Landmarks of Oswego County, New York, Part 106

Author: Churchill, John Charles, 1821-1905; Smith, H. P. (Henry Perry), 1839-1925; Child, W. Stanley
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason
Number of Pages: 1410

USA > New York > Oswego County > Landmarks of Oswego County, New York > Part 106

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Petrie, William, is a native of Redfield and was born in 1851. His father is James Petrie, an honored resident of the town since 1846, where he came immediately on his arrival in this country from the Orkney Islands, where he was born in 1819. His 1

LANDMARKS OF OSWEGO COUNTY

wife was Jessie Guthrie, of Kirkwell, Scotland. He, in company with a brother, cleared a farm of 120 acres, which was afterward traded for other property, when Mr. Petrie purchased the 260 acre farm on which William now lives. He purchased the Burkitt farm of 200 acres in 1872. He reared a family of seven children, all of whom are living except Walton, who died in 1872 at the age of twenty-two. Five married daughters live in or close to the village: Mrs. G. G. Simons, Mrs. Charles Crow, Mrs. George S. Thompson, Mrs. John Wilson, and Mrs. J. R. Warren. James Petrie is at present living with his daughter, Mrs. Crow, his wife having died in 1893. William married on Christmas, 1874, Afsa A., daughter of George Sexton, of Lee, and in the following spring went to live on the old Petrie farm of 260 acres. He has a dairy of forty-five cows, and is known as one of the successful farmers in his locality. His children are Madge E., Ellen G., Blanche B., James, Sexton, Donald K., Eliza A., McKenzie W., and Elsie L. He served one term as collector.

Barthel, Frank, was born in Altenstatt, State of Alsace, then belonging to France, January 4, 1823. His father, Sebastine Barthel, was the father of five children: Martin, Christina, Mary, Henry and Frank. The latter being the youngest child, remained at home till seventeen years of age. In the spring of 1838 he apprenticed himself to the shoemaker's trade, serving three years. January 1, 1843, he was drafted as a soldier by the French government, and served under Louis Philippe, king of France, and then under President Caveneat and Louis Napoleon until De- cember 1, 1850, when he received his discharge. January 28, 1851, he was married to Elizabeth Baumann, a native of the same place and only daughter of Michael Baumann, whose wife died when Elizabeth was but two years old. On May 15, 1853, he sailed for this country, leaving his wife and two children behind, making the voyage in twenty eight days. He landed in New York city and remained there two years working at his trade. In June, 1855, he came to Camden, Oneida county, and worked there till June, 1857, when he came to Sand Bank and worked for James McGarvey. In the spring of 1858 Mr. McGarvey sold out to him, and he then started in business for himself in the basement of the Riker House, where the Costello block stands at present. May 15, 1859, he moved to Pineville, then a thriving little village, and started a boot and shoe store. In June of the same year his wife and two chil- dren came to this country, and he then purchased a house and built a shop where he has ever since lived. They have had nine children of whom only three are living: Michael of Henderson, Jefferson county ; Mrs. Mary E. Foreman of Ellisburg, Jeffer- son county ; and Charles T., who lives at home, and at present is conducting the farm. He is a Democrat, and has been a resident of the town of Albion for thirty-six years.

Cogswell, Joseph, V. S .- In May, 1635, Sir John Cogswell, his wife, Elizabeth, and their three sons and five daughters, embarked from England to America and settled in Ipswich, Mass. From this distinguished family sprang a numerous posterity, some of whom have risen to eminence. Joseph Cogswell is of the ninth generation, and was born in Orwell in March, 1857, the son of Charles W., also a native of Orwell, born in September, 1831, whose father was George W., born in South Coventry, Conn., in 1795, a soldier in the war of 1812, and a pioneer in the town of Orwell. To his memory, his oldest son, Dr. H. D. Cogswell, of San Francisco, Cal., erected in that town a public drinking fountain and monument, at an expense of several thou-

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sand dollars. Charles W. was a glazier and painter by trade, and was for many years constable and tax collector. His wife was Catherine A. Plantz, born in Herki- mer county, and they had four children who grew to maturity, Joseph, Charles W., Sarah B., and Henry L. Joseph received his education in Orwell and prepared him - self for the profession of veterinary surgeon, in which profession he has distinguished himself. In the fall of 1894 he was successful in the treatment of a malignant dis- ease prevalent among cattle, known as anthrax fever, on which he furnished a trea- tise to the State Agricultural Department, which was extensively published by that body. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., Springbrook Lodge in Richland, the Knights of Maccabees, and the Empire State Fraternity. In October, 1880, he wedded Helen R., daughter of Jacob E. Loatwell, of Redfield. She was born in Blackhawk, Blackhawk county, Iowa. Their children are Ida H., Henry D., Charles J., Catherine R. and Samuel J.

Cooper, Peter W., was born in Sterling, Cayuga county, in 1831, and settled in Hannibal in 1858. He is the son of John Cooper, whose father, John, senior, was one of the first settlers in Sterling, and the oldest son of the latter was a colonel and led a volunteer regiment in defense of Oswego at the time it was invaded by the British. John, the father of Peter W., married Fanny, daughter of Joseph Bunnell, who was also one of the first settlers of Sterling. Of the six children born to them, three sons survive: Joseph. who has always been an invalid; Alvah, who is a lawyer and a prominent business man of Osage, Kan., a graduate of the Ann Arbor Uni- versity of Michigan; he has served one term in the Kansas Legislature and also sev- eral years as police justice of Osage. Peter W. Cooper enlisted in Co. F, 110th N. Y. Vols. and served in that regiment until it was discharged on the 28th of August, 1865. The 110th had but small opportunity to distinguish itself in battle, but it was marched and countermarched over a large portion of the State of Louisiana, suffering untold hardships and privations in that malarious climate, thereby decimating its ranks, some of the time faster than on the battlefield. It, however, participated in the siege of Port Hudson and was there at its surrender. Mr. Cooper was when he enlisted one of the most rugged men in the town of Hannibal, but he came home at the close of the war full of malaria, and never was able to regain his former health; still, he counted the cost when he enlisted, and has the satisfaction of the recollection that he always tried to do his duty as a soldier.

Case, George Marcus, was a native of Fulton, born in a dwelling which stood oppo- site the bank of which Mr. Case is now president, August 29, 1827, son of Jonathan and Betsey (Ferguson) Case. Jonathan Case is remembered as having been one of Volney's foremost men, a merchant and contractor and a man deeply interested in local enterprises. George M. was brought up to work in his father's store, and in 1850 associated in trade with his brother, S. F. Case. After ten years he sold out and turned his attention to contracting work on the canals and elsewhere, under both State and general governments; and for nearly two years was extensively en- gaged in large operations in various parts of the country, building and superintend- ing canals-government work, carrying on dredging enterprises in important streams and harbors, and with his brother built the Phoenix dam. One of his part- nerships was in the firm of Case, Van Wagenen & Co., removing rock in the Missis- sippi River at Rock Island. Il1. In 1869 S. F. Case died, upon which our subject was

LANDMARKS OF OSWEGO COUNTY.

made cashier of the Citizens' National Bank, and soon after was elected to succeed his brother in that institution. This office he still holds, and his duties have been of such a character that he was compelled to close out his former interests and devote himself to the financial affairs of the bank; still he has twice represented the county in the Assembly, and as a delegate to the memorable National Convention in 1880, was one of Grant's most firm supporters and a member of the historic 306. Septem- ber 11, 1850, he married Vandelia M., daughter of Henry French of Fulton, and they have three children: Eva D., wife of Dr. Charles R. Lee; Solon F., cashier of the Citizens' Bank, and Edwin F., who died aged eight years.

Coon, S. Mortimer, was born in Hastings, Oswego county, April 18, 1845. His an- cestors were among the early settlers of Rhode Island and the Hudson River Valley. He was brought up on a farm, attending district schools until he was fifteen. He attended the Mexico Academy several terms, beginning in 1861. He prepared for college at Falley Seminary, Fulton, N. Y. He graduated from the University of Rochester, classical course, in 1870 and from Hamilton College Law School in 1873. He has practiced law since 1874. Previous to that time he was a teacher for several years. He was city attorney for the city of Oswego from 1879 to 1882, and was a member of the State Legislature for the two years 1888 and 1889, declining a re-elec- tion.

Getman, Crawford, was the grandson of George Getman, one of four brothers whose homes were in Fulton, then Montgomery county, town of Ephratah. The family is of German origin, the Getmans of this county being, so far as is known, descendants of these four brothers. George was the father of six sons, one of whom, Benjamin, was born in Ephratah. He lived to be ninety years of age, dying in 1879. His wife, Mary Van Antwerp, was Holland Dutch and also a resident of Montgomery county. She died in 1883 at the age of eighty-eight. Benjamin and Mary Getman were the parents of twelve children: Eliza, Washington, Jane, Chauncey, Delia, Rachael, Oliver, Kate, William, Asa, Crawford and Mary. These children all grew to maturity and are now living, with the exception of William, Eliza and Jane. So long as the parents lived, all of the children met at the old home on July 5th, to celebrate the wedding anniversary of father and mother. Crawford, the youngest son, now sixty- one years of age, received a common school education, worked on the farm when a. boy, clerked in a country store for three years, and until 1857 clerked in the Agricul- tural Bank of Herkimer until the bank closed. He came to Cleveland in 1858, where he kept books for the Union Glass Company, remaining in this position until Sep- tember 1, 1863, when the firm of Caswell & Company was formed, the members of the firm being William Foster, Forrest Farmer, H. J. Caswell and Crawford Getman. Mr. Getman's life for the remaining thirty-one years is the history of the glass man- ufacturing industry of Oswego county, which will be found elsewhere in this volume. Mr. Getman has never married. His sister, Kate, lives with him, caring for his home.

Green, Norman, was born in Richfield, May 13, 1807, settled in Hannibal in 1824, and bought 114 acres in the woods, which he cleared and lived there forty-eight years, building a stone house, three barns and other buildings on it. He married in 1837 Clarissa Waters of Otsego county, who died aged fifty-one years, leaving eight chil- dren: Nathan T., a farmer of Hannibal; Marion Armstrong, of Topeka, Kan. ; Ogden

FAMILY SKETCHES.

N., of Lincoln, Kan., who enlisted in 1862 in Co. F, 110th Regiment, and served dur- ing the war; Mrs. Ada J. Van Auken, of Hannibal; Cassius M., a lawyer of Green, Iowa: he is a graduate of the Normal School at Oswego; Mrs. Addie Cox, of Hanni- bal; Benjamin and Eva of Hannibal. Norman married Lydia Harriet Petit, who died, leaving one son, Walter V., a bookkeeper for the Northern Steamship Com- pany, Buffalo. He married second Mrs. Susan Palmer, who died, and he married his present wife, Mrs. Adelia Henderson. Subject held the office of commissioner of highways. Walter V. Green was educated at Chaffee's Shorthand School, Oswego. Silvis Green, father of Norman, was a soldier in the Revolution, and a cousin of General Greene.

Gardner, De Witt, was born in Cazenovia, Madison county, March 28, 1819, son of Benjamin and Polly (Allen) Gardner. He lived on his father's farm until sixteen, when he came to Fulton where two of his sisters were then living, Mrs. Frederick Seymour, and Amanda, a teacher in the Fulton schools. He found employment in the general store of Almon Tucker about two years. He was next employed by Lewis Falley, for about two years, after which he returned to Mr. Tucker. Two years later Mr. Tucker and Mr. Gardner became partners in business in the store. In 1841 Mr. Gardner withdrew and began business alone, and was a successful mer- chant of Fulton about twelve or thirteen years. During the latter part of this period he had as partners L. C. Seymour and E J. Carrington, who had been his former clerks. In 1855, with others, Mr. Gardner organized the Oswego River Bank, Mr. Wolcott being its president, while subject was cashier. After ten years of success- ful business as a State bank, the institution was reorganized as a national bank, Mr. Gardner still retaining the cashiership and practically directing its affairs. This position he held for twenty years and was then elected its president, in which capac- ity he still serves. Among his many other business interests we may mention that in 1865 Mr. Gardner and Mr. Seymour established a merchant flouring mill, which is now the St. Louis Mills, and we may further note the fact that Mr. Gardner has been an extensive builder in Fulton, and some of the largest structures, both public and mercantile, stand as monuments to his enterprise. His first wife was Elizabeth Simmons, by whom he had two children: Frances, wife of Henry Silkman, and Abbott. His second wife was Jane Townsend, and they had one child, Charles, who died in 1891 aged forty years. Mr. Gardner married third Sarah Smith, by whom he has one daughter, Alice May.

Gilbert, Hiram and Andrus, removed from Oneida county about 1830, and were pioneers in the locality named in their honor-Gilbertsville, and later Gilbert's Mills. They took up a large tract of land bordering on Six Mile Creek and proceeded at once to build a dam and grist mill, which Hiram, being a practical miller and mill- wright, operated in his own name for more than fifty years. A few years later he built a saw mill, which exists at the present time. Andrus built a store and ashery, which he successfully operated, the former being still in operation. They soon drew about them numerous settlers with thrifty habits, laid out and built up an enterpris- ing village, with schools and churches. Each was the father of nine children, four boys and five girls, nearly all of whom were married in their native town and have made good citizens. The children of Andrus moved into Western States many years ago. The father died at Niagara Falls in 1890, at the ripe age of ninety-two

LANDMARKS OF OSWEGO COUNTY.

years. The sons of Hiram settled in Fulton, and together have built and operated four of the seven flouring mills. Henry H. and Horace N., in 1855, first built the mill on the site of the Quartus Rust tool factory, now known as the Gage mill. A few years later H. N., in company with John J. Wolcott, built on the site of E. R. Redhead's paper mill; with this mill he was connected during the war. Mr. Gilbert volunteered in the service, but was not accepted. His next enterprise was rebuild- ing the burned Telegraph mill, which, in company with Thomas R. Wright, he oper- ated for about ten years; after which he traveled in pursuit of pleasure and informa- tion. Returning to Fulton, he introduced cable power in the town, and assisted his younger brothers in building the Oswego Mills, now owned by True Brothers. After several years he sold out and has since devoted his time to travel and literary pursuits. Mr. Gilbert has also built many fine dwellings in and about Fulton since his retire- ment from active business. He married first, in 1857, Sarah Parker, and they had one child, Edith, now Mrs. King, of Washington, D. C. He married second, Septem- ber 3, 1884, Caroline L. Gardner.

Drew, J. Graeme, leading bookseller and stationer of Fulton, also dealing largely in wall paper and fancy goods, located his business on Oneida street in 1890 and al- ready commands a large patronage. He was born 1858 at Jacksonville, Fla., where his late father, Columbus Drew, was a man of note, having been a confederate com- missioner during the war, and State comptroller from 1876 to 1880. J. Graeme in 1877 left the University of the South (Sewanee, Tenn.) on account of his mother's death, and turned his attention to pharmacy, taking a position as prescription clerk with L'Engle & Dell, at Jacksonville, Fla., where he remained until 1883. He then became associated with two brothers in his present line of business, and in the store first opened by his father in 1852. Soon after becoming a resident of Fulton, Mr. Drew allied himself with one of the first families of the village, by marriage to Grace Howe.

Rice, Arvin, son of Arvin and Lydia (Dada) Rice, was born March 23, 1845. The mother of our subject was formerly the wife of Amos C. Cowles. By her marriage with Mr. Rice one child, Arvin, jr., was born. He was brought up on a farm and educated at Falley Seminary, read law with Hon. G. W. Cowles of Clyde, N. Y., and was admitted to the bar in 1868. Mr. Rice at once began practice in the office of H. C. Howe of Fulton with whom he afterward formed a partnership which continued until Mr. Howe's death in 1889. In September following, the law firm of Piper & Rice was formed. In 1868 he married Libbie Giddings, who died in 1869, and in 1873 he married Fannie S. Howe, by whom he had four children. Mr. Rice is an earnest member of the Presbyterian Church and for eighteen years has been one of its elders. He has held the offices of town clerk, justice of the peace and supervisor.

Gurley, George, the son of Artemas and Martha Shepard Gurley, of Mansfield, Conn., was born in Mansfield, April6, 1809, in the homestead yet standing, the birth- place of his father. His grandfather, Jacob B. Gurley, was third in descent from William Gurley, who was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1665 and came to America in 1679. Jacob B. married, May 19, 1776, Hannah Brigham of Coventry, Conn. Of their ten children, Artemas, the eldest, was a native of Mansfield. March 29, 1792, he married Sarah, daughter of Rev. Dr. Steel, the first settled minister of Tolland,

FAMILY SKETCHES.

Conn. There were born four children: Lavina, Sarah, Abigail and Uriah B. By a second marriage with Mrs. Martha Shepard Hovey of Plainfield, Conn., there were born four children: Artemas S., George, Charles A. and Mary, the first and last dy- ing in infancy. Artemas Gurley was a farmer and much engaged in public business. He was several times elected to the Legislature, and in 1818 to the convention that framed the constitution annulling the taxation of all for the support of any one relig- ious sect. He was subsequently appointed judge of Windham county for two terms of three years each. He died in 1822 iu his fifty-third year, leaving a wife (who died in 1847), four daughters and three sons; no death occurred among the children for fifty-two years. The second son, the subject of this sketch, was educated in the com- mon and high schools of Mansfield and at an early age was apprenticed to learn the cabinet making trade at Windam Center, Conn. In 1832 he came to Pulaski and engaged in the manufacture of furniture, doing a steady, lucrative business and de- voted his time to administering estates and attending to personal matters. In 1835 he married Melissa, daughter of Ward Dimock of Coventry, Conn. ; one child, Mar- tha, was born, who still survives. In 1841 he married Sophia A., daughter of Rod- erick and Anna Brigham Dimock of Covenry ; their children are Mary R., Charles D., Anna B., Henry S., Roderick A., all of whom survive but one, Henry S., who died in 1879. In 1873 he married Mrs. Rebecca Frary of Pulaski; she died in 1891. Mr. Gurley has been deeply interested in educational affairs; he was one of the founders of Pulaski Academy, treasurer at the time of its erection, and was an active member of the board of trustees for twenty consecutive years, a portion of this time acting as president of the board. He has held many offices of trust in the community in which he has resided for over sixty-five years, and filled them to the entire satisfaction of those who reposed confidence in him-honest in purpose, true to right and just con- victions, inflexible in honor, wide reaching in intelligence. He now resides in the house he built and moved into fifty-eight years ago, carries the infirmities of age well, and still devotes his time tothe good of his surroundings enjoying the greater part of it in reading. His name is one of the household words of the vicinity in which he has so long resided, and will live with the truest and noblest who have won its chief honors.

Rudd, David, was born in Boylston, May 7, 1845, son of Rosel, who was born in Middletown, Vt., in 1809. Rosel A. Rudd was the eldest of five sons and three daughters of Samuel Rudd of Connecticut and was a farmer. He came to Boylston in 1844 where he settled on a farm and was for many years overseer of the poor. He married Adelia, daughter of Ethni Fillmore, Vermont, by whom he had seven chil. dren, Ellen M., Hiram D., Wm. H. H., George W., Eli J., and Chester F. When David was twenty-one years old he began to work on a farm and has continued that vocation up to the present. In 1879 he purchased the farm he now lives on. He makes a specialty of potato raising. In March, 1868, he married Nettie M. Larmouth of Boylston, by whom he had two children, Mary E., deceased, and Leonard J. In 1884, Mr. Rudd married Mrs. Mary (Fredrick) Fry, of Worth, Jefferson county. They are both members of the M. P. Church, of which Mr. Rudd has been one of the trus- tees since 1884.

Wells, Eugene .- One of the first farms cleared in the town of Boylston was the one now owned by Eugene Wells at North Boylston. It was cleared by Mr. Wells's grand-

LANDMARKS OF OSWEGO COUNTY.

father, a Welshman, who, with his wife Sally, came to Boylston in 1820. To him was born five children. He died in 1854 aged sixty-nine years. Of three sons, Luke, father of Eugene, married Delira Case of Williamstown, a cousin of J. I. Case, who went west and located in Racine, Wis., and became one of the largest manufacturers of the West. To Luke was born seven children. When Eugene was eight years old his father moved to Munnsville, Jefferson county, and later to Watertown. Eugene, at the age of twenty-one, with his father returned to North Boylston and purchased the old farm. Eugene married Sally Huffstater of North Boylston (the Huffstaters having settled in Boylston when it was a new country) and has three children, Ed- ward, Arthur and Ada. Later Eugene became the sole owner of the old farm, his father going to North Freedom. Wis., where he died in 1888. Eugene built one of the largest and best cheese fatories, with store and dwelling, at North Boylston in 1888, in which he now resides. A second factory with store will be built at Smart- ville on the place Mr. Wellslately purchased from the Dyk Brothers, on which he now has a blacksmith shop and dwelling house. Mr. Wells is recognized as one of the best farmers in the town. He was elected justice of the peace in 1892.

Brando, M. H .- His father, James H. Brando, born in Greene county, the adven- tures of whose youthful days included a runaway voyage on a whaling ship, married Nancy Jocelyn, who was of Herkimer county birth and by whom he had four chil- dren, of whom Marlon is the eldest. James Brando was a master mechanic, a genial gentleman, and a fearless advocate of the abolition of slavery. This belief and practice led him into personal and friendly relations with the great leaders of abolition of those days. His home was then at Parish, where he was engaged in the practice of the blacksmithing trade, and at which place Marlon was born August 14, 1843. Marlon was educated at the public schools of Rome, and owing to the early death of his father and to the reduced state of the family finances, entered when a boy the grocery of A. Ethridge & Co. at Rome, where he remained two years. In 1859, soon after his father's death, he walked from Parish to Fulton in search of employment, which he soon found in the general store of Birdseye & French. In 1862 he was acting as deputy postmaster at Fulton, and since that time his versatile abilities have made an assured success of his commercial life. At the closing of the E. J. Carrington store at Fulton, of which he had been head clerk for a period of ten years, he subse- quently represented the firm of Ostrander, Loomis & Co. of Syracuse for thirteen years on the road. During the years he was intrusted with the New England representation of a New York tea house, his home was at Providence, R. I., returning to Fulton in 1891. He is now in the tea business, associated with George B. Kester & Co. of New York, Philadelphia and Chicago, and domiciled in a charming home on the park near Falley Seminary. His daughter, Belle, is his only child. Her mother, Mary E. Taylor, died in 1868. In 1872 Mr. Brando married Ellen, daughter of Ziba Kendall, who settled in Volney at a period when the ox team was the prevailing mode of locomotion, and who founded a family escutcheon highly prized by his descend- ants.

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Landmarks of Oswego County, New York, Part 106

Author: Churchill, John Charles, 1821-1905; Smith, H. P. (Henry Perry), 1839-1925; Child, W. Stanley Publication date: 1895 Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason Number of Pages: 1410

Author: Churchill, John Charles, 1821-1905; Smith, H. P. (Henry Perry), 1839-1925; Child, W. Stanley
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason
Number of Pages: 1410