USA > New York > Oneida County > Utica > Memorial history of Utica, N.Y. : from its settlement to the present time > Part 27
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73
1857 .- Officers : Mayor, Alrick Hubbell; treasurer, James McDo- nough ; clerk, David Perkins ; surveyor, Harvey Park, jr .; street com- missioner, William Stanford; attorney, Edward R. Bates; aldermen, John Cantwell, Thomas F. Lynch, John H. Prentiss, jr., Lansing Thur- ber, John Myers, John B. Wasmer, Henry Ney, and William B. Taylor from the Seventh ward ; supervisors, Harvey Barnard, jr., Amos H. Thomas, Hawley E. Heath, John B. Owens, William Clarke, Roderick J. Comstock, Richard U. Sherman. The Whigs and Republicans elected all the city officers except the marshal. In his address Mayor Hubbell expressed regret that the council had been forced to overrun their funds as allowed by the charter. He stated that the salaries of the fire de- partment were $2,725 and thought that this item should be saved. It was said that the fire apparatus was out of order. This was a natural result of the almost entire cessation of fires and alarms after the adop- tion of the paying system and the consequent diminution of vigilance and practice.
Whoever has watched the yearly details of the city finances has no- ticed the regularity with which the expenditures exceeded the income. No matter how much the latter was increased from time to time; in hope of preventing such a discreditable result it occurred all the same.
287
PROCEEDINGS OF 1856.
An annual deficit seems to be a law of municipalities as much beyond the control of citizens and legislatures as the laws of nature. Time and and time again as the urgent debt appears the penitent council appeal for relief; the citizens scold, but wipe out the debt and increase the gen- eral fund beyond the utmost limit of expenditure yet reached. All in vain. In the earlier days remonstrances alone were tried. In the char- ter revision of 1849 a new section was inserted prohibiting the common council from incurring any debt not payable within their year and out of its income, and this section remains in the charter to this day.
In 1856, as we have just seen, on the occasion of funding a larger debt than usual and increasing still more the general fund, the citizens' meet- ing imposed provisions to reduce the treasurer's salary and save the in - terest on the city funds for the city, which were incorporated in the charter simultaneously with the enactment of the relief measures, but too late for operation in that fiscal year. At the first meeting of the new council in 1857, when the resolution was offered for ascertaining the bank entitled to the city deposits under the charter amendment of 1856, it was on motion laid on the table. At the next meeting, when the resolution was called up, it was announced that the amendment of 1856 was no longer in force, a bill repealing it and restoring the old law having been passed and signed that day. This restored the treasurer's salary to $800 and left the city deposits entirely to the discretion of the common council without a word about interest. Of course there was then no alternative but to follow the existing law.
As soon as the transaction became known it created intense excite- ment. A citizens' meeting opposed to these proceedings was imme- diately called at the city hall. Before the hour specified-by a cheap device which had of late become familiar in political caucuses-the room was packed with the partisans of the speedy legislation and the organi- zation of the meeting captured. A general row ensued until the lights were extinguished, after the historic method in New York city. A resolution was adopted in the dark for an adjourned meeting, which was soon after held in Mechanics Hall, hired for the purpose and guarded by paid policemen. At this meeting the mayor presided, assisted by every living resident ex-mayor as vice-presidents. It was forcibly ad- dressed by most prominent citizens of all parties, a resolution for the
288
MEMORIAL HISTORY OF UTICA.
restoration of the repealed section unanimously adopted, and a com - mittee appointed to attend to it. The section was restored by the legis- lature of 1858 and still remains in the charter. The bank which had been prominent in retaining the city funds under the old system failed in the summer of 1857, but the city deposit was removed before the failure was made known.
James street was extended from Steuben to Elm; Leah street to Oneida Square; an iron bridge built at John street; and a few brick sewers were laid. The tax levy for all purposes was $55,241.55. Cer- tain amendments were made in the city charter, of which the most notable one was one forming a Seventh ward.
This was the year of hard times, the worst the country had known since the crash of 1837. The Ontario Bank and the Central City Sav- ings Institution failed through the crisis, and there was much distress, though Utica seems to have escaped better than many places as to business failures. The common council appointed a committee to take measures for the relief of the poor and the Association for the Relief of the Poor was aided ; a public meeting was held for this purpose in No- vember and a good deal was done to minister to the needy. The Central City Savings Institution depositors became uneasy and it was reported that the bank was insolvent ; but the books were examined and in October it was declared to be solvent, and it went on for a short time.
The main building of the State Asylum burned in the day time on July 14th, causing a loss of near $200,000. Patients were all successfully removed to groves near by and were guarded by the Citizens Corps. There were 470 in the building. Most of them returned to the building before night. Dr. L. F. Rose was so badly burned that he died and a fireman, William Cessford, was killed. On the 18th of the same month a stone barn at the asylum was burned, being set on fire by a patient who was allowed liberty about the place. He was placed under arrest and held for the grand jury, and ultimately sent to State prison for life.
Citizens freshly arriving during the years 1854-57, or newly establish- ing themselves in business, were as follows: Of two physicians who now came one had been educated here and practiced elsewhere, but now returned to eke out many further years of an active and useful life.
289
DRS. I. H. DOUGLASS AND JACOB HUNT.
This was Dr. Isaac H. Douglass. Born in New York city, November 26, 1808, he passed his boyhood in New Hartford and in the schools of Utica, studied medicine with Dr. Pomeroy, of the latter place, and in the medical school at Fairfield, and then went to Bucyrus, Ohio, to practice it. There he prosecuted for many years a successful career. About 1857, after a short stay in New Hartford, he set up in this city. Here his success was equally marked. He was informed in his art, judi- cious, discreet, and faithful in its exercise. With keen and tender sym- pathies his presence at the bedside was ever a benediction; of so gentle and loving a nature he inspired the confidence and the love of others ; his patients were his friends and with them he was the beloved physician. His tastes were refined and his associations the best. All things beautiful in nature and in art attracted him. His daily life was simple, unobtrusive, and sincere. A Presbyterian during the most of his career he returned in later life to the Episcopal fold, in which his infancy had been nurtured. He died March 13, 1884, leaving one daughter now resident.
Dr. Jacob Hunt was born in Hillsdale, Columbia County, in 1810, but came with his parents to Westmoreland, N. Y., four years after- ward. He obtained an education at the Clinton Academy and at Caz . enovia Seminary. When he reached his twenty-first year he began the study of medicine and was graduated at the Medical College of Fair- field in 1836. He opened practice at Lowell, N. Y., remaining until 1853, when he settled in Utica. In the treatment of fevers he achieved remarkable success. He was a member of the State as well as the County Medical Society. He was a life-long member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and was deeply interested in its welfare, having been five times a delegate to the General Conference; he was in sympathy like- wise with the cause of temperance and other reforms. Both of the suc- cessive wives of Dr. Hunt were of Utica. The last, a daughter of Henry Snyder, is still resident.
Miss Caroline Brown appeared in 1857 as the first female physician of the place.
Rev. H. N. Dryer filled with credit for thirty years a responsible po- sition in the service of the State Hospital at Utica, and as a citizen of the place maintained the public regard as well for the excellence of his
37
290
MEMORIAL HISTORY OF UTICA.
private character as for the useful part he bore in its charitable and re- ligious concerns. Born at West Stockbridge, Mass., October 30, 1805, he had already run a varied career and filled many positions before coming to the city. About 1856 he found employment in the State Hospital as its steward and until his death performed its exacting duties. Acting under the control of the superintendent he was really in many respects the executive officer of the board; was responsible for the purchase of supplies as well as for their safe keeping and eco- nomical use; hired all employees and was accountable for the faithful discharge of their duties ; spent as much time as he could spare with the male patients and looked to their comfort and well being. Outside of his special duties he preached at times as a temporary ministerial supply, served as secretary of the County Bible Society, took an active interest in the welfare of his own Christian denomination, and was much relied on in religious and moral undertakings. At his death in 1887 he left a widow and two children.
With respect to Dr. Charles B. Foster, who was long associated with his father, Gilbert A. Foster, in the practice of dentistry, it may be re- marked that he stood high in his profession, showing competence in more than one of its departments ; that he had many excellent social and personal qualities; and that he was prominent in Masonic, musical, and other associations.
John T. Clark, who had a brief residence here, was well known throughout this and other States as an able engineer. Of New York he was State engineer in 1854-55 and was long connected in various capacities with many of its public works. He was acknowledged to be a man of ability and stubborn integrity. His death took place Novem- ber 10, 1862, in the sixty-fifth year of his age.
Another short term resident was Col. Edward Jewett, retired half- pay officer of the U. S. army. He took no part in the public affairs of the town, but from his pleasant social qualities, his intelligence, and the enthusiasm he manifested in the study of geology, conchology, and other branches of natural science, in which he had made large collec- tions, he drew about him quite a circle of admiring friends and did much to diffuse a taste for the studies with which he was himself enam- ored. He removed to California and died there.
291
EDWARD CHAPMAN AND J. G. MARKLOVE.
Edward Chapman, born in Kettering, England, September 13, 1802, was already well known in the city as an expert accountant. When Butterfield, Faxton, and others formed the telegraph company Mr. Chapman was employed by them, first as clerk and then as secretary and treasurer of the company. He opened the first set of books for a telegraph company anywhere in the world. He served the company here until the combination resulting in the Western Union Telegraph Company, whose center of operations was at Rochester, when he re- moved thither. Later, when the headquarters were taken to New York, he followed, living in Brooklyn and holding an important position in the auditing department of the company. His death took place in Kal- amazoo, August 9, 1886. He lived a very useful and honorable life, was a very religious man, and was one of the pillars of the Broad street (now the Tabernacle) church.
John G. Marklove had learned the art of organ building in Glouces- ter, England, his native city. Immigrating to America in 1850 he first located in New York and came thence to this city. After being a short time in the service of Mr. Andrews he opened a factory for himself. He thoroughly understood the art of organ making in every detail and made improvements in the delicate mechanism of the instrument which were immediately recognized as standard and adopted by manufactur . ers. Specimens of his skill may be seen and heard in the Reformed, Calvary, and St. Francis de Sales Churches in this city as well as in many other places. Devoted to music he never lost an opportunity to promote it ; he was a charter member of the Utica Academy of Music and of the Mendelssohn Club. Rather retiring in disposition he sought not acquaintances, but was deeply attached to those whom he made friends. He was a member of Oriental Lodge F. and A. M., the St. George's Society, and Trinity Church, of which he was for many years vestry- man. He was drowned while bathing at Scarboro, Me., August 21, 1891. 1 He left a son and a daughter.
Hawley E. Heath, who since 1848 had been connected with the clothing business of the brothers Rice, carried it on next with Nettle- ton, Heath & Co., and on his retirement transmitted it to his sons. Somewhat active in local politics he was for three years supervisor of his ward. He was one of the founders of St. George's Church. He died October 22, 1844, leaving a widow and two sons.
292
MEMORIAL HISTORY OF UTICA.
A. L. Woodruff, who had been a denizen of the place since the chol- era season of 1832 and had served as a clerk in different establishments, set up about 1854 as a commission merchant and wool dealer. This after a few years he exchanged for wholesale dealing in wines and liquors. Affable and friendly he was deemed also a man of integrity. At his death, September 25, 1888, he left a widow and one son, and four married daughters.
1858 .- Officers for this year were : Mayor, Roscoe Conkling; treas- urer, Ira A. Button ; surveyor, Harvey Park, jr .; street commissioner, William Stanford; attorney, Josiah K. Brown ; clerk, David Perkins ; al- dermen, Michael McQuade, Charles H. Hopkins, William H. Ferry, Samuel Y. Lane, Patrick Devlin, De Witt C. Grove, Henry Ney ; super- visors, William R. Hopkins, David Wager, Hawley E. Heath, Daniel Morgan, John J. Conaughty, Nicholas A. White, Thomas Lennebacker.
There was great interest in politics at large with heavy Republican victories-the precursor of the storm that was to come in 1860. Ros coe Conkling was elected mayor by 364 majority and nearly all the other city officers were Republican. The fire ordinances were amended early this year, the principal provisions being the appointment of seven wardens, one from each ward, to hold office at the pleasure of the coun- cil; the appointment of firemen after their approval by the chief engi- neer, and the appointment of foremen and their assistants, after approval by the council and recommendation by the chief and wardens. Hose companies Nos 2, 4, 5, and 7 were ordered attached to the engines of the same numbers and all compensation to firemen abolished.
The local tax for the year was $70,646.20. Public improvements were very much curtailed and the administration seems to have been conducted on an economical plan. Chenango avenue was opened to the southerly line of the city. About $500 was expended for fire pur- poses on Corn Hill; paving and sewers were almost wholly neglected. The first Atlantic cable was laid this year and the event was properly celebrated in Utica.
1859. - Officers: Mayor, Roscoe Conkling; treasurer, Ira A. But- ton ; clerk, James McDonough ; surveyor, Harvey Park, jr .; street com- missioner, Jacob Ehresman; attorney, Josiah K. Brown ; aldermen, John Cantwell, William N. Weaver, George H. Wiley, Burton Hawley,
293
PROCEEDINGS OF 1859.
John Myers, John B. Wasmer, William B. Taylor; supervisors, John H. Douglass, Silas C. Greenman, Hawley E. Heath, Daniel Morgan, John D. Regan, James Merriman, Thomas Lennebacker. Before the completion of the year 1859 Mr. Conkling resigned the office of mayor, and on the 2d of December Charles S. Wilson was appointed by the council to fill his place. Mr. Wilson found an unsatisfactory state of the finances with a floating debt of several thousand dollars, and pub- lished a communication on city extravagance, censuring the council for its action leading to such a condition of affairs. This led to the appoint- ment, January 14th, of a committee to revise the charter, which was subsequently reported and adopted in 1862. It resulted also in a call for a public meeting " with a view to reduction in taxation, observance of legal restrictions on the annual expenditures, the separation of the charter election from general politics, and the nomination of the best men for office." This meeting was held February 14, 1860, and Theo- dore Faxton presided. A committee of seven was appointed to report the names of committees of three from each ward whose duty it should be to nominate city officers to be supported at the ensuing election. The committees did their work and the nominations were made on the simple plan of selecting suitable men for ward officers from citizens of each ward who belonged to the political party prevailing in such ward, thus giving Hobson's choice to the hide-bound partisan, that or noth- ing. These nominations did not, however, prevent the Republicans and Democrats from making their regular nominations, taking necessarily in the wards the candidates named by the citizens' committees, who were nearly, if not all, elected. In the city officers, it being impossible to divide the candidates as had been done in the wards, the unconquerable party distrust prevailed, and notwithstanding the citizens' nominee for mayor was a Republican, eminently adapted in character and by public service for the position, the Republicans nominated Calvin Hall and a full city ticket, and the Democrats also nominated their full city ticket. The election resulted as follows :
1860 .- Officers : Mayor, Calvin Hall ; treasurer, Charles H. Sprague ; marshal, J. Augustus Allen; attorney, Lewis H. Babcock; aldermen, William M. Everts, Evan E. Roberts, John Griffiths, Benjamin F. Shaw, Patrick Devlin, James Merriman, Homer Townsend ; those holding over
294
MEMORIAL HISTORY OF UTICA.
were John Cantwell, William N. Weaver, George H. Wiley, Burton Hawley, John Myers, John B. Wasmer, William B. Taylor (five of the elected aldermen were also on the Citizens' ticket) ; supervisors, A. Churchill, Silas C. Greenman, W. D. Hamlin, Luke Wilkins, John D. Regan, Paul Keiser, Thomas Lennebacker ; of these four were on the Citizens' ticket. The political complexion of the officers was five Dem- . ocratic aldermen and three supervisors. The Citizens' city ticket re- ceived only ninety-four votes.
On the 20th of March the council took the necessary steps to secure legislation enabling the city to raise money to pay the floating debt. The result of this was an act which was passed by the legislature pro- viding for raising $12,000 with which to wipe out the debt, payable in three installments beginning with 1862. May IIth the resignation of Mayor Hall was presented to the council and accepted. De Witt C. Grove and Charles S. Wilson were named as candidates for the office, but the vote was a tie. Mr. Grove was placed in the office at a meeting of the council held a few days later, May 26th. In June he delivered his inaugural report and the amount of the tax levy was stated to be $117,706.
On the IIth of May a resolution was adopted to open Hobart street from its then termination to Genesee street ; the expense to the city was estimated at $2,000. Commissioners were appointed in the matter and considerable difficulty seems to have been encountered. At least the engineer was censured for negligence in not making a map of the pro- posed improvement and in September was removed from office for that cause. Harvey J. Park, jr., was placed in his stead. After the appoint- ment of two other commissions the street was finally opened in 1861. In May a resolution was adopted accepting land from the Utica Steam Woolen Company for a new street to connect Edward with the inter- section of Hamilton and Columbia streets.
On the 7th of September the common council ordered a brick sewer eighteen inches in diameter in Charlotte street from Elizabeth street to Steuben Park and thence to Hopper street. The census of the year 1860 resulted as follows: First ward, 1,421; Second ward, 2,734 ; Third ward, 3,388; Fourth ward, 3,719; Fifth ward, 3, 101 ; Sixth ward, 4,841 ; Seventh ward, 3,427 ; showing a total of 22,631,
295
PROCEEDINGS OF 1860 - NEW COMERS.
an increase of 462 over the year 1855. Following is the tax list for the year :
Ordinary tax, .
$16,000.00
Schools,
16,500.00
Water,
1,300.00
City hall bonds, . 6,000.00
On bonds and interest Black River Railroad,
20,660.88
Interest city hall bonds, .
1,128.70
Interest on city bonds, ordinary,
388.37
Lighting, .
5,500.00
Total,
$67,477.95
In May, 1860, the corner-stone of the Orphan Asylum was laid, ground was broken for a school-house on Court street, and Grace Church was opened for religious services. Among the new coming law- yers of 1858-60 was one whose residence was short-lived, for he passed away on the Ist of August, 1863. This was George E. Quin, brother- in-law of the brothers Kernan. He came here from Chemung County to become a partner with the latter, the firm being Kernan, Quin & Kernan. He was an excellent man, of noble impulses, and genial and cheerful temper. He died in his forty-fifth year and in the communion of the Catholic Church, leaving a widow and three sons.
Two new physicians were Walter B. Coventry and C. Judson Hill. Dr. Coventry was a son of Charles B. Coventry and a grandson of Alex- ander Coventry. Soon after beginning his practice he was attached as surgeon to the Twenty-sixth Regiment, and in the performance of these duties his health became so shattered that he did not long survive. He acted also as a State agent for the relief of sick and wounded soldiers. He died at Marquette, Mich., not long after the close of the war. His medical associates united in commending his professional skill and his high personal worth.
Dr. Hill had likewise experience as an army surgeon, and that in more than one regiment. Returning therefrom he resumed practice and re- mained steadfastly engaged in it, and with much acceptance to a large clientage and maintaining the common respect until near the close of his life, interrupted only by occasional turns of ill health. Having lost his first wife he had but recently married a second when he was him- self taken away by a long-standing infirmity. His death occurred in February, 1891. He left one son.
296
MEMORIAL HISTORY OF UTICA.
A leading merchant of the place was Daniel Crouse. He was of German ancestry, his father having come from Palatine, in Saxony, and was born in Mindenville, Montgomery County, April 29, 1805. At the age of twenty-two he started in mercantile business at Canastota, Madi- son County, with his brother John, a connection which lasted until 1853, after which the trade was his own. This trade was extensive and his position an influential one. He was the founder and president of the Canastota Bank and at one time a candidate for Congress from the Mad- ison and Oswego district. In 1860 he established a wholesale grocery house in Utica, of which his son, D. N. Crouse, had for a time the man- agement, and removed here himself about two years later, joining with him successively two others of his sons. With great industry, great capacity for work, and abundant capital Mr. Crouse ere long built up what has been and still is one of the foremost houses of the kind in the city. He took an active and intelligent interest in municipal affairs, was a director in the Second National Bank, and conspicuously a busi- ness man. He was a Democrat, but not a partisan, and without desire for office or public station. In the Civil war his sympathies and his en- ergies were fully enlisted on the side of the Union. In 1871 Governor Hoffman designated him with General McClellan and others to test de- vices for using steam on the canals. Mr. Crouse was a member of the Reformed Church and illustrated his faith by a spotless life and liberal charity. His death occurred September 28, 1877. His wife and three sons survive him.
Edward D. Buckingham, born at Saybrook, Conn., February 22, 1818, was early apprenticed to the trade of cabinetmaking. His trade ac- quired he spent the little money he had saved in an effort to improve by an academical training the education which he realized had been defective, and afterward by private study rectified in a measure his early deficiencies. His trade he practiced in different places in Connecticut and afterward in Waterville in this county. At the latter village he put in operation a manufactory of pianos, and had already gained a reputa- tion for the goodness of his instruments when the stringency of the dis- astrous year 1857 brought his works to a close, leaving him a debt which he subsequently cancelled. He removed to Utica, soon after bought up the stock of William H. Dutton, and opened a store for the sale of
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.