USA > New York > Oneida County > Utica > Memorial history of Utica, N.Y. : from its settlement to the present time > Part 18
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Other merchants now in business were Sylvester Aylsworth, soon having as an associate Sylvanus Holmes, dealers in hardware; Haynes Lord, not long afterward Lord & Shapley, dry goods ; C. Holgate, Ezra Dean, dry goods ; Oliver Obear, forwarder ; Herring & Whiting, John Baxter, Leonard & White, grocers, of whom Alvin White (the last
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named) was the one who had the most protracted residence. Among the most notable of the mechanics was Lewis Lawrence, who will be sketched in the biographical department.
Chauncey Palmer, who was born in North Bridgewater, August 4, 1807, and there learned his trade as a carpenter and joiner, came to Utica, says the newspaper notice of him, in 1825. If so he must have been in his minority. He was married in 1829 and probably about that time began to do business on his own account. This engaged him act- ively for fifty-five years. Among the structures whose carpentry was due to him were a part of Bagg's Hotel, the Herald building, the Dudley triangle, the Globe mills, a portion of the Utica steam cotton-mills, the State Hospital, the Remington works at Ilion, etc. With Lewis Law- rence he shared in running the planing-mill that had first been set at work by Philo C. Curtis, and for thirty-five years he had a foundry in connection with his carpenter shop. In 1844 he was burned out and lost his works, but struggled on and paid his debts in full, for he was emphatically honest and trustworthy. His death occurred June IO, 1884. His widow with two sons and two daughters survive.
Another carpenter much esteemed was John J. Francis. His parents were both children of early Welsh dwellers in Utica, and here he was born November 6, 1808. He received a good academic education, learned the trade of his father, and became prominent among the builders of the city. In middle life it was as a dealer in real estate that he was principally employed. He bought, improved, and sold much property of this kind, and upon present or future valuations of it his judgment was unsurpassed. In the creation, too, of various companies and busi- nes organizations his counsel and co-operation were relied upon, as in the screw factory, insurance, etc. In 1854, together with E. A. Wet- more, E. A. Graham, Thomas Hopper, J. Watson Williams, and John Dagwell, he was appointed a commissioner for the building of the city hall. He was placed on the building committee during the construc- tion of the House of the Good Shepherd, having been one of its Board of Trustees from its inception. He was active in the making and the management of the Utica and Mohawk Street Railroad. He was an alderman in 1840-42, was one of the first life members of the Mechanics Association, and was a vestryman of Trinity Church. Every trust
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JULIUS A. SPENCER - W. D. HAMLIN.
referred to him was faithfully performed, and his life as a citizen, a churchman, and the head of a household was faultless and exemplary: His wife, daughter of John A. Russ, remembered with favor, is living as is also a daughter. He died May 5, 1877.
Julius A. Spencer, a resident of Utica for fifty years and a jeweler by trade, was born in Lenox, Madison County, in 1802. For some time he was a member of the firm of Rogers & Spencer, machinists at Wil- lowvale, having previously been a partner with Robert Higham in the Vulcan works. He was actively concerned in the Utica and Schen- ectady Railroad, and after its consolidation with other roads into the New York Central he became assistant superintendent. He removed to Albany and had charge of the line from there to Schenectady. Of later years he was adjuster of claims against the company. His active and useful life was closed November 3, 1874. One daughter still resides in Utica.
William D. Hamlin, born in Connecticut in 1805, came to Utica it is said in 1822, but as his name was not publicly registered before 1829 it is presumed that he was at first an apprentice, learning his trade as a blacksmith. He was afterward widely known as a wagonmaker and a man of wealth, of influence, and of high standing in the community. He was a director and second vice-president of the Second National Bank and was president of the Utica Water Works Company.
Moses T. Meeker, starting as a coachsmith, became somewhat later a dealer in iron and coal, acquired property, and left a good name behind him. He died September 19, 1874. Another blacksmith whose history is somewhat similar was David Timmerman-first a worker at his trade and later a seller of coal, an unassuming and unimpeachable man.
The officers chosen for the year 1830 were : President, Ezra S. Cozier ; trustees, John Williams, Chester Griswold, Thomas Colling, Rudolph Snyder, Sylvester Doolittle, A. S. Pond, Robert McBride, R. B. Miller ; assessors, Benjamin Ballou, Zenas Wright, J. M. Church, Kellogg Hurl- burt; clerk and attorney, John G. Floyd; treasurer, Thomas Walker ; surveyor, John Fish.
The legislation needed to consummate the charter amendment pro- viding for the election of president and the appointment by the trustees of the treasurer and street commissioner was enacted early in they ear.
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MEMORIAL HISTORY OF UTICA.
The amendment also provided for better protection of the village from fire. On the 30th of September John H. Ostrom was appointed chief engi- neer and the number of watchmen was reduced to four. Public im- provements were limited. South street was opened and worked from Steuben to Third ; Rutger street from First to Third; Mohawk it was ordered should be extended from Broad to the river bridge and Main street to the starch factory. Sidewalks were laid on Devereux, Broad- way, and Whitesboro streets. A census of the population was taken in July with the following result : Males, 4, 135 ; females, 3,968 ; colored, 183 ; making a total of 8,286.
A venerable minister who had passed the active period of his life else- where and who removed to Utica in 1830, where he lived upwards of twenty years longer, was Oliver Wetmore, father of Edmund A. Wet- more and two other sons whose early home was here. Here he had no settlement, but occasionally suplied a vacant pulpit. He was a stern Puritan in character, of intense faith, and of much general worth. He acted as secretary of the anti-slavery convention that met in Utica in 1835. He lived here until 1852.
Orsamus B. Matteson was born in Verona, August 28, 1805, being the son of an early settler of Oneida County. When about nineteen years of age he came to Utica and entered the law office of Bronson & Beardsley. He remained with them several years as their chief clerk and became a partner of Mr. Beardsley after the removal of Judge Bronson. In 1830 he was admitted to the bar. In 1834 he was attor- ney of the city and again in 1836. For a number of years he was Supreme Court commissioner. It was, however, in the arena of poli- tics that Mr. Matteson chiefly figured, and he was an important factor therein from 1846 to 1856. He was a Whig, but not of the then con- servative party. Imbibing anti-slavery ideas and forming a friendship with William A. Seward he accepted all of his teachings, and was bold and positive in the advocacy of them. He carried into politics vast energy, unwearying attention to details, rare skill in organization, and the faculty to infuse into his supporters the enthusiasm of his own char- acter. About the time when he became a candidate for Congress the use of money at elections received an impetus in this county. For this evil he was only in part responsible ; but it cannot be denied that he
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O. B. MATTESON.
fell in with it. Many of the conservative Whigs, or Silver Grays as they were termed, were at sword's point with the wing that Mr. Matteson represented. They disliked his strong personal sway and tactics that are now regarded as a machine. Yet for twelve years he was able to secure the nomination of his party to represent them in Congress and four times to compass his election. He was first nominated in 1846, but was defeated by Timothy Jenkins, of Vernon. His first election was in 1848 to the Thirty- first Congress ; failing in 1850 he was chosen to the Thirty- third, Thirty-fourth, and Thirty-fifth Congresses. In that body he formed close relations with the Free Soil leaders and was recognized as a shrewd and efficient worker. His principal speech in Congress was in advocacy of the reduction of postage and of the measure which became a law. He was not a debater, but as a manager on the floor and on committees he was conspicuous and successful. Upon the circumstances which brought about his expulsion, or forced resignation, from Con- gress I shall not enter. Want of space forbids it, besides those details pertain rather to the history of the nation than to that of Utica. After his retirement he was interested in a scheme for the construction of the St. Mary's Ship Canal, in a Utica Bullion Mining Company, in lumber- ing at Forestport, and the iron works near Clinton. He acquired title to large tracts of land in Iowa, Texas, and the Adirondack region in this State. In the latter his Mountain Home became famous. Misfort- une, ill health, and a temporary blindness darkened his declining years. His leading traits of character were energy, enthusiasm, and hopeful- ness. His impelling power gave vigor to his undertakings; his enthu- siasm swept away obstacles that would have discouraged other men ; and his great hopefulness led him to expect success in all his undertakings. His fruition in politics led him to take hazards in business affairs, but his never dying hopefulness did not permit him to see the dark side when it was apparent to others. As a conversationalist he was entertaining and instructive, and from his tenacious memory he was full of reminis- cences and anecdotes. His death took place December 22, 1887. He left a widow and a daughter.
Dr. John W. Hitchcock, son of Marcus, opened an office for the prac- tice of medicine, but soon removed to Mt. Vernon, Ill. A gentlemanly man who lived here some four years was William W. Frazier, cashier of a branch of the United States Bank, which was established in 1830.
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MEMORIAL HISTORY OF UTICA.
Joseph A. Shearman, a nephew of Ebenezer Shearman before noticed, and who came to live with him when he was fourteen years of age, now engaged in business for himself. He was born at Kingston, Washing- ton County, N. Y., April 6, 1803, finished his schooling in the Utica Academy, and became a clerk with his uncle, marrying Jane Shearman, his cousin. In 1830 he advertised dry goods under his own name, but soon became a partner with Ebenezer. They remained together until 1840, when both sold out and engaged in cotton manufacture at New Hartford, which the nephew continued until 1865, retaining his residence in Utica. Mr. Shearman was much interested in politics and of con- siderable influence therein; he was an ardent Whig and Republican, conspicuous in support of war measures, and was instrumental in advanc- ing the political fortunes of Roscoe Conkling, though he was subse- quently his determined enemy. He was appointed postmaster in 1849 and held the office four years. Before this he had been chief of the fire department and in 1864 he was police commissioner. He was a warden in Trinity Church. He lived here until July 21, 1886.
A popular dry goods store, and perhaps the most favored resort of any of them for ladies intent on dresses and trimmings, was for a time that of the enterprising and genial Thomas G. Perkins. About 1834 he went to Buffalo and into the employ of the notorious Rathbun. Benedict & Roby now disposed of their stock of hardware to Rockwell & Sanger. Philo Rockwell, father of James Rockwell now resident, was the first victim of the cholera visitation of 1832. Gerry Sanger, whose next partner was Lewis Benedict, after living here many years and rearing a family of daughters went in old age to New Haven, where he still lives.
Of the firm of Bidwell & Williams the former is the only one who remained. He had been a very successful man in Connecticut, but after having failed there he came to Utica and as merchant and clerk con- tinued until he was able to say that "for sixty- four years he had been behind the counter." Thomas James succeeded to the last factory on Liberty street that had been set up by Morgan James. D. J. Morris, draper and tailor, another descendant of an early Welsh settler, went to Syracuse and lived there until recently. Other mechanics were Carmi Hart, cabinetmaker; William P. Case, joiner; Riley Rogers, gunsmith ; E. P. Curry, lastmaker.
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PROCEEDINGS OF 1831.
The first temperance house in Utica was opened by N. Safford next door to where William Clarke had kept his lottery and exchange. He went to Albany, where he kept another temperance house. A bathing establishment made its appearance on Whitesboro street, and with it was a public garden. It was kept at first by E. S. Comstock, then by James Hinman, and afterward by Dr. Marchisi, W. H. Green, and others.
The officers of the village for 1831 were as follows: President, Ezra S. Cozier ; trustees, John Williams, E. S. Comstock, Thomas Colling, T. S. Faxton, A. S. Pond, Sylvester Doolittle, Robert McBride, R. B. Miller ; assessors, Benjamin Ballou, Zenas Wright, Augustus Hurlburt, Adam Bowman; treasurer, Thomas Walker ; clerk and attorney, John G. Floyd ; surveyor, John Fish.
Under act of legislature of February 3d the fire department was re- organized and made to consist of a chief, two assistants, and eight fire wardens, with four engine companies, numbered consecutively from number I, and a hook and ladder and a hose company. An engine- house was built during the year in the rear of the public school-house. Fifty dollars were appropriated for celebrating the 4th of July, which was probably the first action of that character in the village. A reso lution was adopted on the IIth of November that a meeting of citizens be called on the following Monday evening at the court-house to take into consideration the subject of petitioning the legislature for city priv- ileges and such other amendments to the charter as might seem expe- dient. This was the first step toward city incorporation, which was consummated in the following year.
On the 30th of November a committee was authorized to buy the lot on the corner of John and Catharine streets at $1,500 and procure plans for an engine-house and a school-house, and contract for their erection, to be finished by June 1, 1832. Public improvements were limited to paving on Elizabeth, Post, Burnet, Water, Albany, and Main streets. In September a large meeting of citizens was held in the court- house in behalf the Poles then engaged in their last struggle for liberty against Russia. A committee of the foremost men was appointed to raise funds and transmit them to General Lafayette, who had consented to become the medium of transmission between the Americans and that suffering people. His reply, dated November 29, 1831, acknowledges
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MEMORIAL HISTORY OF UTICA.
the receipt of $974.59, together with the accompanying resolutions and address of the citizens, coupling his "admiration, pride, and gratitude with the remembrance of the situation of your part of the country in 1777 and 1794, as well as the welcome bestowed upon me six years ago in your flourishing and beautiful town." In May of this year the first steps were taken toward the formation of the Utica Mechanics Associa- tion, which was not, however, incorporated until two years afterward.
Of those whose names are now first met with one was Chester Hay- den, who was born in Granville, Washington County, N. Y., on the 5th day of November, 1789, and came with his parents to the village of ' Steuben, Oneida County, about the beginning of this century. He was educated at Fairfield Academy and read law with James Shearman, of Rome, whose sister he subsequently married, and began practice with Wheeler Barnes. In 1818 he was town clerk and soon after removed to Pulaski, where he was surrogate of Oswego County and afterward a representative in the State Assembly. About 1827 he returned to Rome and practiced with Henry A. Foster. January 5, 1830, he was ap- pointed first judge of Oneida Common Pleas and soon afterward made his home in Utica. This office he held about ten years, becoming in 1843 one of the side judges and also canal appraiser. Not far from 1848 he removed to Albany, starting a little later a law school at Ball- ston Spa and continuing it at Poughkeepsie. In Ohio in 1856 he opened another school of the same kind which he removed to Cleveland. There he died February 6, 1863. A studious man of gentle and unpretending mien he was conversant with the law, of special repute in matters of chancery, and a just and prudent judge. As a church officer and a teacher of the Scriptures he rendered service both at Rome and in Utica.
J. J. French, John Egan, and Alexander Cameron were auctioneers, the latter only maintaining a considerable stay, at first with Egan and afterward alone. Lyons & Williams were coachmakers, the former only living some time in the place. There may be mentioned here James Benton, who is still living, though in retirement, but who in times past has borne an active and important part as a master mason in the ma- terial growth of the city, and who as mayor has presided at its council.
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UTICA AS A CITY.
CHAPTER V.
FIRST DECADE UNDER THE CITY CHARTER.
Inauguration of the City Government -- Cholera Epidemic -- Details of its Rav- ages -- The Anti-Slavery Convention - Proceedings of the successive Councils - New comers of the Era.
T HE act to incorporate the city of Utica was passed by the legislat- ure February 13, 1832. The first section prescribes the bounds of what shall hereafter be known as the city of Utica. These bounds are as follows: Beginning at a point on the south side of the Mohawk River where the division line between lots number 90 and 100 in Cosby's Manor strikes the said river ; thence running southerly in the said divis- ion line to a point fifty chains southerly of the great road leading to Fort Stanwix ; thence south 53° east to the easterly line of the county of Oneida; thence northerly in the said county line to the Mohawk River; thence westerly up the middle of the said river to the place of beginning. Subsequent sections of the act incorporate this district as a city ; divide it into four wards corresponding to the heart of the first four of the present time ; declare that its officers shall be a mayor, twelve aldermen (three for each ward), four justices of the peace, a clerk, a supervisor, a treasurer, an attorney, one or more collectors, four assessors, three constables, and authorize the appointment by the council of certain other officers ; name the first Tuesday in March as the date of the annual election ; declare that the aldermen shall be elected by the people and prescribe the mode of elec- tion and the qualification of the electors, one of which was the possession of a freehold estate of the value of $250 over and above all incumbrances; that the mayor and other officers were to be elected by a vote of the council, who were to fix their compensation, excepting only that of the mayor, which was to be $250. Other acts related to the levying of taxes for the expenses of the city, which were placed at $8,000, but if this sum was found insufficient it was subject to increase on the consent or petition in writing of a majority of the taxpayers; to the powers and duties of the council and the various officers, etc.
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MEMORIAL HISTORY OF UTICA.
The new common council met March 13, 1832. The names of the aldermen were as follows : Ephraim Hart, Rudolph Snyder, John Will- iams, Charles A. Mann, Ezra S. Barnum, Augustus Hurlburt, Robert McBride, Harvey Barnard, Chauncey Rowe, John A. Russ, John H. Ostrom, and Rutger B. Miller. The oath of office was taken and John H. Ostrom appointed clerk pro tem. A mayor was then elected by bal - lot, Joseph Kirkland being chosen the first mayor of Utica. Aldermen Hurlburt and Rowe were appointed a committee to wait on the mayor, who came in and took the official oath. Other officers were then bal- loted for with the following result: Clerk, Thomas Colling; treasurer, Ezra S. Cozier; attorney, David Wager ; street commissioner, John McElwaine ; police constables, Samuel Hall, Thomas Parmelee; sur- veyors, John Fish and E. O. Baily. Aldermen Hart and Mann were appointed a committee to procure a seal. Aldermen Mann, Snyder, and Ostrom and the mayor were made a committee to report a code of by- laws, police regulations, and rules for the government of the council. This committee reported accordingly and the report was accepted ; the new ordinances were read before the board at intervals during the en- suing few weeks and were finally adopted in April. Five watchmen were appointed, and in March Levi Ballou was chosen as beadle and a scavenger was appointed for each ward.
On the 9th of April a committee was appointed to sell the free school lot on Catharine street and buy another suitable for common school and fire purposes ; the lot was sold to John R. Bleecker for $300. On the 15th of May it was resolved that the street commissioner be authorized to expend not to exceed $300 on repairing roads ; Aldermen Miller, Hart, and Hurlburt were made a committee on the expediency of buy- ing a town clock. June Ist it was ordered that " two bells be rung for the accommodation of citizens"-Presbyterian and Episcopal.
A special meeting of the council was held June 14th. It had been reported to the board that a son of John Adams was sick with small- pox. A resolution was adopted directing Drs. McCall and Peckham to visit the person and ascertain whether he could be removed to the pest- house without danger ; a committee was also appointed to put the house in condition. But a far more terrible enemy was approaching than the small-pox, that was to create consternation throughout the country
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CHOLERA EPIDEMIC.
and carry to the grave many dwellers in Utica-the Asiatic cholera. At a meeting of the council on June 16th the following was adopted :
" WHEREAS, The council has received information that the Asiatic cholera has recently appeared in Canada, and there being just grounds to fear that in a short time it may reach this city, and the common council deeming it incumbent on them 10 adopt such measures as may be best adapted to prevent the introduction and spread of such disease, therefore,
" Resolved, That Drs. Goodsell, McCall, Coventry, Peckham, and McCraith be and they are appointed (with the council) as a Board of Health. That said board are hereby authorized to make such regulations as they may deem expedient to prevent the introduction and spread of disease and to preserve the health of the inhabitants of the city."
The council took active steps to carry into effect the regulations of the Board of Health. The aldermen of each ward were constituted a committee for their respective wards to examine houses, streets, lanes, and outhouses for the removal of nuisances and " cleaning and filling up streets." The following resolution was passed :
" Resolved, That this board will provide for the payment of all expenses incurred under the preceding resolutions."
On June 20th Dr. Goodsell was made president of the Board of Health and published for that body a communication recommending every possible sanitary precaution. A resolution was adopted that a temporary hospital be erected at some point east of Miller's Basin and near the old weigh lock, to receive such sick persons as the board should direct to be placed therein. Fifty bushels of lime were purchased for the use of the poor. A special meeting of the council was held on the 23d of June at which Dr. John McCall was appointed health officer and Joseph Kirkland, Drs. Goodsell, Peckham, Coventry, and McCraith, and Aldermen Mann and Ostrom were constituted the Board of Health. Early in July the religious societies petitioned the council to unite in observing a day of fasting, humiliation, and prayer "in consequence of the pestilence." This request was carried out. On July 3d it was re- solved that the police constables cause the body of John Hilliard, "now lying dead in Elizabeth street, to be interred during the night." This is a grim and suggestive record, characteristic of the time.
On the 29th of June $50 were placed at the disposal of the Board of Health and on August 10th $100 were thus appropriated. . At a special
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MEMORIAL HISTORY OF UTICA.
meeting July 27th Drs. McCall and Coventry were authorized to visit New York and Albany to collect information regarding the cholera. They did so and made an intelligent report, but it resulted in very little good. On June 26th the following was adopted :
" Resolved, That Joseph P. Newland and Lucien B. Wells be appointed assistants to Dr. McCall, health officer.
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