USA > New York > Oneida County > Utica > Memorial history of Utica, N.Y. : from its settlement to the present time > Part 17
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Three private schools were in operation at this time, that of Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Evarts for young ladies, which received the patronage of the leading families of the place, that of Charles Bartlett for boys, known as the High School, and that of Lewis Bailey.
Thorn & Curtis, forwarders, now bought out Charles Morris and con- tinued a business on Jay street and the canal which still exists and is in part in the hands of a member of one of these families. Simon V. Oley, an apprenticed shoemaker from Albany who had been three or four years in the employ of Elisha Wells, now opened a shop of his own and continued it until his death June 1, 1857. Modest, honest, and ex- emplary he was better known in successful business and in the services of Grace Church than in doings more public. Otis Manchester, mer- chant tailor, received into partnership Abram Williams and Robert S. Latimore, both of whom remained some years in the place. So also did William B. Gray, saddler ; J. McElwaine, livery stable-keeper ; Ransom Curtiss, dealer in dry goods and groceries ; William P. Ballou,
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keeper of Union Hall. More temporary ones were John Mason & Co., painters; George F. Wicker, painter; W. Holcombe, coachmaker; S. C. Brewster, lottery and exchange manager; Joseph E. Bloomfield, miller and dealer in real estate.
The officers for the year 1828 were: President, William Clarke; trus- tees, John H. Ostrom, James Platt, Abraham Culver, Thomas Colling. Chester Griswold, Augustus Hurlburt, Nicholas Devereux, R. R. Lan- sing ; assessors, Benjamin Ballou, Zenas Wright, Joshua M. Church, Thomas Christian; clerk and surveyor, John Fish; treasurer, Thomas Walker; Ara Broadwell, superintendent.
In June a committee was appointed to formulate a code of laws for the government of the market. The annual rent of stalls was fixed at $45 for eight-feet stalls, $40 for seven-feet stalls; and $35 for six-feet stalls ; cellars, $10. The details of these laws need not be given ; they regulated the sale of meat, of which none was to be sold elsewhere ; how it should be dressed and cut; no private slaughter- houses were permitted and meat was not to be bought at the market and sold again. Thomas Broadway was appointed superintendent of the market and it was opened on the 25th of June. "The display of meat and other provisions on that morning spoke favorably of the abundance of the country and evinced a disposition on the part of the butchers to keep the market supplied with provisions of the best quality." The market stood where is now the armory on the corner of Bleecker and Culver streets. The first floor was devoted to the display and sale of meats, the basement to vegetables, while the second story contained the coun- cil room of the fathers. After a time the vegetables were shown in stalls on the sides while the basement was used as a lock-up for crimi- nals. The market continued in existence until about 1845.
The fire department was re-organized to some extent and William Williams was appointed chief engineer (an office that probably had not existed before that time); E. Z. Cozier, first assistant ; Abraham Culver, second assistant; Moses Bagg, T. S. Faxton, B. B. Lansing, John E. Hinman, James Platt, Spencer Kellogg, R. R. Lansing, and Kellogg Hurlburt, fire wardens.
Paving was continued on various streets and Canal street was opened. A large fire occurring in April swept away several wooden buildings
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JAMES DEAN.
on the south corner of Broad and Genesee streets. At a public meet- ing held in February a resolution was adopted declaring it expedient to change the law so as to admit of the election of president of the vil- lage instead of his being appointed by the governor as had been done.
In December of the previous year a communication appeared signed by M. Hunt, T. H. Hubbard, and R. R. Lansing stating that the search for coal here had long been a topic of discussion. Experiment had
been put off on account of expense, but now it could be done cheaply. An association had been formed to raise money and the above named signers were a committee to receive subscriptions. In this year boring was effected on the Hopper farm on South street; but it was wholly unsuccessful as was also a later attempt by the Water Works Company to procure water by extending the boring.
The Pioneer line of stages, running two stages daily through from Albany to Buffalo, was inaugurated this year and attracted consider- able attention on account of its determination to cease travel on Sun- day and to elevate the whole tone of its conduct and employees. It is further alluded to in a later chapter.
The lawyers who opened offices this year were as follows: William Tracy (see chapter on Bench and Bar), James Dean, Thomas R. Walker, H. H. Pease, Elizur Goodrich. James Dean was the son of Judge James Dean, of Westmoreland, or Dean's Patent as it was once called, and was born there in 1788. He is said to have been the first male child born within the present limits of Oneida County. It was while he was still an infant that occurred the rescue of his father by three Indian women, wives of Oneida chiefs, from the judgment of the coun- cil of the tribe that he should suffer death in atonement for the murder of an Oneida by some one without the tribe-an incident that is related by William Tracy in his " Men and Incidents of Oneida County," and which is paralleled only by the romantic story of Pocahontas and Cap- tain Smith. The son was graduated at Union College in 1810, receiv- ing the highest honors of his class, and three years later became a tutor at Hamilton College, which post he held until 1819 In 1820 he was elected a member of the Assembly from Oneida and Oswego. When and where he studied law is not known, though it is certain that he was then living in New Hartford, where he married his first wife and built
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the story and a half cottage the first story of which lies against the hill- side on the right- hand side of the road leading to Clinton. In 1825 and until 1828 he was treasurer of Hamilton College. About 1828 he removed to Utica and soon formed a partnership with Walter King, which was not, however, of long duration. During the years 1834-37 he was treasurer of the city and in 1839-40 was county clerk. He built a brick house that stood on the upper part of the site now occu- pied by Grace Church and afterward the house on Devereux street subsequently used by the Utica Club. Here he died May 23, 1841. Mr. Dean was an accurate scholar in the Greek and Latin classics and well informed in English and French literature. It seems now as if he should have given his life to teaching and to literary pursuits. He loved the county of his birth with enthusiastic attachment, and inherited his father's friendly interest in the Oneidas, manifesting it often in per- sonal benefactions to members of the tribe. He was a Christian gen- tleman, cultivated, tasteful, refined, modest, perhaps too modest to be successful in the aggressive work of his profession, yet in the highest degree trustworthy in all his professional work. Mr. Dean married, secondly, Mrs. Mary Upson, who survived him many years.
Thomas R. Walker, son of Thomas Walker, editor and banker before noticed, was born in Utica in 1806. He was graduated at Hamilton in 1824, studied law with his brother in-law, John H. Ostrom, and began practice with him. His next partner was Wallace McCall and subse- quently he was the head of the firm of Walker & Conkling. He was much interested in politics and of influence therein, being a Whig and afterward a Republican. He was city attorney in 1840, alderman in 1846, and mayor in 1849-50. He was long in the Board of School Com- missioners, was the first United States collector of internal revenue for this district, and held the office except for a brief interval down to 1867. Mr. Walker was interested in very many of the local enterprises of the city, being one of the originators of the first telegraph company and its president about five years. He took an active part in the Gas Company and was president of it from 1850 until his death. For some years he was likewise president of the Cemetery Association, of whose original Board of Trustees he formed a part, and may justly be regarded as the prime mover in the undertaking. Mr. Walker had much liberality and
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THOMAS R. WALKER - C. B. COVENTRY.
refinement of character. Art was a passion with him. It led him to practice painting in his younger years, and at a later day to the dissem- ination and encouragement of a love of art in others. It was through his instrumentality that the genius of Palmer, the sculptor, was first brought to light, and that he and other incipient artists were assisted in their efforts to gain repute. This love of the beautiful was conjoined with a strong interest in his native home and occasioned in him much earnest effort in its behalf. He was, moreover, pure in character, affa- ble, and agreeable. He resided in New Haven during a few of the later years of his life and afterward traveled in Europe. He died at Dres - den, January 10, 1880. His wife was Sarah A., daughter of Arthur Breese. They had three daughters, of whom two are living.
John Parsons began living in Utica at least as early as 1828, and was a justice of the peace during nearly the whole of his long residence in the place. He was intelligent and pleasant and much respected.
The doctors commencing practice this year were John P. Batchelder, Charles B. Coventry, Heman Norton, Patrick McCraith, A. McAllister.
A physician who for nearly fifty years was a leading practitioner in Utica was Dr. Charles Brodhead Coventry, son of Dr Alexander Cov- entry. He was born in Deerfield, April 20, 1801. Occupied upon his father's farm during the summer months he attended school during the winter, and as his health was not strong, so that he was unfitted for farm labor, he spent a good deal of time in the office with his father and Dr. John McCall, partner of the latter. With them he studied medicine, attending lectures at the Medical College of the Western District situated at Fairfield, and there he was graduated in 1825. In 1828 he was ap- pointed lecturer on materia medica at Berkshire Medical College, Pitts- field. To this branch was subjoined in the following year that of obstet- rics. This lectureship he held for three years, when by reason of the infirm state of his health and having suffered from a severe hemorrhage he removed to New York to establish himself in practice, but on the death of his father he came back to Utica. In anticipation of an invasion from the cholera he was sent by the council early in 1832 to study its nature in the Eastern cities, making a report thereon upon his return. In 1839 he took part in the organization of a medical institution at Geneva and again assumed the professorship of materia medica and obstetrics,
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lecturing there several successive seasons. In 1846 he became likewise professor of physiology and jurisprudence in the Buffalo Medical College. With the exception of the temporary absences these lectures entailed, and with that caused by a trip to Europe in 1868, he was mostly ab- sorbed in practice. Endowed with strong sense, well informed in what has been acquired and taught by others, prompt to know what was dis- coverable in every case he met with, he had laid up a large store of use- ful experience which his judicious and ready mind fitted him most wisely to apply. At home in the teaching of his profession he was still more at ease by the bedside, and notable for the tenderness he mani- fested toward those submitted to his skill. If he loved his calling for its intellectual pleasures he loved it still more as a means of good to others and because it gave exercise to the feelings of a kind and generous heart. As an avenue to wealth he scarcely seemed to think of it, and never was the proverb " Galenus dat opes " more falsified than with him. He was strongly zealous for the dignity of his profession, labored in his writings and in his daily life for its elevation and advancement, and gave no countenance to empiricism or pretence. Long before the cre- ation of the State Asylum for the Insane he moved both State and County Medical Societies to urge the legislature to take action in be- half of this unfortunate class, nor did he intermit his efforts until the asylum was established. He was appointed by Governor Seward as one of the original Board of Managers and was placed by them on a committee to arrange plans for its organization. Dr. Coventry was president of St. Luke's Hospital and Home, president of the Board of Trustees of the Utica Female Academy, and a warden of Grace Church. As a man no one was more pure minded and honorable, more kind and benevolent, more consistent as a Christian. By his brothers of the pro- fession he was honored, by his patients beloved ; all esteemed him as a friend, and enemy he had none. Though he had several hemorrhages at various intervals of his life he survived until nearly seventy-four, dy- ing February 23, 1875.
In an advertisement that appeared in May, 1828, of a partnership just formed between Drs. Theodore Pomeroy and John P. Batchelder, it is stated that the latter "has had twenty years of experience, has been a lecturer on anatomy and surgery for ten years, has operated for
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cataract eighty times, is prepared with instruments, and will not de- cline operating in any case of surgery in which prudence may dictate it." Not long after it was advertised that he was prepared to deliver anatomical lectures in Peale's (Utica) Museum. A ticket costing $10 was to admit to the museum for three months. Some time later there was a proposal for the establishment of a medical college in the place if thirty pupils should be found to put themselves under its instruction. The professors were to be Drs. Alexander Coventry, Thomas Goodsell, and John P. Batchelder. As we learn no more of it it is probable that a sufficiency of students was not found to justify the undertaking. Doubtless of this school Dr. Batchelder was to have been the teacher of anatomy and surgery. Surgery was his chosen field, and while he lived he devoted himself especially although not exclusively to it, being for years the only person who operated so often. Yet he was the adviser in many families. Dr. Batchelder's later partners were successively Drs. L. B. Wells and William Kirkwood. He was an enterprising and pleasant man. He remained until 1845, when he repaired to New York and operated some years longer.
Dr. Heman Norton moved here from Litchfield Hill, where he had been both doctor and farmer, and while here was still interested in his farm. His professional standing was fair, his business not large, though he was an agreeable and humorous man. Dr. Patrick McCraith was busier, his practice being extensive with the Irish, and continued so until about 1853.
A long abiding dentist was Alvin Beardsley, pupil of Dr. Gedney, and a leader of his craft. Druggists now starting were David Hunt, jr., and Bristol & Hunt. The former died quite recently in his native town of Northampton, Mass., whither he went from New York city several years since after a rather enduring trade in Utica. William Bristol's. home in the place was yet longer, continuing until April 18, 1866, and the public side of his life more memorable. Interested at an early age in the Horticultural Society he was later the first treasurer of the Ceme- tery Association, and by the community he was confided in for his efficient aid in matters of common utility as well as by reason of his in- dividual worth.
Gardiner Tracy came to Utica from Lansingburg, where he had con- ducted a paper and was prominent as a politician. Here he established
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himself in printing and bookselling. He had a vigorous and acquisitive mind, and was an extensive reader, being especially well informed in American history. Ardent and fearless in temperament his religious faith was strong, and as a citizen he maintained the character of a highly respected and useful one. He died May 25, 1849, at the age of seventy- two, having given up business some two years before his death. He left a son, George Tracy, who succeeded to it, besides another son, who returned to Lansingburg, and three daughters.
A printer of 1828 was Elisha A. Maynard, a partner with Mr. Dauby in the Observer. Merchants were Cooper & Ellis, Cornelius Swartout, William W. Backus; the latter also engaged in the business of exchange and as an auctioneer and dealer in dry goods ; John R. Ludlow, crockery ; F. K. Boughton & Co., John Latimore, Alfred Hunt (Stocking & Hunt), hatters ; Benedict & Roby, Chauncey Rowe, William J. Buck (Dana & Buck), hardware ; E. S. Comstock, grocer ; Jonas Fay, lumber dealer. The new come mechanics were Philo C. Curtis, machinist, noticed else - where ; Joseph D. Daniels, iron founder ; Ebenezer Leach, H. S. Brad- ley, Benjamin F. Brooks, jewelers; Richard Huntington, silversmith ; Noah White, potter ; S. H. Addington, stoneware manufacturer ; C. O. Nye, carpenter ; Sylvester Doolittle, boat builder ; Walton & Hardaway, saddlers; Morgan James, lastmaker ; J. D. Edwards, painter ; Z. & P. Lyon, E. W. Blake, merchant tailors ; John Hale, Isaac Bond, masons; John Mairs, tinner; Mulford R. Bond, shoemaker and afterward grocer and hosemaker; Benjamin Arnott, shoemaker; John B. Harrington, butcher ; George L. Brown, hair-dresser.
Nearly all of the above had a residence of some years duration. Since it is impossible to discourse upon them individually I must be content to introduce a word or two of some of them. Of Noah White it may be said that he established the pottery in West Utica which was after - ward conducted by his son and more recently by his grandson, that he lived until November, 1865, and that he was twenty years an elder in the First Presbyterian Church; of Ebenezer Leach that his fondness for music led him to become a teacher of flute playing and to issue mu- sical instructors ; that at a later day his visual impairment caused him to make a study of ophthalmia and its treatment, and to practice this treat- ment upon others, wherein his skill brought him repute and a follow-
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ing from all over the country; of Sylvester Doolittle that he had a screw dock in West Utica of which he was the inventor, where he was a maker and repairer of boats, and that afterward in Oswego his busi- ness was still more widely extended ; of J. D. Edwards that he was one of the founders of the Mechanics Association and that he had a part in the creation of the oilcloth manufactory which, through his failure, came into the hands of Dr. Theodore Pomeroy and T. R. Walker; of Hardaway & Chatfield that they became afterward the proprietors of the National Hotel ; of the Lyons, continuous partners for many years, that while the younger one was zealous as a Free Mason his brother was long a warden of Grace Church; of Benjamin Arnott, soon followed by his brother Joseph, his Doppel-ganger in looks and tastes (so much alike were they that they were known as the brothers Cheeryble), that in musical circles their accomplishments were often in request, and that Joseph published several of the Utica directories; of George Brown, though a mulatto, that he was as proper and modest a gentleman as any citizen Utica ever possessed ; instructing the younger ones in the courtly grace of the dance he made friends of the older by his respect- ful and easy demeanor and the tasteful trimming he gave them for ap- pearance without.
An enterprise of considerable magnitude undertaken in 1828 and completed in 1829 was the conversion of the ravine or gulf of Ballou's Creek in the eastern part of the village into a canal basin. Before the days of railroads basins were regarded next to harbors as cradles for business. This undertaking was effected chiefly by residents of Broad street. The land to be submerged was donated or bought, the lower end of the ra- vine considerably dug out, docked up, the culvert under the canal for the creek stopped, the basin bridged on Broad street, and, the consent of the State authorities having been obtained, connection was made with the Erie Canal, and the basin, extending nearly to Rutger street, was filled. It was styled by its builders the Public Basin, but was popularly known as the Big Basin or Miller's. It wiped out several nuisances, slaughter-houses, etc., but otherwise was not a success. Instead of ex- tending the growth of the town eastward it proved as effectual a barrier for many years as the Mohawk River is to its northward extension. Its large warehouses burned down. The basin became as an asylum for
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MEMORIAL HISTORY OF UTICA.
sinking boats and gradually filled up when its connection with the canal navigation was shut off.
The village officers for 1829 were as follows : President, Capt. Will- iam Clark; trustees, John Williams, R. B. Miller, Abraham Culver, Thomas Colling, Andrew S. Pond, Sylvester Doolittle, Robert McBride, Asahel Seward; assessors, Benjamin Ballou, Zenas Wright, Joshua M. Church, Thomas Goodsell; clerk and attorney, John G. Floyd ; treas- urer, Thomas Walker; police constables, William J. Nichols, T. S. Mitchell.
The watchmen of the village were reduced in June to six, doubtless because there was less fear of fires. On the 22d of July a resolution was adopted that a sum adequate to the expense "be and the same is hereby appropriated for the construction of two engine-houses and one hook and ladder-house, the same to be constructed so as to be capable of being removed from one extremity of the village to the other with- out injury to the buildings." A committee was appointed to seek loca- tions and the resolution may have been carried out, but there is no record to that effect except as will be found in the next year's proceed- ings. The principal public improvements were : Hamilton street laid out ; Breese street opened from Whitesboro to Johnson; Water street continued ; Main street opened from the " old Methodist Church," op- posite the corner of Third, to the starch factory bridge (or at least this extension was ordered) ; sidewalks laid on John street; Chancellor Square further improved by trees and walks ; a box drain in John street from Rutger to Elizabeth and in Center street. The street cleaning of that day was confined to Genesee street, Liberty street from Genesee to Hotel, Catharine from Genesee to John, and Whitesboro from Genesee to Division once a week. All other streets were cleaned once a month.
Among the large additions which were being made to the population at this time were the following lawyers : Joshua A. Spencer, Ward Hunt, Samuel P. Lyman, and Alexander M. Beebee. The first two of these are noticed in the chapter on the Bench and Bar. Samuel P. Ly- man lived twelve or fifteen years in the place, was a short time editor of the Elucidator, and then removed to New York, where he was concerned in various literary and speculative enterprises, notably the promotion of the building of the New York and Erie Railroad. He died near Gar -
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E. M. GILBERT- EDWARD CURRAN. .
rison's on the Hudson and was interred in Forest Hill. Alexander M. Beebee devoted himself almost exclusively to the editorship of the Bap- tist Register and gave little attention to the law.
Among the merchants of this era was Elisha M. Gilbert, who began as dealer in dry goods. About 1832 he entered on the sale of leather, at first in company with John Williams, but ere long prosecuting it alone, and this continued to be his employment until two or three years before his death. He was enterprising and prosperous and acquired a large fortune. He was engaged in large moneyed transactions elsewhere as well as in Utica and was for some years president of the Michigan Southern and Northern Indiana Railroad. He was a director in the Bank of Utica, a trustee of the Utica Cemetery Association, and at one time an alderman. To Westminster Church he gave the chapel attached to that edifice. His wife, a daughter of John C. Hoyt, and other mem- bers of his family were among the foremost in the creation and organ- ization of Bethany Church, and to the building of its edifice he also contributed. For his own use he built the large brick house which until recently stood on Whitesboro street opposite Seneca. Mr. Gilbert died March 16, 1868. His children now resident are Frederick, Miss Sarah Gilbert, and Mrs. Francis G. Wood.
Another leather dealer who now embarked in a long continued busi- ness in company with Alrick Hubbell was Edward Curran. This busi- ness he followed assiduously, reaping a harvest commensurate with his care of it down to his death, June 27, 1858, and in which he has been followed by two of his sons. Singularly retiring and diffident he held in the minds of those who knew him best the place of a benevolent, upright, and valuable citizen. His first wife was a daughter of Montgom - ery Bartlett ; his second was a daughter of George Langford. One of his sons was killed in battle and another was so much injured that he did not long survive. Three of them and a daughter, as well as his widow, are living.
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