Onondaga's centennial. Gleanings of a century, Vol. II, Part 100

Author: Bruce, Dwight H. (Dwight Hall), 1834-1908
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: [Boston] : The Boston History Company
Number of Pages: 1094

USA > New York > Onondaga County > Onondaga's centennial. Gleanings of a century, Vol. II > Part 100

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).

Weller, William W., Clay, was born in Clay, June 29, 1852, son of Jeremiah Weller, one of the oldest settlers of this section of the town. He was born in this town, and has always followed farming, which he still continues. Our subject follows farming and makes a specialty of raising tobacco. Ile was educated in the district schools.

Woerner, D. C., Salina, superintendent and founder of the Woerner Preserving Co., was born in Liverpool in 1854, son of John C. and Sophia (William) Woerner, natives of Germany and residents of Liverpool since 1839. Mr. Woerner learned the preserving and canning business at Philadelphia and Bordentown, N. J., and in 1886 began the business at Liverpool in a small way. Two years later he organized a $30,000 stock company. In 1893 they shipped 16,000 cases of tomatoes. In 1894 20,000 cases, $20,000 worth of pickles and $100,000 worth of mince meat. In 1876 Mr. Woerner married Eva L. Compton, of New Jersey, by whom he has three sons.

Williams, John S., Dewitt, was born in Syracuse in 1862, son of W. R. and Maria (Le Roy) Williams, natives of Clay and Jefferson Co. The paternal grandfather, John, was also a native of Clay. The father when nine years old removed to Syra- cuse, and in 1865 to the present home of John S., where he died in 1889. Mr. Will- iams is an only child. In 1889 he married Lenora Temple, a native of Dewitt. Mr. Williams has been inspector of election four terms. He owns a farm of 70 acres, and follows general farming and dairying.

Wright, Warren M., Cicero, was born in the town of Pompey, Onondaga Co., Dec. 27, 1835, son of J. R. Wright, who was born in Springfield, Jefferson Co., N. Y., April 21, 1802. He married Luna Williams, of Pompey. The children were: Adol- phus, Lydia A., Frederick, Charlotte E., Amelia J., Wallace D., Warren M., and Harriet E. Four are still living. The father always lived in Onondaga Co., where he died in 1880. Warren M. has always followed farming and owns a fine farm of 78 acres, all under cultivation. He has now retired from active business life. In 1860 he married Almira, daughter of Bartholomew Andrews. The children were Frederick A., now a dealer in oils in Syracuse; Nina; Harvey R., a steward on a steamer in Buffalo; and Roland is at home with his father. Warren M. married, second, a daughter of Joseph M. Moulton, an old and respected citizen of Cicero. Mr. Wright has held the office of town collector and several other minor offices. He is a member of Fort Brown Lodge of Masons, No. 256.

Wells, Erwin E., Baldwinsville, was born in Baldwinsville, Nov. 1, 1826. His father, Capt. James Wells, was a native of Salisbury, Conn., and came to Salt Point in 1804 and engaged in boiling salt, In 1808 he settled on the south side of Seneca River, at Baldwinsville. He married Sally, daughter of Thomas Farrington, of Rensselaerville, Saratoga Co. He was identified in the growth and prosperity of the village. He served in the war of 1812, receiving the rank of captain. He died

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in 1873, at the age of 90 years. Erwin E. laid the foundation of his education in the common schools and is a self-educated man. He married Louisa, daughter of Henry Westfall, by whom he has one son, W. H. Wells. Mr. Wells is identified in advanc- ing the best interests of the town. He still resides on the old homestead, where his father settled 86 years ago.

Winnie, H. D., Baldwinsville, was born in Mayfield, Fulton Co., July 12, 1817. His father, David Winnie, was a native of Albany Co. The family came from Hol- land to the United States at a very early date. Conrad Winnie was one of the latest slaveholders in the State of New York. His son, David, was a prominent farmer of the town. He married Margaret, daughter of John Putnam, of Johnstown, N. Y. He died in 1869, aged 83 years. H. D. Winnie was educated in the common schools and is a self-made man. He married Nancy B., daughter of Oliver Harrington, of Rutland, Vt. They have three sons: Henry K., Charles H., and Edwin M. In March, 1879, Mr. Winnie came to Baldwinsville from Pierrepont Manor, where for 35 years he was engaged in the cabinetmaking business, retiring with a fair compe- tence. He was at once recognized as a man of sterling character and chosen to fill the offices of trustee, assessor, and several minor offices.

Winchell, William C., Baldwinsville, was born in Lysander, May 27, 1829, son o Erastus Winchell, a native of Columbia Co. The family were of Scotch descent and came to America in 1750. Erastus Winchell married Clarissa Beebe and came to Lysander in 1825, where he engaged in farming. He died in 1847, aged 57 years. William C. was educated in the common school. He married Sarah C., daughter of Richard Smith, one of the earliest settlers in Onondaga Co. and a leading man in the western part of the town of Lysander. Mr. Winchell was appointed postmaster in 1882, and his wife received a commission as postmistress from President Grant and served for 25 years.

Willis, Samuel, Tully, was born in Lake Pleasant, Hamilton Co., July 7, 1818. He was the oldest son of a family of seven children of Asa and Alma (Picket) Willis, he a native of Washington Co., N. Y., and she a native of Connecticut. They came to Tully in 1836, where Mr. Willis died in 1865 and his wife in 1868. He was a sol- dier in the war of 1812. Samuel was educated in the common schools, and in 1835 came to Syracuse, where he worked to assist in paying for his father's home, and has made his own property. In 1841 he bought 120 acres. to which he added until he owned 300 acres, but has since disposed of a portion of his land. In 1842 Mr. Willis married Rachel Van Wormer, a native of Tully, by whom he has had five children: Ann Eliza, wife of Erastus Clark of Tully; George, who died in Cortland at the age of 21; Sophia (deceased), wife of Adrian Cummings; Mary, who died in 1879; and Julia, wife of William H. Stoppard. Mrs. Willis died May 22, 1879. Mr. Willis has always been an active worker in politics, and has served as assessor six years, and supervisor nine years. He also represented the second district of his county in the Assembly in 1878-79. He belongs to the Tully Grange.

Wells, Cornelius, Fabius, was born in Fabius Aug. 26, 1832, a son of John and Pattie (Rome) Wells, the former a native of Rhode Island and the latter of New York. Luke Rome, maternal grandfather of Cornelius, was an early settler of Fa- bius, and a captain in the Revolutionary war. Our subject is the owner of a farm of

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300 acres, and follows general farming and dairying, having also taken a prominent part in local politics. In 1852 he married Clarissa, daughter of Jesse Stannard, an early settler of the town, and they have had three children: George, who died at the age of 34, leaving a wife and four children; Byron, who resides in Dallas, Texas; and Nellie, who died aged 27; Byron Wells was educated in Onondaga Val- ley Academy, Bridgeman's Preparatory School, and graduated from the Clinton College. He engaged in teaching at Peterboro for three years, then accepted a po- sition as professor in the High School at Auburn, where he remained seven years. He then went to Buffalo and engaged with the New York State Life Insurance Com- pany, and five years later went to Dallas, Tex., and engaged with the Milwaukee & Northwestern Insurance Company as general agent of the State of Texas.

Wright, John B., Van Buren, was born in Belle Isle, April 11, 1843. His father, John Wright, was a native of Whitehall, N. Y., and came to Onondaga Co. in 1834 and engaged in the mercantile business in Syracuse. He afterwards bought the Marks farm in the town of Camillus. In 1856 he came to Van Buren and purchased the John Williams property, where his descendants now reside. He married Sylvia P. Sweeting, and they had four children: Thankful S., Josephine L., Mortimer M., and John B. He died in 1882, aged 62 years. John B. was educated in the common schools. In 1877 he married Harriet D., daughter of Abner Cornell, by whom he has two sons, John K. and Carl C. Mr. Wright is one of the leading farmers of the town.

Waffle, Burdett, Van Buren, was born in Van Buren, Nov. 11, 1850, son of Levi Waffle, also a native of Van Buren. The family came from the Mohawk Valley to Van Buren in 1815 and settled near Dead Creek. In 1847 Levi Waffle married Louisa, daughter of Daniel Lindsay, and they had one son, Burdett. Mr. Waffle was one of the most prominent farmers of his town and took an active interest in the development of the best interests of the town. He died in 1868, aged 45 years.

Wheelock, Ralph R., Pompey, was born in Pompey, Oct. 2, 1843, a son of Luther and Mary (Slafter) Wheelock, natives of Pompey, the former born in 1808, and the latter in 1817. He died in Pompey Nov. 1, 1879, and his widow lives on the old homestead, at the age of 77. The grandfather of our subject was Gershom B., born in Massachusetts in 1786. His wife was Electa Jones, born in Hebron, Conn., in 1790. Gershom came to Pompey with his parents, Capt. Ralph and Abigail (Blash- field) Wheelock in 1802, and settled on the farm now owned by Thomas Walker, later buying the farm now occupied by Avery G. Wheelock, where they died. There the grandparents of our subject also died. Ralph R. was reared on the old home- stead, educated in the common schools, and has followed farming, now owning 90 acres of land near the village of Watervale, where he follows general farming and dairying. He is a member of Watervale Grange No. 606. In 1866 he married Ada C., daughter of D. W. and Caroline (Stephens) Sloan, the former of Pompey, and the latter of Manlius. Mr. and Mrs. Wheelock have one daughter Annie C.

Weis, Abram, Pompey, was born in Germany in 1828, a son of Frederick and Eliz- abeth (Hensel) Weis, both natives of Germany, who came to America in 1850, and settled at Syracuse, where they died. Mr. Weis was a weaver in the old country, and was engaged in the salt works at Syracuse. He died in 1889 and his wife in

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1882. The grandparents were Adam Weis and Reynold Hensel, both natives of Germany, where they died. Abraham Weis was educated in his native country, and his first business was traveling with a circus, which he followed in France for six years, and two years in England, being foreman and member of the band. He came to America in 1849 with his brothers, and settled in Syracuse, where he engaged in the Van Buren & Smith tannery, remaining 22 years, during 16 of which he was foreman. In 1872 he came to Pompey and bought a farm of 135 acres, where he has since resided, engaged in general farming. In 1854 he married Mary A. Caggy of Syracuse, by whom he had seven children: John, who died aged 19; Mary, who died in infancy ; Abram, a farmer and mason, who works the homestead farm. He mar- ried Johanna Clear, and has three children, John, Mary and Frank; Jacob, a farmer of Pompey, who married Maggie Oley, and has three children, Margaret, Charley and George; Frederick, a farmer of Pompey, who married Maggie Flynn, and has two children, Fred and Ethel; Mary, wife of Herman Reese of Syracuse, and has four children ; George, a farmer of Pompey, who married Lena Hoff, and has two children, Lena and George. Abram and Fred are members of the Pompey orchestra.

Wheeler, Russell B., Skaneateles, was born in Elbridge, April 13, 1837, son of Jared W. and Electra B. Wheeler. Jared W. was a practicing physician in Elbridge and came there from Connecticut when Elbridge was larger than Syracuse. He was born in 1788 and was killed in a railway accident in Pennsylvania in 1865. Russell B. was educated in the Munro Academy at Elbridge, then started in by selling goods on the road for a New York firm. After this he went into the lime business at Skan- eateles Falls, continuing in this for five years. He then located in his present busi- ness as dealer in coal and lumber in Skaneateles, his business extending through that and some of the surrounding towns. He married Carrie A., daughter of Alex- ander Van Vleck, of Jordan, by whom he has one son, James A., aged 13 years.

Worden, Charles A., Manlius, was born in Fayetteville, Nov. 3, 1829. Hiram H., his father, was born Jan. 1, 1801, in the same town. He was a carpenter and joiner by trade, but was employed by the State a great many years in the construction of dams, locks, etc. Prominent among them was the High Dam on the Oswego River, also the Horseshoe Dam. He followed this line of work about 15 years, then en- gaged in boat building for a number of years. He died Jan. 9, 1892, aged 91 years. In the early days, he was a captain of State militia. His wife, Elizabeth Graves, died in 1893, aged 89 years. Of this union nine children were born, five of whom are now living. Charles A., third child, had a very limited education and was early in life put out to work, but having a natural taste for mental improvement has made the most of his opportunities for learning. He followed various employments until 1860, when he became a partner with his brother-in-law, J. L. Boynton, in the man- ufacture of cut marble. This partnership continued until 1880, when Mr. Boynton went Fayetteville to conduct the shop there (established by them six years before) and Mr. Worden remained in the home establishment. He became interested in a granite quarry at Barre, Vt., and, assisted by his sons, has established branches and warerooms at Buffalo, Glenn Falls, Rochester, and Dansville, N. Y., all being man- ufactories, with the exception of Buffalo. The output for 1894 will be about $50,000 worth. Mr. Worden was commissioner of highways in 1888. 1n 1859, he married Eliza J., daughter of John Sweeting, of Syracuse, by whom he has five children :

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Ella, wife of Roy Stevens, marble cutter, of Manlius Station; Addison in the employ of the N. Y. C. R. R. ; C. Arthur, partner in the business, lives at Dansville; Fred E., in charge of the quarry at Barre, Vt. ; and Louie, living at home.

Warner, Joseph H., Manlius, was born in the town of Dewitt, April 25, 1854. Joseph, his father, was a native of Germany and came to this country in 1840, locat- ing in Buffalo, where he was engaged in butchering for three years. In 1843 he lo- cated in Dewitt and engaged in farming and in 1847 bought a farm of 35 acres, which he sold a part of. In 1865 he bought 37 acres, where he has since made his home. At the age of 24, he married Elizabeth Schwartz, a native of Switzerland, by whom he had nine children, five of whom are now living. Mrs. Warner, the devoted wife and loving mother, died May 23, 1893. Joseph H. was educated in the common schools and took up railroading and was for twelve years switchman in the Dewitt yard. He resigned his position April 1, 1894, and bought the farm of his father, where he has since made his home. In 1878 Mr. Warner married Jennie, daughter of Philip King, of Dewitt, by whom he has six children: Bertha, Henry J., Philip, Frederick, Nelson, student of the common school, and Joseph. Mr. Warner and family attend the Presbyterian church at Collamer.

Whitney, Sumner, Manlius, was born in Manlius, Nov. 25, 1833. Sumner, his father, was born in Boston, Mass., in 1800 and came to this State when a young man and located in Manlius. Here he built a foundry for moulding agricultural imple- ments. The melting was mostly done with charcoal. In 1837 Mr. Whitney sold his interest in the foundry and engaged in freighting goods for Manlius merchants, which business he continued in up to the time of his death, which occurred March 14, 1849. His wife, Marilia Cross, a native of Connecticut, died March 4, 1886. They had five children, two of whom are now living: Charles, who became engaged in the mercantile business in California, where he located in 1849. He was with a com- mission firm for 28 years. He died Oct. 14, 1891, aged 66 years. Franklin, born May 12, 1831, and has been engaged in the express business in Ohio for a great many years, but is now a resident of Syracuse. Two other children died in infancy. Sumner was educated in the common schools and the old Manlius Academy. After leaving school he went into the iron foundry and up to 1882 has always been engaged in that business. At that time he retired from active business. He and his wife are both members of the M. E. church. In 1853, Mr. Whitney married Evelyn D., daughter of John A. Balsley, a farmer of High Bridge. They have had four chil- dren: Nellie, wife of Clinton Owen, a machinist of Manlius; Julia A., wife of Ilar- land Hessler, of Cleveland, Ohio, engaged in the manufacture of surgical instru- ments; Henry S., a machinist of Manlius; and Charles A., the oldest, died April 4, 1878, aged 24 years.

Büttner, Peter, Syracuse, son of John J., was born in Bavaria, Germany, Aug. 2, 1846. Learning the trade of butcher in the fatherland he came to America in March, 1869, and settled in Syracuse in October of the same year. Ile immediately engaged in business as a butcher and followed it until 1878. In 1876 he started a restaurant, to which he has since devoted his attention. He is popular among the German ele- ment of the city and prominent in many enterprises. He has been a member of the A. O. U. W. since 1889. Sept. 9, 1873, he married Josephine Ulrich, also a native of

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Bavaria, Germany, and their children are John J., Theodore J., Elizabeth B., Bertha A., Peter, jr., August W., and George J.

Brand, Cassius M., Syracuse, was born in the town of Geddes on March 29, 1855. His father, Ross Brand, moved into that locality with an ox team from Montgomery Co. prior to 1825, while it was yet a vast wilderness, and died there in 1861, aged 66. He was a farmer and owned at his death over 200 acres of land along the lake front and running back into the town of Camillus. He had twelve children, of whom three sons, Yates, Henry, and Cassius M., and five daughters are living. His wife, Elizabeth, died Jan. 6, 1876. Cassius M. Brand receiving a public school education, became a newsboy on the railroad and later a clerk in Syracuse. In Sept., 1870, Le became a clerk in a shoe store, and on April 6, 1878, he engaged in the boot and shoe business with Frank O. Fulmer under the firm name of Brand & Fulmer. He subsequently purchased Mr. Fulmer's interest, and in May, 1885, formed a partnership with John L. Bauer as Brand & Bauer, which acquired a wide reputation. In May, 1892, two stores were consolidated and the firm of Brand, Bauer & Molyneux was organized by the admission of Robert A. Molyneux. On Feb. 1, 1895, the latter sold his interest and the firm again became Brand & Bauer. Mr. Brand has been somewhat active in politics, and was sent as a delegate to one of the Republican State Conventions at Saratoga. Feb. 1,1882, he married Clara L., daughter of H. N. Robinson of Syracuse.

Bailey, Bingham N., Syracuse, is a native of Clay, Onondaga Co., and was born July 26, 1849. Educated at Cazenovia Seminary, from which he was graduated in 1871, he began the study of law in Syracuse with A. G. S. Allis, and was admitted at Rochester in Oct., 1874. He has practiced only in Syracuse. He was clerk of the Board of Supervisors in 1877-78, and a delegate to the last judicial convention when Judge Harding was nominated for the second term, and has always been a strong, sometimes an active, Republican. In March, 1875, he married Flora D., daughter of Charles Billington and a sister of ex-member of assembly Merchant Billington of Chittenango, and of Drs. C. E. and H. H. Billington of Syracuse. They have two sons: Roscoe W. and Lucius H.

Beebe, Arthur, Syracuse, is a son of Samuel A. Beebe, whose wife, Caroline E., was a daughter of Ephraim Webster, the first white settler in Onondaga Co. Samuel A. was born and died at Onondaga Valley, where his father, Samuel, who also died there, was an early settler and for many years a jeweler. Arthur was born there Sept. 11, 1849, was graduated from the Onondaga Academy under William P. Goodelle in 1866, and studied law in Syracuse in the offices of Gott & Garfield, and Gott, Garfield & Hoyt, being admitted here in 1873. He has always practiced alone. He is an active member of and has held all the offices in Syracuse lodges I. O. O. F. and K. P.

Benedict, Albert T., Syracuse, is a son of Dr. A. B. Benedict, was born in Litch- field Co., Conn., Aug. 4, 1865, and came with his parents to Syracuse in 1875. He attended the Hopkins Grammar School at New Haven, Conn., began the study of law when sixteen with Forbes, Brown & Tracy, in Syracuse, and was admitted in Sept., 1886. For one year, in 1886-87, he practiced his profession in New York city and from 1887 to 1890 was a member of the firm of Smith, Kellogg, Wells & Benedict

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in Syracuse; from then until 1894 the firm was Benedict & Thomson; in Oct., 1894, the present partnership of Rider & Benedict (Arthur B. Bider) was formed. In Oct., 1888, Mr. Benedict was married to Madge B. Scott of Syracuse.

Alvord, Isaac R., Syracuse, was born in the First ward of Syracuse, Sept. 1, 1850, His father, Lewis B. Alvord, a native of Oswego Co., came to Salina with his father, Asel, and still lives here. He married Hannah Randall, who died in April, 1880, and their children were Agnes R. (Mrs. Merritt M. Bronson), Ilarriet M. (Mrs. Lewis S. Edgar, deceased), Mary L. (widow of 11. D. Haynes), Isaac R., and Flora M. (Mrs. M. R. Grannis), all of Syracuse. Isaac R. Alvord received his education in the Seymour School of this city, and at the age of fourteen began business as a cartman, in which he has always continued. He is probably the best known cartman in Syra- cuse. He was a charter member of Ossahinta Lodge No. 153, A.O.U. W., has passed through nearly all the chairs in that order, and is now (1895) district deputy of Onon- daga Co. He is also a member of the Royal Arcanum, the Anglers' Association, and Union Lodge No. 8, Degree of Honor, A.O.U.W. July 22, 1874, he married Nora I., daughter of George S. Alvord of Oswego, and they have had five children: Jessie May (Mrs. C. M. Ide), George S., Nora I., Mabel H., and Edward M.

Ayling, William J., M.D., Syracuse, son of Frederick Ayling, a native of England and now a wall paper dealer in Syracuse, was born in this city July 30, 1858, and was graduated from the High School in 1879. He pursued his professional studies in the Medical Department of Syracuse University, from which he was graduated as an M. D. in 1882. He then took a post-graduate course in St. Thomas's Hospital, in London, England, for one and one-half years, and returning to Syracuse has prac- ticed here since. He is a member of the Syracuse Academy of Medicine and of the Onondaga County Medical Society, and for three years was secretary of the old Syracuse Medical Association. He was also connected with the Syracuse Free Dis- pensary for a time, and is grand warden of Home Circle and representative to the Grand Lodge from Onondaga Council No. 61, Royal Arcanum. Dr. Ayling was married in 1884 to Carrie M., daughter of James Weller of Cicero, and has three children : Nellie L., James S., and William E.

Adams, Udelmer C., Syracuse, is a native of Cardiff, this county, born June 8, 1850. His father, Charles Adams, born in Washington Co., came to Cardiff with his father, Simeon, at a very early day, and died in Syracuse in 1875. Udelmer C. was educated at Onondaga Academy, and in 1868 apprenticed himself to the fur business with his uncle, C. N. Adams, in the Empire block, where he remained about four and one-half years. He then became a clerk for W. I. Seward, until the latter's death, when, in 1871, he entered the employ of George Stevens. In 1873 the latter's health failed and his brother, David Stevens, came on from New York to close up the business. A favorable opening was thus afforded these two enterprising men and a few months later they formed a partnership under the firm name of Stevens & Adams, which continued successfully until Nov., 1893, when the senior member died. In Feb., 1894, Mr. Adams became sole owner. This was one of the most popular firms in Central New York. From a business originally founded by Hodge & Stevens (George Stevens) in 1844, on the site of the present store of Mr. Adams and to which George Stevens succeeded as proprietor in 1868, it developed into a trade

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which reached out in all directions from Syracuse. Mr. Hodge was a practical man, and the firm of Hodge & Stevens was the first in Central New York to establish the manufacture of furs. Commencing in a small way they became one of the largest concerns of the kind in the country. They also manufactured hats and caps, a business long since consigned to special factories. Mr. Adams has enlarged the business from a retail to a combined wholesale and retail trade, keeping nearly seventy-five hands employed in all departments. In political and social affairs he has been quite active. He was elected alderman of the Eighteenth ward in Feb , 1894, was president of the Citizens' Saving and Loan Association, is vice-president of the Atlantic Savings and Loan Association, and has filled all the chairs in the I. O. O. F.

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Onondaga's centennial. Gleanings of a century, Vol. II, Part 100

Author: Bruce, Dwight H. (Dwight Hall), 1834-1908 Publication date: 1896 Publisher: [Boston] : The Boston History Company Number of Pages: 1094

Author: Bruce, Dwight H. (Dwight Hall), 1834-1908
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: [Boston] : The Boston History Company
Number of Pages: 1094