also pursuing his commercial business.

HON. A. P. GRANT.

Among the names of those who have stood most con- spicuous in the legal profession in central New York, and in the various enterprises connected with the interests and prosperity of Oswego, none stand higher in the estimation of the public than the name at the head of this hrief sketch.

Mr. Grant was born in New Lebanon, Columbia county, New York, April 5, 1804. At the age of fourteen he entered Hamilton college, and graduated from that institu- tion with honors. He at once entered the office of the late Judge Denio, and completed his legal studies in the offices of Hon. Joshua A. Spencer and Judge Samuel R. Beards- ley. He was admitted to the bar at the age of twenty-one.

He removed to Oswego in 1828, and commenced there the practice of his profession. In 1834 or 1835, he entered into partnership with William F. Allen, and continued to practice under the firm style of Grant & Allen until the latter was elected judge, in July, 1847. Mr. Grant re- mained alone in business for a short time, when he became associated with Edwin Allen, and continued with him until he retired from practice.

In 1835 Mr. Grant was appointed district attorney for the county of Oswego. In 1836 he was elected to Con-

gress from the district then composed of Oswego and Oneida counties, and served one term to the entire satis- faction of his constituents. He was one of the originators and the first president of the Riverside Cemetery asso- ciation ; one of the incorporators of the Lake Ontario bank, and a director from its organization until his death. He was an advocate for the construction of the Niagara ship-canal, and labored assiduously for the success of that enterprise. For several years he was a director and the secretary of the Oswego and Syracuse railroad company, and for many years occupied the position of warden of Christ church, of which he was an honored member.

The distinguishing traits of Mr. Grant's character were his indomitable energy, his unyielding support of the right, his constancy of purpose to accomplish successfully all mat- ters intrusted to his hands, either professional or simply of a business nature. His quick perception, sound judgment, strict integrity, and fair dealing secured to him great suc- cess and the confidence of the community.

On the 11th day of December, 1871, after an eminently successful business career, and the near approach of three- score years and ten, he died, leaving behind him a blameless reputation, and a name honored and respected.

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IIISTORY OF OSWEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.

MERCHANTS' ELEVATOR .-.- An elevator occupied the site of this building a number of years prior to 1853, and in the disastrous fire of that year was destroyed. It was rebuilt by Benjamin Hagaman. Capacity, two hundred and twenty-five thousand bushels. Smith, Murdock & Co., proprietors.

CONTINENTAL ELEVATOR was erected, after the fire of 1853, by Wright & Littlejohn. It is now owned by Messrs. Root, Noyes, Mathews & De Wolf. Capacity, two hundred and fifty thousand bushels.

MANUFACTURES.

AMES IRON-WORKS .- This establishment was founded in 1853 by Talcott & Underhill, and soon after associated with Messrs. Luther Wright, Thomas Kingsford, and Hamilton Murray. They subsequently purchased the in- terest of Messrs. Wright and Murray, and continued the business until 1858, when the establishment was purchased by Henry M. Ames, and its name changed to the Anies Iron-works. Mr. Ames conducted the business as sole proprietor until October 9, 1869, when a partnership was formed, under the same name, composed of H. M. Ames, Isaac L. Merriam, and Leonard Ames. In the year 1872, Messrs. Leonard Ames and Merriam purchased the entire establishment, paying for the same the sum of one hundred and thirty-five thousand dollars, and are the present propri- etors.

In the beginning of the business the annual product was small, but by energy and the manufacture of the best qual- ity of goods they have succeeded in building up an im- mense business. They manufacture both stationary and portable engines, but their specialty is the latter. This establishment has formidable competitors throughout the country in the manufacture of portable engines, but the novel features of the engine built at these works have com- mended it to the public, and they now manufacture three hundred annually, and shipments are made to all nations. Employ one hundred and eighty men.

VULCAN IRON-WORKS .- This business was established in 1853 by Smith & King, and continued by them until about 1860, when it passed into the hands of John King, and was continued by him as sole proprietor until about the year 1863, when the firm became John King & Co. This firm managed the business until 1875, when a stock company was organized and the name of the establishment changed to the Vulean Iron-works. The present officers of the company are as follows, viz .: John King, president; R. G. Holbrook, treasurer; George K. Orrell, secretary. At the beginning of business the annual product amounted to about twenty thousand dollars, and has increased until at the present time it amounts to the sum of one hundred and sixty thousand dollars. Employ one hundred and seventy- five men. At these works are manufactured dredges, ex- cavators, derricks, marine and stationary steam-engines and boilers, steam-pumps, saw-mills, water-wheels, etc., etc.

CITY BREWERY, Wafiel & Millot, proprietors .- Erected in 1874. Present annual product, twenty-five hundred barrels per year. Employ four men.

OSWEGO SHADE-CLOTH COMPANY .- This establishment was founded in June, 1872, by Theodore Irwin, George B.

Sloan, Luther Wright, and Niel tray. They manufacture painted cloth for window-shades, otherwise known as " opaque shade-cloth." This is a new enterprise, and is the only establishment in the United States that manu- factures shade-cloth by machinery. The factory is furnished with machinery constructed under their own supervision, and is the only mechanism of the kind in the world. The establishment gives employment to twenty five workmen, and the annual product of manufactured goods amounts to one million eight hundred thousand yards. The factory has a capacity of two million yards. The building is a neat and substantial structure, two hundred and fifty feet long, and two stories in height. This establishment is in successful operation, and is one of the representative insti- tutions of Oswego.

KNITTING-MILL, II. S. Conde & Son, proprietors .- A building which occupied the site of the present knitting- mill was erected in 1831 by a company, and occupied as a cotton-factory. It was destroyed by fire in 1861, and soon after rebuilt and used for a cotton-factory and knitting-mill, and operated by the Home manufacturing company. This company continued the business until 1874, when it was closed up and the entire establishment sold to the present pro- prietors. They run four full sets of knitting-machinery, knit shirts, drawers, etc., are manufactured, and the mill has a capacity of one hundred dozen per day. Employ one hun- dred persons.

This is the ouly institution of the kind in Oswego, and under the management of the present proprietors it has proved a success.

CARRIAGE MANUFACTORY, L. Weatherby, proprietor .- This business was commenced by Mr. W., in 1831. At the beginning the annual product was small, but now amounts to twenty thousand dollars. Employs fourteen mien.

DENTON & SON, carriage manufacturers .- In 1844, Mr. B. J. Denton, the senior member of the present firm, es- tablished this business, and continued it until 1865, when his son became associated with him, and the establishment has since been conducted by them. Employ fifteen men, and manufacture seventy-five carriages annually.

DEROUSIE & McDONALD, carriage manufacturers, are the successors of Peter A. Pulver, who established this business, which was continued by him until 1870, when it passed into the hands of the present firm. Employ ten men. Value of annual product, eleven thousand dollars.

OSWEGO TANNERY, Hubbard & North, proprietors .- This enterprise was begun by Mr. Wilbur in 1840, and continued by him until 1845, when it passed into the hands of William O. Hubbard, who conducted it until 1866, when it came into the possession of the present firm. Capacity, two hundred tons per anoum. Employ thirty men.

PULVER BARREL-WORKS .- This business was com- meneed in 1875, by Hon. D. C. Littlejohn, and continued by him one ycar, when it was purchased by W. W. Pulver, the present proprietor. Employ thirty men. Capacity, three hundred thousand per annum.

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History of Oswego County, New York, with illustrations and Biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 43

Author: Johnson, Crisfield. cn Publication date: 1877 Publisher: Philadelphia : L.H. Everts & co. Number of Pages: 798

Author: Johnson, Crisfield. cn
Publication date: 1877
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.H. Everts & co.
Number of Pages: 798