Landmarks of Oswego County, New York, Part 126

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 126

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Minckler, David S., was born in Richland in 1840, and in 1862 married Elizabeth Markham, a native of Jefferson county, who came to Oswego county when four years old. Her parents were William and Beulah (Tyler) Markham, her mother being a native of Mexico and daughter of Asa Tyler, one of Mexico's earliest settlers. Mr. Minckler lives on his wife's old home place, and they have four children: Lula, now Mrs. Albert Vaughn, Gates, Charles and Claude. Philip Minckler, the father, was born in Columbia county in 1803, moved to Montgomery county in youth and there married Laura Allen, and moved to Oswego county about 1830. They died in Rich- land in 1885 and 1879 respectively.

Myers, Alexander, of Mexico was born in 1820 in Onondaga county. He married in 1841 Amanda Dennis, daughter of Benjamin Dennis, a native of Vermont, and has lived on his present place near Arthur since 1848. They have had ten children, eight surviving. B. F. Myers, son of Alexander and Amanda Myers, was born in Mexico in 1847, married in 1873 Lucia E. Gates, a native of Oswego county, who died in 1879 leaving one child, Ida E. Mr. Alexander afterward married Julia A., daughter of Horace Kilbourn. He has been Arthur's postmaster for the past four- teen years. Jacob Myers, father of Alexander, was a captain in the war of 1812, was born in Onondaga county and died in Mexico in 1860. Henry Myers, the grandfather of Alexander, was a native of Onondaga county, and came to Hastings, Oswego

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county, about 1832, where he lived to be over ninety years of age. His wife died in Mexico in 1848, aged 103 years.

Maury, Oliver B., is a native of Oswego county, born in 1848, and in 1872 married Ella A. Calkins. In 1864 he enlisted in the 184th Regiment, Co. G, and is now serv . ing his third term as inspector of elections. His father, Ephraim D., was born in Oswego county in 1827, and was a descendant of one of the brothers who came from Wales and settled in Rhode Island. His first wife, the mother of Oliver B., was Helen Peckham, a native of Madison county, who died in 1885, leaving six children.

Manning, John W., was born March 30, 1850, in Williamstown, son of Christopher and Betsey Manning, who moved to West Amboy when subject was one year old. He was educated in West Amboy, started in by working on his father's farm, then bought a farm of his own and went to Pennsylvania. Thirteen years ago Mr. Man- ning moved to Parish, lived four years on the Philip Hess farm, then worked his present farm two years on shares, and then purchased it. His farm consists of 174 acres in a fine state of cultivation, and he has a reputation as a progressive farmer second to none in the county, his butter being especially noted. He married Mary Parish, and has three children, Dewitt C., Willie A. and Edgar J.

Matthews, Virgil L., was born June 4, 1844, in Parish, son of John F. and Malona (Fairchild) Matthews, the former being an early settler of Parish. Subject was ed- ucated in Mexico, and went to California in 1856. He returned in 1859 and engaged in farming, which he continued until the war, when he enlisted in Co. A, 2d N. Y. Heavy Artillery, served one year and was discharged on account of disability. He owns a house and lot in Parish, and receives a soldier's pension for services in the army. He married Louisa French, by whom he has two children, Ida M. and Dow.

Mattison, Hampton L., was born in this county, July 16, 1831, a son of Solomon (of Vermont) and Lydia (Hines) Mattison (born in Rhode Island), both now deceased. The grandfather, Caleb, was a soldier in the Revolution, and the father in the war of 1812. Hampton L. was educated in Oswego county, and first engaged in the meat business, which he conducted fifteen years. He has also been a commercial traveler, and a general speculator. He started the first fruit evaporting plant in the county. In 1886 he started a coal yard, which he still conducts, being agent for the Scranton coal and the principal retailer in the city. Mr. Mattison has taken a prominent part iu local politics, has served as city assessor, and was candidate for mayor in 1893. April 17, 1859, he married Janet, daughter of Willard and Lucy (Sanderson) Loomis, and they have had two children, Kate A., who married Prof. George B. Stephens, D. D .; and Mary, who married Frank Woodsworth, a lawyer of Minneapolis, Minn.

Murdock, J. H., was born in Fulton, town of Volney, Oswego county, April 7, 1833. His parents moved to Oswego city when he was an infant. He learned the trade of cooper and followed it successfully for many years. In 1877 he began farming, which he has since pursued. He married Ellen Keenskern, and they have two chil- dren, Ella, now Mrs. Frank Carrier, and Edna, now Mrs. Charles Carrier. Mr. Murdock was alderman for the 6th ward, Oswego city, for four years. His father was Irwin R. Murdock, and his mother Sally (Hines) Murdock.

Murphy, M. L., one of the most popular young men of Oswego Falls, was born at dd

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Chippewa, Ontario, November 25, 1864. He is the youngest son of the late Michael Murphy. When one year of age he came to Oswego Falls, and before the attainment of his majority had learned the plumber's trade, which he practiced for twelve years. In 1893 Mr. Murphy served as secretary of the Board of Health, and in March, 1894, was elected clerk of the town of Granby, being the first incumbent of that office elected to a two year term.

Marsh, C. Fred, justice of the peace since 1889, is by heredity, education and char- acter peculiarly fitted for so responsible a position among his fellow men. His father was the late I. W. Marsh, who was born at Amherst, Mass., in 1826 and came with his father, Orsemus Marsh, to Bowen's Corners in 1829 and during his residence of more than half a century here became largely identified with public affairs. He was commissioner of schools, justice and supervisor, holding each of these positions for long terms of years. His children are E. J. Marsh, the well-known physician ; C. Fred and Isaac Ernest, now in business at Picton, Ontario. His widow, Marietta, now sixty-six years of age, survives him. C. Fred acquired the basis of his education at Falley Seminary. His wife is Eliza, daughter of James Fort of Granby, and they have one daughter, Millie A., born July 1, 1878.

Mason, D. E., proprietor of the Fulton Woodenware Works, began his business career as an employee of a mercantile house at Dryden, Tompkins county, N. Y., at which place he was born in 1842, the son of a farmer. In 1866 he began the man- ufacture of woodenware at Fulton, making a specialty of butter packages. During twenty-eight years of steady growth the business has attained substantial proportions, and by close personal attention and square dealing, Mr. Mason has gained an envia- ble reputation. The capacity of the plant in butter tubs alone is now five hundred per day. An appropriate adjunct of the business is the Diamond Excelsior Works, producing a carload per week and controlling a large trade throughout Central New York. This factory is operated by Geo. E. Mason, the elder son, by whom it was established in 1892. Mr. Mason's younger son, Bert E., a graduate of Fulton Acad- emy, is associated with his father as bookkeeper and stenographer. In 1863 Mr. Mason married Miss Amelia C. Watson of Dryden, N. Y., whose father, George E. Watson, is also a manafacturer of the same line of goods at that place.

Merton, John H., was born October 10, 1837, and was the son of James Merton. The father came from Sussex county, England, and settled in Lysander. His wife was Jane White, by whom he had eight children, four of whom are now living. He moved to Volney in 1840 and died at that place. When only eight years old John Merton began work on the canal. He afterward run a boat and still later owned several of them. In 1870 he bought and conducted a canal grocery at the Basin, from which place in 1892 he moved to the village. Mr. Merton has been a successful business man and now enjoys a full share of the public confidence. He has held the offices of town collector and village president. In 1859 he married Adeline Jewett, by whom he had three children.

Moore, Robert L., was born in Oswego, August 18, 1850, and is a dealer in carpets, rugs, mattings, oilcloths, tents, flags, lace window curtains, portieres, shades, bed- ding, shelf hardware, and a full line of house furnishing goods. His father, Thomas, was born in Ireland, and died in this county and city, aged sixty-four. He married

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Mary Cochran who died here aged sixty-seven. Thomas was a Presbyterian minis- ter. Robert L. was educated in the public schools, and graduated from the com- mercial college. He kept books twelve years, then engaged in the above business, which he has continued successfully. In 1874 he married Hattie Fayette of Oswego, daughter of John B. and Margaret Colon. Our subject is an Odd Fellow, and a member of the Episcopal church.

Morrow, James, born in Auburn in 1842, came to Fulton at twelve years of age without advantages save a meagre schooling, and no capital except indomitable in- dustry. He worked as a farmer until twenty years of age, then went into the grocery of Gage & Hancock where he remained for five years. In 1864 he enlisted in the 184th N. Y. Vols. Co. A, and served with credit until the close of hostilities. In 1882 Mr. Morrow went into business on his own account as a grocer in the Lewis House Block, and has achieved a substantial success. His wife is Medora C., whose father, the late Robert Anderson, was long a prominent merchant at Oswego. Mrs. Morrow is the youngest of three daughters. Mr. Anderson in 1836 purchased a tract of land at Fifth and Utica streets, Oswego, which has appreciated largely in value. But he is remembered less for his business sagacity and success than for his many unosten- tatious charities and quiet benevolence.

Malcolm, Willliam G., jr., was born in the city of Oswego June 2, 1857, and was educated in the schools here. He held positions in the Ontario National and the Second National Banks for a period of fourteen years, and was then in the drug busi- ness for eleven years. For four years he followed contracting and recently has been living on his farm in the town of Oswego. In 1887 he married Anna Mannering. They have two children, Hilda and Winifred S. Mr. Malcolm's father was Capt. W. S. Malcolm, who was a lake captain, and the oldest at the time of his death in Oswego county. His mother was Emma (Lawrence) Malcolm.

Merry, Addison D., attorney, is a native of Schroeppel, born in 1860 and graduated from Cornell, class of 1880; studied law with Judge Avery, admitted to the bar in 1883, and has since been a member of the firm of Avery & Merry. In 1880 he mar- ried Carrie E., daughter of Albert T. Vickery and has three children, George Har- old, Albert E. and Carrie L. He is president of the Phoenix Bank, secretary of the Phoenix Knife Co., vice-president of the Phoenix Hot Water Heater Co., and was assistant district attorney from 1891 to 1894.

Mead, Sheldon B., was born in Fulton January 3, 1850, and is the son of Wash- burn and Adelia A. (Schufeldt) Mead. The father came from Greene county about 1840 and engaged for a time in the furniture business. After thirty years' residence in this locality he moved to Rockford, Ill., where he nowlives. Sheldon was educated at Falley Seminary, and afterwards was engaged in mechanical work for about ten years. He then read law in the office of Judge Tyler and was admitted to the bar in 1879. He remained in Judge Tyler's office about three years, then practiced alone until 1884, when the firm of Mead & Strannahan was formed, but in 1891 Mr. Mead withdrew from the firm and has since practiced alone. In the fall of 1884 he was elected district attorney. On October 15, 1873, Sheldon married Mary L. Hewitt of Granby. They have one child, Rina L.

Morey, Orlo B., was born in Sandy Creek September 24, 1870, the only child of

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Joel and Persis A. (White) Morey, the former a native of Sandy Creek, born October 21, 1833, and the latter born in 1850. The father of Joel was Isaac Morey, a native of Rensselaer county, born February 8, 1805, who married Mary A. Seeber of Madison county, born in 1811. The father of Isaac was Moses, a native of Vermont, born in 1776, who was a soldier in the war of 1812. The latter came to Sandy Creek in 1818 and settled on the farm now owned by subject, where he died in 1866. Isaac Morey came to this town at the age of thirteen and died here March 17, 1880, and his wife in 1883. Joel Morey was reared on the farm and educated in the Belleville and Pu- laski Academies, having always followed farming. In 1865 he married Persis A. White, by whom he had one child, Orlo B. Mrs. Morey died September 30, 1889. Our subject was educated in the common schools, is a farmer and owns forty-two acres of land. November 16, 1890, he married Jennie C., daughter of Stephen De Cory of Oswego county, and they have one daughter, Zella M. The Morey family is of Scotch descent and Orlo B. represents the eighth generation in America.

Morey, Jacob H., was born in Sandy Creek, June 28, 1841, a son of Isaac and Mary A. (Seaber) Morey. Subject was reared on the old homestead which he now owns, and educated in the common schools. He owns seventy acres and follows general farming. He is a strong temperance advocate. In 1863 he married Eliza F. Young, a native of Sandy Creek and daughter of Hiram Young, one of the early settlers of the town. Subject and wife have one daughter, the wife of George Staplin of Ellis- burg, and they have two sons, George M. and William R. Subject and wife are members of the M. E. church, and Mr. Staplin and wife are Congregationalists.

Morse Brothers, Israel and Albert, well-known popular and influential merchants of Cleveland village, are natives of Oneida county, sons of Albert Morse, who was born in 1808. He is a son of Samuel Morse, a Connecticut farmer. His father came to the United States on the Mayflower. Albert, sr., was a mason by trade, came to Constantia in 1825 and later engaged in the mercantile business in Cleveland, which he conducted successfully until his death in 1890. He was a well-known and active politician, having filled most of the important offices of the town. He was at one time candidate for Assembly. His wife was Sarah Curtis of Camden. She died in 1874, and their children were Joel, Israel, Phoebe, Albert, Wallace, Clarissa and Henry. He was succeeded in business by his son Israel, who from early boyhood had assisted his father in the store. Israel was a charter member of the Masonic lodge, which was organized in the village and was appointed by the M. W. G. M. of the State, as worshipful master of the lodge for the first year. He has the honor of being elected and re-elected for twenty five consecutive years. Upon his retiring from the office his brother Masons presented him with an elegant gold headed cane in honor of the efficient duties performed, Albert learned the glass cutter's trade when a young nian. In 1870 he purchased the Globe Hotel of Cleveland which he conducted until 1878, when he entered into partnership with his brother Israel. He is very popular in politics, has served as justice of the peace twelve years, and is elected to serve another term of four years. He has served as deputy, and in many of the village official capacities. In the spring he was appointed postmaster of the Cleve- land post-office. In 1869 he was married to Anna, daughter of T. J. Cole, a prominent man and boat builder of Vienna, Oneida county. They have two children, Harry A. and Lillian. He is a member of the Masonic lodge, of which he was at one time treasurer.

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Monroe, D. C., a native of Jefferson county, was born November 6, 1855, a son of Harry and Marium (Wilcox) Monroe, natives of Jefferson county, who came to Rich- land in 1862 and where Mr. Monroe died in 1875 aged seventy-six, and his wife re- sides with our subject. Subject was reared in the village of Pulaski, where he was educated and has followed farming, and for ten years has lived in Sandy Creek on a farm his father bought twenty years ago. Mr. Monroe is a member of the Pulaski Grange. He married June 28, 1876, Mina A. Wood, a native of Jefferson county and daughter of John Wood of the same county. Subject and wife have had two sons, Harry W. and Roy Edgar.

Munson, Lester F., was born in St. Lawrence county October 12, 1856, a son of Morrison, born in New Hampshire, who died in St. Lawrence county aged forty. The latter married Maria R. Cross, who died aged fifty-one, and their children are Helen, Caroline, Fannie and Lester F., all living. Our subject was educated at Gouverneur Seminary and followed farming nine years; then came to Lacona and worked at painting one year, after which he opened a restaurant and grocery store, at the end of a year devoting himself entirely to the grocery trade which he still con- tinues. Mr. Munson carries the largest stock in Lacona, handling a general line of groceries, boots and shoes, wall paper, chinaware, flour, tobacco and confectionery, also handling phosphate and a full line of chairs. He is a stockholder and director as well as agent of the Cosmopolitan Building & Loan Association of Syracuse. December 30, 1880, he married Rosa Hamer of Oswego county, daughter of David L. Hamer, jr., the latter a lieutenant and captain in the civil war. The children of our subject are Orianna, born November 8, 1881; Fannie M., born May 8, 1883. Mrs. Munson died January 1, 1892. Our subject is local representative of the R. G. Dun & Co. commercial agency.

McDermott, Michael, was born in Ireland and at the age of seventeen came to America and settled in Albany, where he lived for some years. In 1863 he came to Williamstown and is now proprietor of the Casoag Hotel. Mr. McDermott has been in the hotel business most of the time since 1849.

Monteath, John D., was born in Orwell in 1863. His father, John, was born in Canada near Montreal and came to Rensselaer county and married Abigail, daughter of Clark Vary. They came to Orwell in 1854. They were both members of the M. E. Church. John D. was reared on the farm, and besides attending school at home, had several terms at the academy at Pulaski. He has no family. Besides himself there was one brother, Henry E., who died in 1892, leaving a wife and two children in this town.

Matthews, Alvaro, was born in Vienna, Oneida county, March 24, 1848, a son of George W. Matthews, a native of the same place, one of five children of Alvaro Mat- thews of Connecticut, who was a farmer and lumberman, an influential man and prominent in the early politics of Oneida county. He served as justice of the peace many years. George W. in early life was a lumberman and later a farmer. He is also a prominent politician, having held the most important town offices. He now resides on a farm in West Vienna with his wife, who was Marian Bedell. Their children are Mrs. Anna Janes of North Bay; Alvaro and George H. (deceased). Subject began farming when he was nineteen, which vocation he has since followed

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with success, now possessing 105 acres of choice land under cultivation. In 1884 he came to Constantia where he embarked in the coal business for a short time. He married in December, 1868, Mary L., daughter of John C. and Augusta (Dakin) Tur- ner of Constantia, who were early settlers. They have one child by adoption, Bur- ton C. Mr. and Mrs. Matthews are members of the Presbyterian church, of which he is warden. He is also senior warden of the Masonic lodge.

Druce, Daniel M., was born in Volney in 1844, and moved to New Haven when seven or eight years old with his parents, Reuben S. and Mary (Chamberlain) Druce, natives of Otsego and Jefferson counties, who died in New Haven in 1864 and 1885 aged fifty-six and seventy-two respectively. In 1873 he married Nellie Mace, a native of Palermo, and they have two children, Amos and Florence.

Dowd, Ward E., son of Titus and Lydia Dowd, was born in 1861. In 1883 he married Alice Jennison, by whom he has three children, Marion, Stewart and Bessie. The farm where he was born and has always lived was settled by his grandfather, Job Dowd, in 1828. Job Dowd came from Oneida county with a family of nine children, and lived and died on the old place. The father of our subject was born in Oneida county in 1819 and died in 1883. His wife died in 1864. Frank, wife of Henry Simmons, and Belle, wife of Charles Hewitt, are sisters of Ward E. Dowd, and with him are the only surviving members of a family of five children.

Duane, George, was born in Boylston in 1866. His father was Godfrey, who was a native of Jefferson county, born there in 1827. He lived in Dexter and Brownville until twenty-five years of age, when he came and settled in the southwest part of Boylston on the State road. He died in 1888. Subject's mother was Olive Denon, a native of Lower Canada. The family was a large one of eleven children, eight of whom are living, one in Boston and the rest in Oswego county. George married Ada Louise, daughter of David Rider of Mexico, and they have two children, God- frey H., born in 1892, and Paul D., born in 1894. They have a farm of fifty acres.

Danks, Harold L., is of English and Irish stock, his paternal great grandfather having come to Nova Scotia, where his grandfather, Nathaniel, was born, whence he removed to Onondaga county, where Nathaniel second, father of Harold, was born and reared. He married Betsey, sister of Isaac Newton, the builder of the side wheeler Isaac Newton which, with the World constituted the steamboat line from Albany to New York. Soon after his marriage he went to Beliol, where he bought a farm and lived for many years, rearing five children, two of whom died young. Of these children Harold was fourth. One son, George, spent most of his life in Oswego, and died in Chicago in 1890. Isaac went to Penn Yan and settled. Emeline married and went to Michigan. Horan married at Red Creek, and died in Chicago in 1882, while on a visit. Melancthon died in Cincinnati in 1889. In 1855 Harold married Adaline, daughter of Robert S. Kenyon, formerly of South Hill, Onondaga county. He was at this time living in Fulton, engaged in the lumber trade, which he has fol- lowed for twenty-two years in Fulton and Gayville. From 1889 to 1892 he resided ' on a farm in Parish, spent the succeeding two years in Amboy, and in the spring of 1894 removed to Constantia. Mr. Danks served two years in the 12th N. Y. Cavalry under General Butler.

Dwerdin, Oscar F. B., was born in West Monroe in 1826, son of Edward, a native

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of England, who came to Constantia in 1820, and three years later removed to what is now West Monroe. His wife was Martha Hepworth, and their children were Anna, James, Betsey and Martha. His wife died in 1822, and he married second Caroline, daughter of Elder Gamaliel Barnes, a Baptist minister who settled in Mexico in 1815. She was the first school teacher in the portion of Constantia which is now West Monroe. Their children were Sarious, Antoinette, Oscar F. B., Hannah, Rosetta, William and Victoria. Rosetta, Oscar and William are the only survivors of the family. The father was prominent in local church affairs, and served in many of the town offices. He died in 1861 aged seventy-six years. His wife died in 1867. At the age of nineteen subject began teaching school, at twenty one was elected town superintendent of schools, which office he held three years. About 1851 he assumed full charge of the farm and cared for his parents till their death. He served as town collector, attending many of the county conventions, as delegate, is a member of the West Monroe Grange and Sons of Temperance, in which cause he has always been a strong advocate.

Davis, Henry I., was born in Temple, N. H., December 12, 1833, a son of Freeman and Hannah (Emery) Davis, natives of New Hampshire, who came to Williamstown in 1837 and in 1839 to Sandy Creek, where he settled on the farm now owned by our subject, to which the latter has added until he owns at present 144 acres. Freeman died in 1860, and his wife August 27, 1891. Henry I. was educated at Mexico and Bellville Academies, and taught school nine terms, though his principal occupation has been farming and dairying. He is a Republican and has served as assessor one term. He and wife are members of the M. E. Church of Sandy Creek, which he as- sisted largely in building. June 23, 1864, Mr. Davis married Olive Kent, a native of Sandy Creek. She was a daughter of Orlando Kent, born July 14, 1812, and of Susan Phillips, born in 1815, natives of Vermont and Richland, this county, respectively. The mother died in this town at the age of forty-nine, and the father in Michigan aged seventy-four. Orlando Kent was one of the well-to-do farmers of the town and cleared most of his farm. He and wife had three children, two living.

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Landmarks of Oswego County, New York, Part 126

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