USA > New York > Onondaga County > Syracuse > Memorial history of Syracuse, N.Y. : from its settlement to the present time > Part 44
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Mr. McLennan had by this time attained a prominent position in his profession and his abilities were generally recognized. He is an impassioned speaker and a skillful examiner of witnesses, and this led him to that branch of practice most closely connected with the trial of causes. In that field no man, perhaps, has acquired a more conspicuous position at so young an age. In all parts of the State he has been engaged in the trial of important cases and earned a measure of success of which he may well feel proud. In 1882 he was appointed general counsel for the New York, West Shore and Buffalo Railroad Company, with headquarters in New York city. In this position of unusual re- sponsibility Mr. McI ennan acquitted himself with honor and to the entire satisfaction of the author- ities of that company. He did not change his residence from Syracuse, and when the West Shore road was consolidated with the New York Central, Mr. McLennan took up his practice in Syracuse alone until the elevation of Judge Forbes to the Bench, when he became a member of the firm of Tracy, McLennan & Ayling, which continues to the present time.
In politics Mr. McLennan is an uncompromising Republican, and his force and brilliancy as a public speaker have brought him into prominence in many important political campaigns. He has never held office, except that he was selected by Mayor Kirk, in 1888, as one of the Special Commis- sioners to report upon the best source of water supply for the city of Syracuse, and in 1889 was con- tinued as one of the regular Board of Commissioners now charged with erecting works to bring water from Skaneateles lake.
Mr. Mcf.ennan was married in December, 1881, to Miss Belle Barron, of Addison, Steuben county, N. Y. They have four children, one boy and three girls.
S
CELY C. HAYDEN was born in Pompey, Onondaga county, N. Y., October 25, 1530, and is a
direct descendant of the Baronet William Hayden, who came to New England in the ship " Mary and John " about 1630 and settled in Dorchester, Mass. The name Hayden is derived from High- down, the name of the manor house in Norfolk where the early ancestors of this family are first heard of. They were prominent in England from the time of William the Conqueror to the landing of the first Hayden in this country. William Hayden moved to Windsor township about 1640. During the famous l'equot war he served as a lieutenant. Three children survived him : Daniel, Nathaniel, and Mary. David, a grandson of Daniel, married Dorothy Allen in 1737, and it was their son Allen who, with his wife and children, moved from Harrington, Conn., to Pompey. Allen Hayden had eight children : Clara, Polly, Allen Willard, Zora Austen, Harvey, Olive, Allen, jr., and Annis.
Allen Willard Hayden married Abigail Castle. April 17, 1805, and all of their eleven children have been prominent in the communities in which they lived. The father died in June, 1858, and the mother in January, 1864.
Sely C. Hayden, son of Allen Willard, like all farmers' boys of that period, began attendance at the district school as soon as he reached a suitable age and later enjoyed a period of study in the noted Pompey academy, from which so many successful men have gone forth into the workl. At the age of nineteen years he went to Rochester, where his elder brother, Charles J., was already estat- lished in the furniture manufacturing business, with which was connected a retail store. Sely C'. en- tered the store and devoted his best energies to the business for a period of five years, familiarizing himself with all its details. Like many other well-informed men of that time, Mr. Hayden regarded
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Syracuse as one of the most promising towns for embarking in business, and he located here in November, 1855, beginning business at the site now occupied by Ginty's store on South Salina street. Mr. Hayden purchased the stock of Ashley, Williston & White and carried on business there for five years, when he bought the store No. 69 South Salina street and removed to that location. Five years later he purchased the adjoining store of Kennedy, Spaulding & Co., and has ever since occupied both stores.
As a business man Mr. Hayden has enjoyed a life of prosperity, the result of persistent industry and honesty. For over thirty-five years he has carried on a flourishing business and it is not too much to say that no man in Syracuse has done more to adorn and make beautiful the many charming homes in this city. As a citizen he has been a man of public spirit, and though never actively en- gaged in politics he has always shown a desire to forward the best interests of the community. A prominent member of the First Presbyterian Church, Mr. Hayden has been for twenty-five years an officer of the society, and is also an active member of the Board of Counsellors of the Old Ladies' llome.
G EN. GUSTAVUS SNIPER was born in Baden, Germany, on the 11th of June, 1836. ITis parents emigrated to America when he was but a lad, and soon after landing in this country came on to Syracuse from New York and here passed the remainder of their lives. The father's name was Joseph Sniper and he died in 1862, having earned the respect of his fellow citizens. The mother died in 1878. The subject of this sketch obtained his education in the common schools of Syracuse, improving it as much as he could by attendance at night schools. In the year 1850 the boy began work at cigar making for George P. Hier, a trade in which he became proficient and at which he worked continually until the breaking out of the war of the rebellion, nearly all of the time in Syra- cuse. In early life he developed an ardent love for military study and practice and joined the Syra- cuse Light Guard about 1854 and afterwards was a member or officer of the Syracuse Grays and of the Davis Light Guard. In 1859-60 he raised a company known as the Munroe Cadets and was made Captain of the company, which position he held at the breaking out of the war. Thus in the militia, as a member or officer of the Fifty-first regiment, he passed through all the grades from Cor- poral to Colonel and Brevet Brigadier-General.
With the breaking out of the war the young militia officer was imbued with the fires of patriot- ism and through his intense love for military life he saw an opportunity to distingush himself in that profession. No sooner was a hostile gun fired against the Union than General Sniper took steps to raise a company of volunteers, expecting to join the 12th regiment. In this he was disappointed, for although his company was filled within a very short time, so rapidly were enlistments made in those early days of the great struggle that he found it impossible to connect himself with the first regiment to leave this county. Nothing daunted, however, by this result he immediately formed a new company with the purpose of joining the 24th regiment, of Oswego. In this also he was dis- appointed for a similar reason. Disbanding his company he enlisted in the 101st, determined to at last attach himself in person to a volunteer organization. He then raised about one-half of a com- pany and was made ist Lieutenant and soon afterward Captain. Now his perfect military schooling began to show itself and before the regiment left the State he was promoted to Major. After an honorable career in the service the fo1st regiment was mustered out in 1863, General Sniper having meanwhile been promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel. He came home with a reputation for military skill, bravery and executive ability that was most flattering to himself and friends. When the organiza- tion of the IS5th regiment was resolved upon, Colonel Sniper took a deepand active interest and was, perhaps, more efficient in the final success of the undertaking than any other one person. When the ranks of the regiment were finally filled, in 1864, he was commissioned Lieutenant-Colonel. He was promoted to Colonel before the regiment had seen much active service in the field ; and when that splendid organization entered upon the closing campaign of the war, in the spring of 1865, partici- pating in several brilliant engagements, Colonel Sniper won for himself a name and fame which were
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heralded across the country in the news columns and illustrations of all prominent periodicals and newspapers. On the field at Quaker Road, March 29, 1865, after the colors had been three times shot down in the immediate face of the enemy, Colonel Sniper pressed to the front, raised the flag and swinging it above his head, led his regiment on to victory. For his daring heroism he was brevetted Brigadier-General. At the head of his regiment he saw the final scenes of the war and re- turned home to receive the plaudits and the rewards of his deeds at the hands of his fellow citizens.
General Sniper has never given up his ardor in military matters and has kept it green by mem- bership and official station in many organizations. He is and long has been Commander of the Central City Veterans, and has been prominent in the Veteran's League, the Grand Army of the Re- public, and also in the Masonic Order, the Odd Fellows, the A. O. U. W., etc.
General Sniper's native ability, sound judgment, and good common sense have conspired to bring him into prominence in political councils, especially as a representative of the leading German element of the city's population. In 1870 he was elected to the Legislature, where he made a good record for three years. In 1876 he accepted the position of Deputy in the County Clerk's office and in 1882 was elected County Clerk, holding the office three years, making a period of nine years in the office. The responsible duties of this position were discharged by him with fidelity and ability. Since his return from the war, and in addition to the public services just alluded to, General Sniper has been connreted in a business capacity with the Rock Spring Brewery, and from 1873 to 1876 was Deputy Collector of Internal Revenue. In whatever station he has occupied he has been accorded the good will and friendship of all with whom he has come in personal contact. With his own country- men he is extremely popular and in a broad sense enjoys their confidence and respect.
General Sniper was married, in 1'363, to Miss Catharine Miller. They have two children-a son and a daughter living.
MOS LOUIS MASON, the prominent contractor and builder of Syracuse, was born in the town A of Salina, August 28, 1824. His father was Cyrenus Mason, a native of Vermont, where he was born on the 2d of July, 1793 ; he died suddenly in Syracuse September 5, 1857. The mother's name was Martha Cushman, born March 5, 1806, and died in Syracuse January 2, 1886. The sub- ject of this record was the oldest of nine children, seven of whom were boys. Three of the brothers are now living. Amos L. attended the district school when he reached a suitable age and his educa- tion, as obtained from books, was confined to attendance at the common school. In 1832 the fam- ily removed to Huron, Ohio, where they remained three or four years, and then went to Warren county, Pa. In 1838 they removed to Wayne county, N. Y., and in April, 1840, came back to Syracuse. Amos I .. was then sixteen years old and his first occupation here was lock-tending on the canal, which he followed two years. He then hegan working at the carpenter's trade for his uncle, but much of his time was spent in other kinds of labor, until 1845, when he left his uncle and finished his trade with Alden Crane. In the next year he began jobbing for himself as a beginning of a long period of building which has not yet ceased and during which he erected, probably, more structures than any other man in Syracuse. It would be almost impossible to mention even a large part of the buildings which Mr. Mason has put up, but among the more prominent were the Wieting block, which he has twice built ; a store building, formerly known as the Canandaigua House, near the old County Clerk's office ; the brick structure on North Salina street, now occupied by the Columbia market ; the east portion of the Onondaga County Savings Bank butd'ex : the Granger block ; the stores now occupied by Dey Bros. & Co .; the Butler block on South Salina street ; St. John the Baptist church on Court street, and the Syracuse University ( Hall of Languages); the first and present Seymour school edifice, and many other prominent buildings. In the erection of salt blocks Mr. Mason's record is unapproached by that of any other person, he having bus't no less than one hun- dred and sixteen of those structures, and, moreover, there is not a si' met. now standing that he did not erect. When it comes to a reference to the dwellings that he has built, the list reaches the enormous number of one thousand, or a little more. That any one mar should have been able to
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accomplish such a vast amount of building in an ordinary lifetime is simply marvellous ; but what is of still more importance is the fact that in all that long list of contracts there has not been one that has not added to his reputation as an honest, conscientious and'capable builder. Indeed, it is, doubt- less, to that fact that he owes his success in always finding his hands full of his favorite business. Mr. Mason is a man of business versatility, capable of grasping large enterprises, and with executive ability to carry on a variety of undertakings simultaneously. He became interested in salt manufac- turing as early as 1855, at first alone and in 1856-7 was associated with William F. Gere. He is still owner of the first salt block he built and it is still in operation. In 1872 he purchased, with the late James P. Ilaskins and others, the right of a machine for the manufacture of pressed brick, and they organized the National Pressed Brick Company. In 1875 he purchased the entire interest and plant and formed the Syracuse Pressed Brick Company, composed of H. M. White, John Greenway, Stephen Bastable, and James Tolman. Mr. White was the manager until three years ago, since which time Mr. Mason has acted in that capacity. He was also practicaily interested in the enlargement of the Erie canal locks for about three years.
The above shows that Mr. Mason has been all of his life one of the busiest of men ; and his long career in the community, during which he has had business relations with very many of the leading men of Syracuse and its vicinity, and has so faithfully conducted his affairs and fulfilled his obliga- tions as to win the good will and confidence of all. His confidence in the future of Syracuse has never wavered and he has always had the best interests of the community at heart and given freely of his time for their promotion. He was elected Supervisor from his ward in 1877 ; was one of the founders of the Woodlawn Cemetery, and is a trustee of the Syracuse Savings Bank.
Mr. Mason was married on the 31st of December, 1849, to Miss Sarah A. Harroun, and they have had seven children, five of whom are living.
JONATHAN G. WYNKOOP was born in Ghent, Columbia county, N. Y., on the 13th of May, IS24. His father was Peter S. Wynkoop, a pastor of the Reformed Church ; he died in 1848. The Wynkoops originally came from Ilolland. Peter S. Wynkoop's wife was Margaret Gosman, of New York city. She died at Ghent about 1832. The subject of this sketch is one of a family of twelve children, seven of whom were daughters ; one of the sons died in infancy. The other four all became prominent booksellers, one located in Hudson, N. Y., and one in Kingston, N. Y., the remaining two being Robert G. (noticed on another page of this work) and Jonathan G. The latter attended school in his boyhood and later obtained an excellent English education in the Kinderhook academy ; while in his home life he was surrounded by such associations and influences as always serve to establish the foundation of a man's character in principles of honor, integrity and industry. Mr. Wynkoop's first business after leaving school was to follow in the footsteps of his elder brothers, with whom he was afterwards to be long associated by serving from 1841 to 1845 in the Hudson bookstore kept by his brothers. The characteristic hdelity and perseverance of the family were dis- played by him and when the term of his service expired he was practically a master of the business as far as it could be learned in that time. Thus equipped he had sufficient self-confidence to locate in Syracuse and open a bookstore in company with Kev. Joseph Myers, father of Matthew J. and Lawrence Myers, now of Syracuse. That store was located in the Syracuse House block and the business continued three years. At the end of that period and when Robert G. Wynkoop had termi- nated his business connection with the brother in Hudson and was ready to locate in Syracuse, the two (Robert G, and Jonathan G ) joined as partners and established their store just below the former one, where Brown & Dawson are now located. That store was opened in 184S and the history of the house during the next forty years is quite well known in Central New York and is conspicuous for its record of steady perseverance, the unquestioned high character of its business principles and its steady growth. Four years after the partnership was formed the store was removed to the present location of Robert G. Wynkoop, and has ever since continued there. Jonathan G. retired from the firm in 1870, and after a few years of partial respite from active work he joined, in 1873, the firm of
متقدة
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MEMORIAL HISTORY OF SYRACUSE.
Judson, Williams & Co., in a large lumber business, manufacturing and selling and having mills in Oswego and elsewhere. Mr. Wynkoop is still indirectly interested in the lumber trade. In 1875 he was made a Director and Secretary and Treasurer of the Syracuse Glass Co., succeeding Joseph J. Glass upon the death of the latter. From that time to the present Mr. Wynkoop has had much to do with the active management and direction of this important industry, and it is now enjoying a high degree of prosperity.
In 1878 Mr. Wynkoop was made Trustee and Secretary and Treasurer of the Salt Springs Solar Coarse Salt Co., succeeding Orlin Mead, deceased. This responsible station he still occupies. Hle was formerly connected as an officer with the Geddes Street Railway Company, which was re- cently absorbed into the Consolidated Company. In these several positions Mr. Wynkoop has ex- tended and confirmed his reputation as a prudent, sagacious and successful business man. Mr. Wynkoop has never been an active politician, though he entertains political views in favor of Repub- licanism of a sufficiently decided character and he has not been backward in supporting his prin- ciples. Though not a church member, he was one of the seven original founders of the Dutch Keformed Church on James street and has always been active and liberal in its support. MIr. Wynkoop was married in 1856 to Miss Mary Judson Hawley. They have three children. The eldest is Mrs. Emma Judson W. Fritts, wife of a physician of Hudson, N. Y., born January 14, 1858 ; William A., born March 5, 1863, and Edward Judson, born April 25, 1869, now studying medicine.
A LFRED HIGGINS, Conspicuous among the most thorough and untiring business men of Syracuse is Alfred Iliggins. He is of New England ancestry, having been born at Brewster, Barnstable county, Mass., March 31, 1830. His father, Samuel Iliggins, was for forty years a sea-faring man, in capacities from cabin-boy to commander of merchant vessels. In May, 1837, he removed his family to Syracuse, where he engaged in various pursuits and lived an honorable life, an example to his children which they wisely followed. Mrs. Higgins also possessed high adornments of character. She died suddenly while attending communion service in the Park Presbyterian church June 11, 1886, and the death of her husband occurred in August ten weeks later.
Alfred Higgins embraced such opportunities for acquiring an education as the times and his circumstances permitted, until he was fifteen years old ; after which he engaged in such pursuits as were adapted to his years, until the winter of ISAS-o when he became sales agent of a tobacco house. In 1854, on the completion of the Syracuse and Binghamton railroad, he was appointed baggage and express agent, continuing in the position until 1857. when he was assigned to the agency of the express office in Syracuse. At that time Wells, Butterfield & Co. were the proprietors of the bus- iness between New York and Buffalo, and Livingston & Fargo were the owners of the business west of Buffalo. In 1860 their companies were consolidated and Henry Wells elected president. Hle was an excellent business man and an admirer of Mr. Iliggins' manner of conducting the office, and the people of Syracuse know how wisely Mr. Wells acted when he continued Mr. Higgins agent under the new company. The office was located in a building on ground now occupied by the White Memorial Building. It was subsequently removed to the place now occupied by Loos, Kaufman & Co., on Vanderbilt Square, and later to its present location, corner of Clinton and Washington streets. When Mr. Higgins was first appointed the population of the city did not exceed 30,000 and the working force of the office consisted of four men and one horse. in contrast with thirty-four men and twenty horses at this time. Mr. Higgins has been offered promotions, which he declined. among them that of Division Superintendent between New York and Buffalo. He has been in con- tinuous service for thirty-four years, and has constantly had the fullest confidence of his superior .. who have shown their appreciation of his superior services by extending to him exceptional favors. Ilis fidelity to his duties during all these years is a most worthy example for emulation, and it is n : probable that an agent more popular with the public can he found on any express line.
Mr. Higgins has never sought or desired political favor, but in obedience to the expressed wishes of his constituency he represented the Sixth ward, in which he lived for fifty-one years, eight tintes
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in the Common Council, 1864, '66, and '69, and from 1875 to 1879, inclusive. He fully sustained his reputation as an honest and fearless citizen and one posses-ed of public spirit and devotion to the best interests of the community. When Irving G. Vann was elected Mayor of the city he honored Mr. Higgins by appointing him member of the Board of Excise, which office he held for three years.
Mr. Higgins has always been public-spirited and has contributed not a little to the growth and prosperity of the city by the excellent management of his agency and his personal efforts in various undertakings having for their purpose the full development of the city. It may be truly said of him that no man in Syracuse has had a more busy life and it may safely be said that none ranks him in the line of good citizenship.
The children of Samuel Higgins were eight in number, of whom six were sons, Alfred being the youngest. Of these, Col. Benjamin L., an honored citizen, Mrs S. M. Gifford, and Alfred alone survive.
HIARLES WESLEY SNOW was born at Peterboro, Madison county, N. Y., on the 11th day C of March, 1835. ITis father was Hiram Snow, who was originally from Vermont, and was a farmer during most of his life. His mother was Alidar Ann Squier, whose home was near Albany on the Hudson river. Their children numbered twelve, of whom the subject of this sketch was the second. The family removed to a farm near Messina Springs while Charles was still an infant, and when he was five years old (in the year 1840) settled in Syracuse, where the father engaged in various kinds of business until his death, which occurred in the year 1854. His wife died in 1899.
Charles W. Snow gained his education in the public schools of Syracuse, which he attended until he was fifteen years old, and by his naturally industrious habits and determination to make the most of his opportunities, he laid the foundation of a good practical education which was afterward improved and extended by further study and judicious reading.
On the first of April, IS50, he entered the drug store of W. B. Tobey, then located in the Granger block, as a clerk, having determined to make that business his life work. Ile labored faith- fully for his employer four years and gave such satisfaction to him that the young man was taken into partnership in the business. Mr. Snow was then nineteen years old. He was endowed with the true business instinct and other qualifications that commonly command success, and had an en- thusiastic love for his chosen profession. It naturally followed that the business of the firm felt a new impetus from the time of Mr. Snow's entering the partnership. Business methods valuable in themselves, incessant attention to details, a constant study of what his market demanded, and where to get it to the best advantage, were features promptly introduced by Mr. Snow into the operations of their trade, and with the best and most successful results. The partnership continued twelve years and down to the year 1866, when the firm dissolved and Mr. Snow at once opened a store at what was then No. 28 East Genesee street, where Grant & Dunn are now located. That store he stocked heavily and judiciously and began the wholesale and retail drug trade, which he continued there with constantly increasing volume and unvarying success for twenty-two years. At the end of that long period, during which he had purchased the block in which he was doing business and sub- stantially rebuilt it, he purchased the lot on Warren street, adjoining the new Government building, and erected thereon the loftiest and one of the best fire-proof business blocks in Syracuse. This was finished and occupied by his store on the entire lower floor in 1888.
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