Landmarks of Oswego County, New York, Part 108

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 108

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In May, 1885, there was celebrated at their home in Fulton the fiftieth anniversary of the marriage of Calvin S. Osgood and Dolly (Howe) Osgood. Calvin S. Osgood was born at Vernon, Oneida county, December 7, 1810. He removed to Pulaski, N. Y., in the year 1849, and was engaged in the manufacture of wagons at that place. In later years he was the owner of a large farm in Volney. He came to reside in Fulton in 1854, becoming a pillar of society and a deacon of the Baptist church, which could impose no burden too heavy for his cheerful acceptance. He was a trustee of the village, and also one of the original trustees of the Fulton Savings Bank. His

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death occurred December 5, 1889, at the age of seventy-nine years. As a man, a Christian man, a neighbor and a citizen, he was respected by all who knew him. His end was blessed. The faithful partner of his joys and sorrows survived him until May 24, 1892, she being then eighty-three years of age. Of her devoted and unselfish life no eulogy is needed. Their two daughters, Jane Frances and Elizabeth J., who of six children alone remain, cherish the pleasant home on First street, where their parents lived and died, as eloquent with tender reminiscences.

Olmstead, Gilbert Orrimel, was born in Orwell, June 5, 1848, son of Orrimel Olmstead, of Delaware county, whose father was Samuel. Orrimel came to Orwell in 1835, and engaged in farming, and was also a merchant in the village of Orwell for many years. He served as supervisor several years and held other minor offices. By his first wife he had two children, Permelia and Prudence. By his second wife, Betsey E. Crocker, he had five children, Celia M., Samuel M., Gilbert O., Arthur E., and Etta, deceased. In 1862 he enlisted in Company C, 110th N. Y. Infantry, as captain. Upon his return home he resumed his mercantile business until a few years before his death, when his son Arthur succeeded him in the business. Gilbert began life as a farmer, which vocation he has followed for many years. In 1882 he removed to Orwell and devotes his time between his farming and engineering. Mr. Olmstead has served as town clerk. He is a member of Welcome Lodge No. 680, I. O. O. F., in Orwell, and the Pulaski Encampment of the same order, also a member of the Royal Templars of Temperance. In February, 1869, he married Teresa, daughter of Weaver and Mary A. Snyder, of Boylston, born in 1853, and died in 1876, leaving two children, Samuel J., born June 21, 1872, and Etta, born June 7, 1875, died May 10, 1883. In March, 1877, he married Mary, daughter of J. N. and Sarah A. Stowell, of Orwell. They have two children, Ruth, born March 27, 1886, and Bessie, born May 1, 1889.

O'Keefe, Thomas E., was born in Oswego, June 19, 1842. His father and mother were both born in Kilkenny, Ireland. Both came to this country in the year 1814, where they have ever since resided. His mother died three years ago at the age of seventy-seven years. His father is still living, aged eighty years. In May, 1869, he started in the wholesale liquor business in a small way at his present stand, Nos. 114 and 116 East First street, which has continued to grow in size until the present time, and it is now conceded to be one of the largest establishments of this kind in the State of New York. He is the distiller and sole owner of the following brands of Nelson county, Kentucky, whiskies: "Woodcock" and "Beaver Run' Bourbons ; 'Monteagle " and " Hazelwood" Ryes.

Wilcox, H. Dwight, one of the leading men of Granby and representative of an old pioneer family, is the son of the late Morgan Wilcox, who with his brother, David Wilcox, removed from Onondaga county to Granby at a very early date, and to the personal influence of whose family the present state of advancement of civilization in that vicinity is largely due. Morgan Wilcox lived to be nearly eighty years of age, and David lived to nearly ninety-seven years. His wife was Caroline Satterlee, by whom he had five sons, Almon, Leroy (deceased), Dwight, Henry, and Morgan, half brother. Dwight was born in Granby, June 7, 1838, and has for most of his life been engaged in farming, having but recently retired from active business and become a

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resident of the village of Oswego Falls. He married in 1860 Ann E. Fox, of Fort Plain, by whom he has three children, John M., born December 26, 1862; Lena, born April 16, 1868, and Howard Albert, born January 15, 1870. The elder son died in Missouri, June 21, 1891; Lena died in early infancy, and Howard, only surviving child, is now an employee of F. J. Whitcomb of Granby.

Wheeler, Fred D., was born in Oswego, a son of Morgan, born in Jefferson county, who died in this county aged forty-four, and of Margaret Glosford, his wife, a native of Ontario, Canada, who survives him. The great-grandfather was one of the men who assisted in unloading the tea from the British ships in Boston Harbor at the time of the Revolution. The father of our subject was a vessel owner, was city alderman, and a prominent man in the affairs of his town. Fred D. was educated in Oswego, and first engaged in superintending his father's interests. He then con- ducted a grocery store three years, and for the next four years was foreman of the Kingsford Supply Store. He was elected alderman in 1886-87, appointed deputy collector of internal revenue in March, 1894, serving four months, when the Oswego Division was consolidated with the Auburn District, and is now holding the position of city clerk. January 29, 1880, he married Eleanor M. Crippen, of Elba, Genesee county, at Batavia, N. Y., a daughter of John and Roxanna Crippen, and their chil- dren are Mabel E., born December 29, 1880; Raymond W., born October 29, 1883; and Pauline, born March 6, 1886.

Upton, E. C., was born in Sandy Creek, November 30, 1840, a son of Elijah and Nancy (Vincent) Upton, natives of Vermont, who came to Sandy Creek at an early day. Elijah Upton was a farmer by occupation and located at an early day on the farm now owned by our subject, where he died in 1863, and his wife in 1872. Subject was reared on the farm and has always followed farming on the homestead, which he now owns. He has 150 acres where he resides, and sixty acres in the town of Richland, and carries on general farming and dairying. He has represented the town as supervisor two years, commissioner eleven years, and is at present highway commissioner. In 1863 he married Victoria J., daughter of Lewis and Sarah C. Carr, of Richland, by whom he has five sons: Clarence E., farmer in Nebraska; Charles B., a farmer in Sandy Creek; Jay L., Malcolm J., and Earl D., at home. They give their support to the M. E. church.

Stiles, Francis, was born in Boston, Mass., in 1847. His father, Francis Stiles, sr., a manufacturer of edge tools, removed from Boston to Leicester, Mass., in 1853. During the succeeding eighteen years Francis not only acquired an academic edu- cation at Leicester, but thorough technical training in mechanic arts, supplemented by a commercial course at Springfield, Mass. At Riegelsville, N. J., in 1870, he em- barked in business life as a manufacturer of knives and edge tools, and during the twenty-two years so engaged built up an important and lucrative business. In 1891 he disposed of the New Jersey plant and removed to Fulton, becoming associated with F. S. Taylor, R. A. Skinner, and G. C. Webb, in the Fulton Paper Company, in the manufacture of wood pulp, Mr. Stiles being president of the company. During his short residence in Fulton Mr. Stiles has made hosts of friends by his genial and unassuming character.

Remington, Rufus E., was born in Ellisburg November 16, 1850, the oldest of three

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children of Allen and Susan (Shoecraft) Remington, natives of Ellisburg and Boyls- ton, respectively. The paternal grandfather was Jonathan Remington, a native of Massachusetts, and one of the first settlers of Ellisburg. The maternal grandfather was Matthew Shoecraft, one of the first settlers of Boylston, who was also in the war of 1812. The father of our subject was a prominent man in town affairs, having served as assessor several terms, and he and wife were active members of the M. E. Church. Rufus E. was educated in Ellisburg and has resided nearly all his life in Oswego county as a farmer, excepting four years spent in the milk business in the city of Os- wego. He came to the farm he now owns in 1892, buying 140 acres of the Oyer home- stead, and also a part of the Tifft farm, and keeping a dairy. He is a member of Sandy Creek Grange. In 1874 Mr. Remington married Ruth C., daughter of Walter Pierce, and they have three children: Virgil E., Dora J. and Kate R.

Moss, J. S., was born at Volney Center in 1855. He was the second son of the late King Moss, who died in 1867, whose wife was, Susannah H. Taft, and who died in 1891. There were three sons, Herbert G., Joseph S., and Elbert K. H. G. died in 1887. Joseph finished his education at Falley Seminary at the age of seventeen and commenced the business. At the age of twenty-one he found himself several hun- dred dollars worse off than nothing and his home was sacrificed. He then began as a produce dealer and later engaged in market gardening, which he has carried on successfully to the present time. In 1880 he married Flora A. Casten of Oswego, who died in 1885, leaving one daughter, Mabel, now thirteen years old. His present wife was Jennie A. Burkhardt of Oswego. In 1892 he purchased the old homestead, and refitted and converted it into a model truck farm. Some of his specialties are gold leaf sauerkraut, fancy pickles and vinegar. His wife has contributed valuable aid in his business, and been instrumental inits success and in beautifying their home. He is not only an energetic and successful business man, but a genial and whole-souled gentleman, and deserves the fullest measure of success.

Millot, John B., was born in Leraysville, Jefferson county, September 11, 1838, son of Louis, born in France, and Martilla (Bader) Millot, born on the Atlantic Ocean. The father was a physician of forty years' practice, and died in Jefferson county, aged sixty-eight. The grandfather, John, was born in Paris and died at the age of one hundred aud four years; he was a surgeon in the French army. John B. was educated in Jefferson county ; he worked on the canal for thirteen years, and in 1865 came to Oswego and opened a restaurant. . In 1874he started the Oswego City Brew- ery, located on the Oswego River, which he still conducts. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. In 1865 he married Henrietta, daughter of David and Sally (Penfield) Doolittle of Oswego. They had five children: Norman F., born May 28, 1866, de- ceased; Maud E., born July 21, 1869, married Owen K. Klinc of Lyons June 6, 1893; Mabel C., born May 24, 1879; Genevieve, born January 27, 1882; and Henrietta, born October 30, 1884. The latter three are in the High School. Mr. Millot has one brother, George R., who enlisted in the 35th N. Y. Vols. at Watertown, served two years, and receives a pension ; he was born in Leraysville in 1840.

Tilton, James B., was born in Hammond, St. Lawrence county, in 1847. His grandfather, Peter, came from Dutchess county to Oneida county, where he married Nancy Atkins, who came from England when nine years of age. Joseph A., son of

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Peter and Nancy, was born in Oneida county. He was one of a family of twelve chil- dren, and moved with his parents to Hammond, where he married Cecilia, daughter of James and Margaret Battell. Joseph and Cecilia raised four children: Rozell, married Rachel, daughter of C. J. and Catharine Huffstatter of Boylston; Elizabeth A. (Mrs. John Helms) of Spring Valley, Rockland county; Margaret (Mrs. Warren Horton) of Hopewell, Dutchess county ; and James B. The family moved to Boylston in 1858 and settled on the farm where James now resides. The two boys cleared up the farm, which was almost a dense forest, their father being in poor health. In 1869 James married M. Alice, daughter of Adam and Sally Coppernoll of Boylston; she was born September 30, 1849; her father was born in Oneida county and her mother in Boylston, she being a daughter of Abram Snyder. In 1872 Joseph B. died. The family were members of the M. E. church. James raised a family of three children : Orla A., born October 24, 1871, married Naomi, daughter of Charles B. and Harriet Woodard; W. Rozell, born July 19, 1873; and Nina A., born April 29, 1879. Mrs. James Tilton died August 3, 1894, leaving Nina to care for the home. Politically James is a Republican, and has held several town offices, and his motto is to do as he would be done by.

Hutchins, Lewis H .- As early as 1808 John Hutchins, of English descent and New England parentage, bought 200 acres of timber land of lot 11, now Bower's Corners. Ten years later he removed to the town of Oswego, on the Grayridge road, three miles from then Oswego village. About 1835 he removed to Ohio, where he died some ten years later. His second son, David Hutchins, remained here, becoming before his majority a soldier in the war of 1812, serving until the close in the 23d Regiment of Infantry. In 1830 he married Electa Finch, and in 1835 purchased the farm which he occupied until his death, which occurred in 1873 at the age of eighty- one, at that time being the oldest pioneer in the town. To Lewis H., his only son, he left the priceless heritage of an untarnished name and the example of a life work well done. March 26, 1894, the subject married Eliza F., daughter of John H. and Sophia Harris, by whom he has one daughter, Genevra E., born August 9, 1876; and the daughter of a deceased sister, Ethel A. Dix, now eleven years old, has been adopted into their heart and home. He has been justice of the peace and notary public, having held the latter office fifteen years. Mrs. Hutchins taught school in town a number of years; she is the granddaughter of Dr. Augustus Harris, one of the original members of the Albany County Medical Society, which was organized in 1806; in 1820 he removed to Van Buren, Onondaga county, where he resided until his death in April, 1857, aged eighty-one years.

McCaffrey, Henry D., was born on Island Noah, Canada (on Lake Champlain), June 14, 1841, a son of Charles, born in the city and county of Armagh, Ireland, who died in Centerville, Canada, aged seventy-nine, and was buried with Masonic honors. He was a lifelong Mason. Mary (Davis) McCaffrey, his wife, was born in Bath, En- gland, and died in Centerville, Canada, aged seventy-two years. The father was in the British service, connected with the Engineer Department at the time of our sub- ject's birth. The latter first attended a military school at Kingston, Ontario. He came to Oswego, N. Y., when quite a young boy, and worked at different vocations, and attended school when possible during the winter months. At the breaking out of the war in 1861 he enlisted in the 12th Regiment, N. Y. Vols. After the Military

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Telegraph Corps was organized he entered that department and served in the line of construction of telegraph during the war, and has since, and is now connected with telegraph and telephone construction. He has been connected with all the chief lines of the United States during their construction. He crossed the continent in the sixties, and is well versed in the geographical lay of the country, having built lines over the United States territories and British America. In 1870 he came east to accept a position with the N. Y. O. & W. R. R. Co. as general lineman, having full charge of the lines between New York and Oswego. In 1873 he married Mary A. Fitzsimmons, and their children now living are Ida M., born August 5, 1874; Cora A., Laura E., Henry D. R., Frederick J., and Walter C. Mr. McCaffrey commenced constructing in a small way in 1879, and has worked his way up to be one of the largest and most successful constructors in telegraph and telephone construction in America. In 1883 and 1884 he represented the First Ward in the city of Oswego as alderman, and was elected mayor in March, 1888. Mr. McCaffrey is a Republican in politics. He is connected with all the charitable institutions of the city. He is now a trustee of the Oswego City Hospital, Oswego Orphan Asylum, Oswego County Savings Bank, also a director of the Oswego Casket Company. The family all attend and are members of Christ Episcopal Church. Mr. McCaffrey has served as vestryman of said church for a number of years. He is also connected with the Masonic fraternity, is a 32d degree Mason, also an Odd Fellow. Mr. McCaffrey is at present engaged in buying telegraph poles in Canada, and supplies the various tele- graph and telephone companies in the United States and Canada.

Highriter, D. C., M. D., Fulton. His father was Henry H. Highriter, who came here from Auburn in 1837. He first learned the hatter's trade with an elder brother, John, at which he worked about seven years. With the spirit of adventure andenter- prise he went to sea, cruising about the South Pacific in a whaling ship, and was absent on a single voyage four years, a fact almost incredible in these days of swift steamships and brief voyages. After his return to Fulton he took up wagonmaking and the millwright trade, making of the latter his chief business in later life. Novem- ber 27, 1849, he married Charlotte Robinson, by whom he had four children: Eugene, who died aged twenty-nine; Henry Arthur, of Chicago; Frederick B., of Syracuse; and Dana C. Mrs. Highriter's father, Benjamin Robinson, came here from Manlius in 1806, a pioneer teacher in Volney and Granby, and later became a farmer and reared a family of twelve children. Dr. Highriter began the study of medicine at eighteen, with Dr. Bacon of Fulton, and graduated from Baltimore College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1887, beginning practice in the town of New Haven, where he remained six years. June 7, 1890, he married Miss Maude Boomer, of Fulton, who was also born here, and is the daughter of John V. Boomer. She has one daughter, Helen, born January 12, 1891. In 1893 Dr. Highriter returned to Fulton, and is associated with Dr. N. F. Hall. He has a very successful practice.

Hawthorne, Robert, was born in County Armagh, Ireland, August 14, 1814, and is the son of Robert and Jane Hawthorne. In 1822 the father came to this country, settling at Deerfield, Oneida county. Two years later the subject and his sister Jane followed their parents to America. For about five years Robert, jr., was hired out by his father, and in 1829 he came to Schroeppel where he lived for many years and became a prosperous farmer. Here he married Mary Young in 1835, by whom he

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had seven children: Mary J., wife of J. J. Keller of Syracuse ; Carrie V., who died in 1877, the wife of Prof. John E. Sweet of Syracuse; William, who died in childhood; Delia, wife of George Huntley of Phoenix; Margaret, wife of Henry Owen of Fulton ; Kate, who remains with her in Fulton; and Robert W. of Schroeppel. Of late years Robert has retired from farming and is living in Fulton. The family is connected with the M. E. church.

Lewis, Edward H., deceased, was owner and proprietor of the Lewis House in Fulton. He resided in the village of Fulton thirteen years. He was a native of Kinderhook, N. Y., but in early childhood moved with his parents to Canada. He married Miss Mary Nichols, by whom he had seven children. About 1858 he moved to Binghamton and thence in 1863 came to Fulton, and in 1869 moved to Syracuse, N. Y., and in October, 1875, moved back to Fulton, where he resided until his death, which occurred May 19, 1876. Thomas D. Lewis, his youngest son, was born at Shannonville, Canada, July 7, 1853. At the age of nineteen he became associated with his father in business at Syracuse, N. Y., and after his father's death continued the business alone one year. In 1877 he came to Fulton and took charge of the Lewis House, which he managed until 1881. Mr. Lewis is constantly engaged with his coal, metal and real estate interests, and is one of the most active young men of the town. He has been supervisor of the town of Volney five years, and was elected last year, 1894, by the unprecedented majority of 696 to serve for two years under the new law. He was also elected the same year, president of the village of Fulton by 217 majority. He is a past master of Hiram Lodge No. 144, and at 'present high priest of Fulton Chapter No. 167, R. A. M. ; noble grand of Neahtawanta Lodge No. 245 and a 33d and last degree Mason of the Scottish Rite and a member of Zigara Temple, of Utica, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine.

Harrington, Jay C., born at Granby Center February 21, 1861, is the only child now living of the late John C. Harrington; another son, Goodell, having died in 1882 when twenty-three yearsof age. John C. Harrington, born at Missisqui Bay, Canada, in 1802, came to Granby about 1850 and thenceforward occupied a central position in the social and political annals of the town. Among the various enterprises which owe their success largely to his supervision, were the Chenango Canal and the old Hannibal plank road. He was a warm personal friend of Gerrit Smith and of Fred- eric Douglas, both of whom frequently visited at his home in Granby Center. He was not only an earnest and fearless advocate of abolition of slavery, but openly be- friended fugitive slaves, and was present at the Jerry Rescue in Syracuse. Always a champion of temperance, he stood at the front of the prohibitory movement when it first assumed political significance. His wife, Mary Whitney, who survives him, is of an old Massachusetts family whose genealogy begins at Plymouth Rock and the Mayflower. Jay C. Harrington acquired a thorough business training at Rochester University, having been a student at Falley, Lima and Cazenovia. In 1882 he en- gaged in the grocery trade at Oswego Falls, and five years later found him across the continent at Pasadena, Cal. He is now reckoned among the progressive business men of Fulton, associated with Edward Quirk as dealers in carriages, agricultural implements, etc., but still domiciled in Granby, where he has with honor to himself and pride to his constituents served as town clerk and supervisor. In 1893 he mar- ried Elizabeth, daughter of H. H. Merriam, esq., of Granby.

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Howe, Abraham, was born in Marlboro, Mass., February 18, 1823, a son of Amory and Mary (Brigham) Howe. Amory came to Granby in 1822, built a house and brought his family to the town in 1823. Abraham was educated in the district schools, after which he taught school, including three years in the Oswego city pub- lic schools. Later on he entered Oberlin College for two years. At Elyria, O., Mr. Howe read law for a time and returning to Baldwinsville, N. Y., he continued the same study with Judge Stansbury, but was never admitted to the bar. He returned to Oswego county and became surrogate's clerk and for several years following was an active factor in local politics, was deputy sheriff, etc. At length Mr. Howe en- gaged in real estate enterprises, and with Mr. Kennedy purchased the site of and built up Oswego Falls, by establishing the first factory in that village, In the fall of 1869, Mr. Howe was elected to the Assembly, and re-elected in 1870, where he pro- cured the charter for the Fulton Savings Bank, and has been its president since 1886. He has been its treasurer and managing officer for the last seventeen years. In Lysander he married Eunice Kennedy, by whom he had one child, Grace, wife of Graeme Drew, of Jacksonville, Fla.

Emmons, Samuel, was born in Pillar Point, Jefferson county, July 27, 1840, a son of Ebenezer and Chloe Emmons. The father came from the Eastern States and was a blacksmith. About 1869 he settled in this town, and bought a farm, which business he followed till his death, at the age of eighty-four. His wife was a daughter of Samuel McNett, a captain in the War of 1812, and for whom our subject was named. Samuel was the fourth of their seven children, and for sixteen years was a sailor. At the time the war broke out he enlisted, in 1861, in the 24th N. Y. Vols., first, and after the expiration of his time he again enlisted in the 20th N. Y. Cavalry, serving until the close of the war. He was in twenty seven regular engagements, and was slightly wounded three times. Mr. Emmons married Luella, daughter of Lyman Wright, of Albion, and they have three children: Eva J., Viola L., and Claude M. Mr. Emmons is a member of the G. A. R. post at Pulaski.

Ebblie, William A., was born in Lewis connty February 15, 1863, son of William H. and Julia (Archer) Ebblie, both born in Lewis county. They were of German descent. The mother died in Lewis county at the age of seventy-four years. The father is still living at the age of seventy-six. William A. was educated in Lowville, graduating in the class of 1879. He first worked as a machinist for one year; then clerked in a clothing store for five years. After this he became manager of a store in North Adams, Mass., then manager of a store in Watertown. In 1887 he came to Oswego and opened a store for himself at 211 W. First street, which he still conducts, handling household goods and novelties, such as glass, crockery, plated and tin ware, jewelry, stationery, toys, fancy goods, confectionery, wood and willow ware. It is the only store of the kind in the county. He also has a store of the same class in Binghamton. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. In 1887 he married Carrie M., daughter of Henry and Sarah A. Cooper, of Watertown. They have one child, Lena J., born July 29, 1889.

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Landmarks of Oswego County, New York, Part 108

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