Landmarks of Oswego County, New York, Part 134

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 134

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Spencer, Henry V., was born at Scriba, Oswego county, November 23, 1832, son of the late Daniel and Laura (Westcott) Spencer, whose home was then upon a farm in Scriba, but who subsequently removed to Fulton. Henry Spencer was educated in

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the common schools and may be called a self made man. He first learned and prac- ticed for thirteen years the carpentry trade. He then entered the employ of Case & French, and later the grocery of Abram Emerick, with whom he remained nine years. In 1870 he was made town overseer of the poor, and two years later was appointed superintendent of section No. 2 of the Oswego Canal, which position he held until the change of administration. In 1878 he was elected county superintendent of the poor, remaining in charge until 1893. In 1857 Mr. Spencer married Sarah A. Mc- Intyre of Fulton, by whom he has two children, John D., a hotel clerk in Cleveland, O. ; and Fred E., a prominent and well known young lawyer associated with N. N. Stranahan at Fulton.

Stoneburgh, A. W., of Ontario birth and parentage, is the son of Jacob Stoneburgh, a manufacturer and dealer in boots and shoes. In 1859 at the age of seventeen A. W. went to Flint, Mich., and learned the carriagemaker's trade there and at Bay City, and five years later engaged in the manufacture of carriages with warerooms at Fulton, continuing that business for ten years. From 1885 to 1889 Mr. Stoneburgh operated a grocery at First and Broadway, at the latter date purchasing property at the upper landing and enlarging his business. For several years he represented on the road the Farmer's Fertilizer Co. of Syracuse, traveling through the Southern States as well as New York. He takes a leading part in the Masonic order.

Smith, Harry C., was born in Oswego, April 10, 1867, son of Frederick S. and Jennie (Turner) Smith. The mother was born in Lansingburg and is still living at the age of fifty-five. The father is still living at the age of fifty seven and was born in Jefferson county. They are of Scotch descent. Harry was educated at Oswego, a graduate of the High School. He also took a commercial course in a business college. He then worked as shipping clerk for three years, then as corresponding clerk in the Second National Bank for three years. He then opened a cigar, tobacco and bicycle store on W. First street. In 1892 he moved to 7 W. Bridge street which he still occupies, carrying one of the largest stocks of bicycles in the county. He is a member of the K. P. and Elks. In 1892 he married Grace, daughter of Rev. Will- iam and Mary Young of Oswego. They have one child, born August 7, 1893, Jane Isabelle.

Streeter, L. D., was born in Scriba November 26, 1850, son of Joel P. Streeter, the head of a prominent old family. Duane was educated at a select school and taught by J. J. Coit and at Falley Seminary under Prof. Gilmour. He taught school for eight winters and engaged in farming summers. He has a farm of nearly two hun- dred acres, showing careful management and attention. In 1876 he married Emeline Chaffee of Phoenix, and has two children, Willis C., born March 18, 1877, and Ruth A., born April 30, 1882.

Selleck, Wilbur H., was born in Canajoharie, November 9, 1850, a son of George and Margaret (Wild) Selleck, the father a native of Connecticut who died in Palmyra aged sixty-seven, and the mother born in Montgomery county and died in Canajo- harie aged forty-seven. Our subject was educated in the common schools and first clerked in a store, after which he kept books for eight years, then engaged in the dairy business in Williamstown till 1874. From 1879 to 1884 he was town clerk, and supervisor from 1884 to 1890. For ten years he was a member of the Oswego County

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Republican Committee, and was also for a year overseer of the poor. He was elected to the State Legislature in 1889 serving till 1892. He was also elected sheriff in 1893. June 30, 1874, he married Flora. daughter of Robert and Fannie (Baker) Filkins, and they have two children, Fannie N., born February 28, 1877, and Lena M., born July 29, 1879.

Summerville, H. W., born in Granby in 1848, is the son of John Summerville, who is still living at the age of eighty-four years. Born in 1810 he has lived for eighty years in this immediate vicinity, and his personal reminiscences are full of interest. Wallace Summerville learned the carpenter's trade and spent some years in this line. In 1875 he established his livery and sale stable in connection with the Lewis House and has since conducted that business. November 28, 1878, he married Miss Rebecca Bradshaw of Oswego Falls.

Stone, John A., was born in Oswego November 27, 1849, and died September 25 1890. His father, Joseph, was born in Canada and died in Oswego aged forty-five. He married Margaret McConnell, a native of Ireland, who died here aged sixty-three. John A. was educated in Oswego, and at the age of fourteen began working in a drug store, clerking nine years. Later he opened a store with a partner, which he afterwards gave up and opened a new store at 21 West Utica street in 1877, which he conducted till his death, and which was carried on afterwards by his widow. Sep- tember 26, 1877, he married Mary A. Tracy of Oswego, a daughter of Thomas and Mary (Hackett) Tracy, among the earliest settlers of Oswego. John A. and wife had children: Irene M., born February 7, 1879; Tracy T., born July 3, 1880; Laura, born July 12, 1882 who died in September, 1889; and John A., born February 14, 1889.

Shepherd, Allen F., proprietor of the Royal Hotel, was born in Canada October 1. 1859, a son of James, born in England, who died in Canada aged sixty-two. The. latter married Mary -, also a native of England, who died in Canada aged seventy- one. Our subject was educated in Canada, and followed the lakes for twenty years, being mate of several vessels plying between Chicago and Kingston, etc. He came to Oswego in 1887 where he opened a hotel, the Alhambra, which he conducted one year. He next conducted the Shepherd House for two years, and in 1890 built the Royal Hotel at 121 East Bridge street. He is a member of the Catholic Church, and of the Sons of St. George.

Stewart, M. A., Fulton, is the eldest son of John and Bridget (Mahar) Stewart, late of Oswego, where he was born July 9, 1847. John Stewart, a builder and contractor of Oswego during most of his mature years, laid the first brick sidewalks in that city, and was closely identified with many material forms of the commercial growth of the city. M. A. Stewart has been engaged in the dry goods business since he was thirteen years old, when he entered a city store as an employee. In 1874 he came to Fulton, establishing himself at First and Cayuga streets, known as the "Beehive" and con- ducted by him until 1892. In 1894 he assumed control of the Johnson House on Sec- ond street, making extensive alterations and improvements. The hotel has already gained an enviable reputation for the excellence of its cuisine. Mr. Stewart's first wife, Clara B. Jennison of Oswego, died in 1890, and July 11, 1894, he married Delia A. Caffrey of Marathon, N. Y.

Stone, David S., was born in South Trenton, Oneida county, N. Y., December 12,

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LANDMARKS OF OSWEGO COUNTY.

1852. His parents were James and Anna (Stockwell) Stone, both natives of England, and both now residents of Minetto, Oswego county, and each upwards of eighty years of age. Our subject was educated in Trenton and in Oswego city, to which place he moved with his parents in 1865. He was first occupied in farming and in the nurs- ery business. He was then employed as a clerk in a grocery store for five years, when he was taken into partnership, the firm being Cook & Stone. In 1882 he sold out his interest and bought the store at the corner of of Fifth and Oneida streets, which he now occupies. He carries a general line of fancy and staple groceries, notions, cutlery, tobacco, cigars, etc. He is also engaged in the real estate business, dealing in city property, and is secretary of the Wayne Building and Loan Associa- tion of Palmyra, N. Y. He is a member of the K. O. T. M. In 1873 he married Mary A. Thrower of Oswego, daughter of James and Mary (Gorsline) Thrower. Their children are Gilbert T., born June 25, 1874; Myron D., born June 24, 1876; Bessie M., born October 4, 1883; and Arthur W., born August 29, 1889. Gilbert and Myron are in business with their father at the store above mentioned. Mr. Stone is a member of the Board of Supervisors and has been for the last four years.

Stewart, Willard, is the elder of two sons of John P. and Polly W. Stewart, who settled in Granby about 1825. Among the sturdy pioneers of those early days in the history of Oswego county John Stewart was a man of note. Willard was born No- vember 27, 1824, in Vermont. His education was limited, but he has since his ma- turity been a man of affairs in Granby, filling many and various positions of respon- sibility with success. In 1858 he married Hannah Amidon of South Onondaga, by whom he has seven children: John M., Fred, Edson A., Daniel, Frank C. and Rob- ert and Sophia, all married except Robert and Sophia.

Seeber, John H., was born in Oswego March 16, 1843, a son of Henry W. and Nancy Seeber. John was educated in Oswego, and learned carpentry, at which he, worked three years. He studied architecture in Buffalo five years, having worked in an architect's office previously in Oswego. He opened an office here in 1883, which he still continues and is the only one in the town. He has designed some of the handsomest buildings in the county, among them being the St. Matthew's Lutheran church, St. Paul's German Lutheran church, the Methodist chapel, the Church of the Immaculate Conception of Fulton, the German Insurance building, the Tanner building, etc., etc. Mr. Seeber is a member of the Masonic fraternity.

Schwarz, George was born Heimstadt, Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, in 1828, son of Philip, who was a farmer, and died at the age of thirty-six. Subject has cared for himself since fourteen years of age, learned the miller's trade, landed in New York in 1852 and came to Liverpool, where he was employed in the salt works eight years. He bought a canal boat and four horses and followed boating between Buffalo and New York eight years, then came to Hastings and purchased his present farm of eighty acres. In 1853 he married Katie Rupp, and their children are Mrs. Kate Bet- tenhouse of Utica; Mrs. Louise Graves of Pennville; George, of Leadville, Colo .; Jacob, who resides at home. Subject is a member of the Free Masons and the Odd Fellows. He and his sister, Mrs. Jacob Mahlerwein, are the only ones of the family in America.

Sampson, A. L., a native of Oswego county, was born in 1828 and in 1850 married

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FAMILY SKETCHES.

Elvira H. Porter. He was supervisor of Mexico ten years, and chairman of the board four years. His father, George Sampson, was a native of Massachusetts, and died in Oswego county. His mother, Lucy (Davis) Sampson, was a descendant from Puritan stock.

Smith, Frank Elsworth, son of Frank G. and Julia D. (Everets) Smith, was born in Mexico in 1861, reared on his father's farm and in 1880 married Leffie Green. The father is a native of Richland, resides in the village of Mexico and was assessor there twenty-one years. The mother is a daughter of Elijah Everets and a native of Mexico. Our subject is one of two children, the other being Jason Smith, a resident of Kansas. He has three children, Winfield, Carl and Clark.

Stevens, William, is a native of Jefferson county, born in 1828. He was reared there on a farm, and came to Mexico in 1836. Since 1845 he has lived in the town of New Haven. In 1864 he enlisted in the 4th N. Y. Heavy Artillery, Co. G, and served till the close of the war. In 1866 he married Minerva Dickenson, and has one child, Ella Grace. Mr. Stevens is one of five children of Zadock and Abigail (Parker) Stevens, natives of New Hampshire and Massachusetts respectively. He died in Oswego county in 1858, and his wife in 1887.

Filkins, Hiram E., was born in this county February 27, 1849, son of William H., also a native of this county, and a grandson of Hiram Filkins, who died here. The mother of Hiram E. is Alzina (Ingersoll) Filkins, and both parents are living. The children of Mr. and Mrs. William H. Filkins are Lewis D., Edward, Hiram E., Emily E., Isaac, Charles, Sadie, and a son who died in infancy. Hiram E. was educated in the public schools of this county, and followed canalling thirteen years, and later engaged in farming, which he has since continued, devoting his attention mainly to dairying. In 1872 he married Alice, daughter of Ralph and Rebecca (Hurd) Peck of this county. Mrs. Filkins's grandfather Hurd was a soldier in the war of 1812. Lewis D. Filkins was a soldier in the Rebellion, serving three years. Our subject has had three children, all living: Nina, Allen, and Lena. Nina married William Kelly of this county, who was formerly a hotel clerk, but is now engaged in agricultural pursuits.

Mahlerwein, Jacob, was born in Hastings in August, 1857, a son of Jacob who was born in Gimbsheim, Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, in 1815. Jacob, sr., was a son of George Mahlerwein, also of Germany. Jacob, sr., came to this country with his brother Philip in 1852, where he has since carried on farming successfully. His wife was Mary Swartz, and their children are Mrs. Lena Metzgar of Hastings; Mrs. Mary Coburn of Syracuse; George, Philip, Jacob, and Mrs. Libbie Keller of Denver, Colo. Our subject remained at home until the age of twenty-four, when he bought his present farm. In 1879 he married Ida, daughter of H. F. Parsons of Palermo, and they have one child by adoption, Lulu, born in 1882. Both Mr. and Mrs. Mahlerwein are members of the Central Square Grange.

Bumpos, Thomas J., was a native of Vermont, who died in Oswego county Feb- ruary 20, 1890. He married Electa Cross, by whom he had one child, Mortimer D., born in 1855. The grandfather of Mrs. Bumpos was a Revolutionary soldier.

Baker, Louis W , was born in Oneida county, November 12, 1853, and educated in the common schools of Holland Patent and the Oswego State Normal School, class

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of '78. He taught four terms, was principal of Red Creek Union Seminary four years and six months, then taught one year in Soulé College at New Orleans, La. During this time he devoted every opportunity to the study of law under Judge Nutting, and was admitted to the bar in January, 1886, at Syracuse. He at once opened an office in the Grant Block at Oswego, which he still continues. He has given special attention to criminal law, but has a large general practice. In 1886 he was elected special surrogate of Oswego county, which office he still holds. September 8, 1880, he married Helen E. Cornish of Oswego, daughter of George J. and Sophia (Otis) Cornish, the grandfather of his wife having served in the war of 1812. They have one child, Harry D., born March 21, 1884.

Selleck, Wilbur H., was born in Canajoharie, November 9, 1850, a son of George and Margaret (Wild) Selleck, the father a native of Connecticut who died in Palmyra, aged sixty-seven, and the mother born in Montgomery county, and died in Canajo- harie, aged forty-seven. Our subject was educated at Palmyra Union School and Canajoharie Academy, and first clerked in a store, after which he kept books for eight years, then engaged in the drug business in Williamstown till 1894. From 1879 to 1884 he was town clerk, and supervisor from 1884 to 1890. For ten years he was a member of the Oswego County Republican Committee, and was also for a year. overseer of the poor. He was elected to the State Legislature in 1889, serving till 1892. He was also elected sheriff in 1893. December 31, 1874, he married Flora, daughter of Robert and Fannie (Baker) Filkins, and they have two children, Fannie M., born February 28, 1877, and Lena M., born July 29, 1879.

Potter, Lathum D., was born in Orwell March 28, 1839, son of John E. and Jane E. Potter. The family is descended from George Potter, a native of England, who settled in Portsmouth, R. I. The mother of our subject was the daughter of Nathan- iel and Jane Davis, natives of Wales. Both Mr. and Mrs. John E. Potter were born in Oneida county, the former in 1801 and the latter in 1802, and they died in 1881 and 1886 respectively. Lathum D. learned the shoemaker's trade and later attended school in Pulaski, and the Commercial College at Oswego. August 21, 1862, he en- listed in the war of the Rebellion, receiving an honorable discharge June 7, 1865. He enlisted in Co. E, 147th N. Y. Inf. Vols., Second Brigade, First Division, First Corps (consolidated with the Fifth Corps, making the Third Division of the latter corps, March 24, 1864), Army of the Potomac, and was in active service during the whole time of his enlistment; he was in the battle of Gettysburg, July 1-3, 1863, and all to Appomatox, April 9, 1865, and was one of the first to pluck a button-hole bou- quet from the apple tree under which Lee surrendered After the war he built and conducted the Richland House at Richland, N. Y., for four years, and for twelve years was railway postal clerk and later assistant postmaster, spending in all over twenty years in the postal service. He has served on the Board of Education and in 1885 was elected police justice and justice of the peace which office he now holds. Mr. Potter is a member of Lodge No. 415 F. & A. M .; J. B. Butler Post No. 111 G. A. R .; has served as collector and held other offices of trust and responsibility. In October, 1866, he married Martha A., daughter of Ira and Audria (Vorce) Doane, and they have two children : Clarence and Audria, both deceased.

Hubbs, Irving G., is a son of George I., who was born at Watertown, April 18, 1841. The latter was a son of Cyrus Hubbs, who was born at Jonesville, Saratoga

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county. George L. married Catharine Snyder, a native of Sandy Creek, and both now reside in Pulaski. Their three children are Irving G., as above, W. Jay, born March 8, 1873, in Richland, and Zella May, also born in Richland, December 23, 1876. Our subject was born November 18, 1870, at Sandy Creek. He attended district school and graduated from the Pulaski Academy in 1888, then spent three years in Cornell University, graduating from the latter in the class of '91 with the degree of LL.B. He had meanwhile studied law in Pulaski during his vacations, and was ad- mitted to the bar at Syracuse November 18, 1891. He located at Parish, practicing his profession with success until April, 1894, when he removed to Pulaski and opened an office there. In November, 1893, he was elected special county judge of Oswego county. January 5, 1893, he married Nannie C., daughter of W. B. Dixon of Pu- laski. Mr. Hubbs is a Mason, and also a member of the Phi Delta Phi fraternity. His father, George L., spent most of his life in Wisconsin until the outbreak of the Rebellion, when at the age of nineteen he joined the 2d Wis. Vols. After the war he went to Sandy Creek and engaged in the mercantile business, and has since given his time to farming and the hotel business, residing now in Pulaski.

Bulkley, Justus Lyman, M. D., was born in Fairfield, Herkimer county, N. Y., August 20, 1832, a son of Peter H. of the same town, whose parents were Peter and Sally (Mapes) Bulkley. The original stock was Scotch-Irish. The mother of our subject was Philenia, daughter of Russell and Mary (Stokes) Sawyer. The parents of our subject removed, when he was a year old, to Martinsbusgh, Lewis county, N. Y., where ten years later the father died, and the family was broken up and scattered. Justus received his education in the academies of Martinsburgh and Lowville, and he began the study of medicine with William S. Bulkley, his brother, beside whom he had one brother, Daniel G., and two sisters, Lucy A. and Angeline M. Of these, Lucy, now Mrs. Easton, and Daniel still survive. In 1853 he continued the study of medicine with his uncle, Dr. Lyman Bulkley of Sandy Creek, and began practice in June, 1857, having received diplomas from the New York Ophthalmic Hospital Col- lege, from the Oswego Medical Society, and later from the Albany Medical College, and an honorary degree of B. A. from Madison University. July 30, 1857, he mar- ried Frances M. Seeley, born in Sandy Creek April 5, 1838, and they have four chil- dren: Minnie Estelle, born March 8, 1859, wife of Marshall C. Robbins of Sandy Creek; Lizzie English, born October 8, 1861, wife of Cyrus V. Washburn, attorney of Brooklyn; Hattie Scott, born December 18, 1864, wife of Wilson P. Hamilton of Los Angeles, Cal .; and J. Lyman, jr., born July 16, 1876, who resides with his parents at Sandy Creek. About 1866 our subject was appointed medical examiner for pensions, serving four years. He served as coroner, and was member of Assem- bly for the Third District of Oswego county during 1873-4. He was elected sheriff in 1878, serving three years, and has filled the position of justice of the peace for the past ten years. On May 10, 1894, Dr. Bulkley was assaulted in his office by a madman, Francis G. Williams, who was just released from the Ogdensburg Insane Asylum. The doctor threw off his assailant after a long struggle, during which he was severely wounded, and the madman shot himself on the premises a few minutes later. He was president of the Oswego Medical Society, and one of its censors for many years.

Tisdale, Chauncey, was born in Columbia, Herkimer county, August 6, 1819, son of Dennison Tisdale and Annie Tisdale, who moved to Parish in the winter of 1836.

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Subject was educated in Parish and worked on his father's farm till twenty-one years of age. The father died and was buried on his son's twenty-first birthday. After his father's death Chauncey conducted the farm for his mother, and after the settle- ment of the estate Mr. Tisdale bought out the other heirs to the homestead, which he has conducted ever since. His mother lived to be over ninety-six. He married Sarah Fidelia Turner in 1867; has been elected justice of the peace two terms, serv- ing eight years, and has also been assessor of the town.

Clark, Louis J., is a grandson of Sherman Clark, who was born at Columbia, Windham county, Conn., in 1795 and died at Pulaski in 1880. James A., son of Sherman, was born at Unadilla, N. Y., in 1821, and died in Pulaski in 1887. He married Helen Lam, born in Mexico in 1825, who died in Pulaski in 1893. Their children were Louis J., born August 18, 1852; Nellie T., born March 4, 1857; Ed- ward L., born May 10, 1860, who died January 18, 1888 James A. came to Pulaski in 1847 and began as a clerk in the store of Frey Lane. In 1849 he became a partner of C. R. Jones in the general store, and in 1851 formed a partnership with his brother, Charles A., in the same line, which continued as Clark Brothers until 1865. In 1862 James A. organized the banking firm of J. A. Clark & Co., and in 1865 organized the Pulaski National Bank, of which he was cashier until September, 1884, when he be- came its president, and so remained till his, death. In 1884 he was a presidential elector of the State of New York. He was a member of the Board of Education of Pulaski for a number of years, and its treasurer, and was a director of the Syracuse & Northern Railroad from its organization till it was incorporated with the R. W. & O. system. He was also a member of the Railroad Commission for the town of Rich- land from 1870 to the time of his death, and was also supervisor many years. He was also a prominent Mason. Louis J. Clark was educated at Pulaski Academy and Fort Edward Collegiate Institute, and in 1869 began his service at the Pulaski National Bank as bookkeeper. In 1875 he was appointed assistant cashier, and in 1884 was made cashier, which position he now holds. This bank is a family institu- tion, none of its stock ever having been held outside of the family. Mr. Clark holds a high position in Masonic circles, and he was appointed Loan Commissioner of the U. S. Deposit Fund for Oswego county by Governor Cleveland in 1883, which office he held to March, 1895, and he has for some years held a position on the Board of Education, of which he has been president. He married Ella M. Klock in 1874, and their children are Mabel A., born July 10, 1875; Fred A., born February 29, 1877; Arthur E., born April 19, 1880; and Emily L., born August 8, 1886.

Muzzy, L. R., is of Scotch ancestry, the first of the family having come to this country before the Revolution. One of the number, Isaac, was killed in the first battle with the British at Lexington. His great-grandfather was born in New Hampshire in 1738, served as first lieutenant through the war, and died in Sandy Creek in 1831. The grandfather, Robert, was born in New Hampshire in 1769, married Martha Morse, and in 1816 settled in Sandy Creek with their twelve children. There he died in 1829 and his wife in 1835. The father of our subject was Lawson Muzzy, born January 12, 1812 in New Hampshire. Orrilla S. Read, his wife, was born at North Brookfield, Madison county, and died at Edmeston in 1876. Their children were: Elijah W. and Eliza W. (twins), who died in 1844; Lawson R., born in Deep River, Conn., March 3, 1846; Thomas H., who died in infancy; Jessie M.,

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Landmarks of Oswego County, New York, Part 134

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