Onondaga's centennial. Gleanings of a century, Vol. II, Part 102

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 102

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Quinby, Dr. Theron E., Manlius, was born in the town of Ontario, Wayne county, August 18, 1847, son of David M., a farmer of that town. Theron E. was educated in the common schools and Walrath Academy. After leaving school he taught one season, then spent one year with Dr. J. D. Dunning, of Webster, N. Y. In Septem- ber, 1867, he entered the medical department of the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, graduating March 4, 1868, from the Western Reserve College, at Cleveland, Ohio. He commenced practice June 1, 1868, at New London, Oneida county, in partnership with Dr. Babcock and remained in that town about two years. In 1870 he located in Fayetteville, where he has built up a creditable practice and made many friends. The year 1888 he spent as physician of Auburn prison, but resigned in the same year. Dr. Quinby was supervisor of the town in 1891 and president of the village of Fayetteville in 1888-89-90, also one year previous. The doctor is given the credit by the citizens of being the founder of the water works in the village. Dr. Quinby is a member of the Masonic order, Odd Fellows and Rechabites. He is a director of the Manlius Plank Road Co. June 1, 1870, he married Ann Elizabeth Abell, of New London, by whom he has one daughter, Katherine D., a student of Fayetteville Academy.

Whiting, Nathan, Cicero, was born in New Hampshire, Nov. 7, 1814, and came with his parents to the town of Cicero at the age of sixteen years. Nathan A., his father, was born in the town of Temple, New Hampshire, April 20, 1787. He was a farmer, as well as the grandfather. He bought 145 acres of land in the town of Cicero, to which he continued to add, until he had acquired 289 acres. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Francis Blood, by whom he had four children; Elizabeth,

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who died at the age of 33; Oliver; Elvira; and Nathan. The latter has spent his life at farming, and now has a farm of 308 acres, all under cultivation, making a specialty of hay. Mr. Whiting married Matilda, daughter of David Ball, of Cicero, who was one of the original settlers of this town. Mr. Ball died in Michigan in 1858, aged 74 years, and his wife, who was Lucy Belding, of Massachusetts, died in Mich- igan in 1862, aged 73 years.

Clinton Pharmaceutical Company, Syracuse, was organized and incorporated at Clinton, N. Y., in Nov., 1887, with a capital of $5,000. The original officers were John R. Myers, president; John Clark, vice-president; and William M. Bristol secretary and treasurer. In Oct., 1889, the capital stock was increased to $25,000 and the business moved to Syracuse, where it has since become a leading factor in the commercial interests of Central New York. In 1891 the capital was again in- creased, this time to $50,000, and the same year Messrs. Myers and Bristol purchased Mr. Clark's interest and have since been the sole proprietors. The incorporate privileges expired in June, 1893, but the original name was retained, and thence- forward the concern has been conducted as a private company. The business ex- tends all over the United States, but principally throughout New York. Pennsylvania, Ohio, and New England, and considerably in the South, employing from eight to ten traveling salesmen. Regular pharmaceutical preparations are manufactured, such as are used by physicians, consisting of liquids, tablets, and pills. Their chief chemist, J. Le Roy Webber, is known throughout the country as an authority on pepsin and kindred products. They manufacture a number of specialties and enjoy a wide reputation.

Collins, John R., Syracuse, son of John, was born in County Kerry, Ireland, May 27, 1858, was educated in the national schools of his native country, and in Sept., 1870, came to Syracuse, where he attended the Christian Brothers' School, now St. John's Academy, from which he was graduated in June, 1873, following that by a period of teaching in his alma mater. In March, 1874, he entered the law office of Gray & Costello and remained with their successors, Costello & Ide, and was ad- mitted to the bar at the Syracuse General Term Jan. 5, 1880. After practicing alone for a time he became a member of the firm of Tousley & Collins, and since July, 1894, he has been associated with Frank W. Talbott under the name of Talbott & Collins. He is a member of the C. R. & B. A., and C. T. A. U., in which he has held several offices. March 8, 1878, he married Delia, daughter of Patrick Hughes, a native of Syracuse, and has five children: Mary L., Frank H., Jennie M., Florence A., and Gertrude E.

Cady, Hiram P., Syracuse, born in Lebanon, Madison Co., Juy 15, 1850, is a son of James E. Cady, who died in Syracuse in Oct., 1887, aged 67, and whose wife Lucy N., died in 1870. He remained on the farm until the age of twenty-three, when he engaged in the glass business in Covington, Pa. In Aug., 1874, he came to Syr- acuse and for eleven years was connected with the glass factory here. In 1887 he. established himself in the real estate business in partnership with A. A. Bishop as Cady & Bishop, which continued about one year, when the firm dissolved and Mr. Cady conducted the office alone. In 1891 he formed a copartnership with Charles L. Pack as Cady & Pack, which still continues. Mr. Cady is prominent in Masonry, being a member of Syracuse Lodge, No. 501, F. & A. M., and of Central City Chap-

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ter, No. 70, R. A. M. He was married on March 22, 1873, to Miss Ellen M., daughter of Henry Clayson, of Lebanon, N. Y. They have one son, Alfred M.

Cady, Hon. William G., Syracuse, born in Rome, N. Y., Oct. 7, 1854, was edu- cated in the academies of Yonkers and New York city, read law with Johnson & Prescott in Rome, was admitted at Utica in 1880, and the same year came to Syra- cuse, where he has since resided and practiced his profession. He has always taken an active interest in Republican politics and for a time was secretary of the county committee. When the Municipal Court was established in Syracuse in 1892 Mr. Cady was appointed one of its judges, taking office Jan. 1, 1893, for a term of five years. In Nov., 1883, he married Jennie L., daughter of William B. Boyd, of Geddes. Their children are Lydia B., Hazel F., and Rush Boyd.

Connelly, Jeremiah R., Syracuse, was born in Syracuse, Nov. 10, 1850, was edu- cated in the public schools of this city, and learned the trade of printer in the office of the "Standard," then owned by Wiliam and Moses Summers. He was promi- nently connected with the old printers' union of this city, and in 1875, the year pre- vious to its dissolution, served as its treasurer. In 1883 he took an active part in organizing another union known as No. 55, which has ever since enjoyed a prosper- ous existence, and of which he was elected delegate to the National Convention at Pittsburg in 1886 and president in 1887. His connection with the Herald practically dates from its establishment. He is one of the best known printers in the county, with whom he is not more popular than in a large circle of general acquaintance. In the spring of 1888 Mr. Connolly was elected supervisor of the 3d ward of Syracuse on the Republican ticket, and was probably the first representative of his trade in Onondaga Co. who was ever called from the compositor's case to a seat in the county legislature. During that term of office he was chairman of the committee on rules and a member of the committees on county buildings and justices' accounts. He was clerk of the municipal civil service examiners in 1892-93, and in all these capaci- ties he distinguished himself for strict adherence to duty. Oct. 5, 1892, he married Miss Margaret F. Tehan, of Auburn, and has one son, Paul I.

Miller, Victor, Dewitt, contractor and builder, was born in Dewitt in 1848, son of John and Mary (Suaragot) Miller, of France. They came to America about 1832, locating in Syracuse, going from there to East Syracuse in 1846. The father died in 1868, aged 68, and the mother died in 1884, aged 89. Mr. Miller is the youngest of a family of five children, was raised on a farm, and afterward learned the trade he has followed since arriving at the age of manhood. He has built most of the residences and public buildings of East Syracuse. He was a member of the Board of Educa- tion during the construction of the new school house. In 1880 he married Sarah Jones of the town of Dewitt, by whom he has two children, May and Raymond.

McDowell, Edwin, Van Buren, was born in the town of Camillus, Oct. 25, 1828. Henry McDowell, his father, was a native of Orange Co., and came to Onondaga Co. in 1804 and settled in Camillus. His father, Henry, kept a hotel at Wellington Cor- ners, on the stage route between Syracuse and Auburn. Henry McDowell, jr., mar- ried Susan, daughter of Harlow Marshall. He was engaged in farming, and held many offices of trust in the town of Camillus. Edwin was educated in the common schools. In 1851 he married Julia A., daughter of Solomon Auyer, by whom he had

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seven children. In 1857 he came to Van Buren and purchased the Dr. White prop- erty. In 1872 he bought the Stephen Searles property at Jack's Reefs, where he now resides. Mr. McDowell is one of the leading men of the town, and has held various offices of trust. He was assessor for nine years and supervisor in 1884-85.

Thomas, Asahel, Camillus, was born in La Fayette in 1826, son of Joseph and Laura (King) Thomas. The father died at La Fayette in 1864, aged 68 years. Mr. Thomas married Sybil Mayhew, resided at La Fayette until 1881, and then purchased his present farm of 115 acres near Amboy, on which he has since resided. They have three children: Joseph, Levi, and Olive.

Grover, Eugene M., Syracuse, son of Albert and Sarah (Brown) Grover, was born in Georgetown, Madison Co., N. Y., Feb. 3, 1846. His paternal grandfather, Elisha Grover, a native of Massachusetts, moved into Madison Co. at a very early day, among the pioneers, and died there after a long and useful life. Hon. Martin Grover, a brother of Elisha, was for many years a prominent lawyer in Angelica, Allegany Co., and became conspicuous in the jurisprudence of the State. He was a member of Congress in 1845-47, and was elected judge of the Supreme Court of the eighth district, Nov. 3, 1857; judge of the Court of Appeals, Nov. 5, 1867, and associate jus- tice of the latter tribunal, May 17, 1870, and died Aug. 23, 1875. Albert Grover, a farmer, as was also his father, Elisha, moved with his family about 1852 to Homer, N. Y., principally for the purpose of educating his children, and after the close of the war of the Rebellion came to Syracuse, where he engaged extensively in the business of building and contracting, which he successfully followed until his death in July, 1884, at the age of 65. He was an unswerving Republican and took a keen interest in the welfare and advancement of the city. His wife Sarah was a daughter of William Brown, jr., whose father, William, sr., served for some time as a soldier in the Revolutionary war, from Massachusetts, where he lived, and subsequently moved into Chenango Co., settling at Otselic Center, where he died, and where five generations of the family are buried. She died in Syracuse in Aug., 1890, aged 80 years. They had five children, all sons, as follows: Demas L., a miller of Marcellus Falls; Albert B., of Rochester; Eugene M. and Frank W., of Syracuse; and Elisha, who died at the age of 16. Of these Albert B., Eugene M., and Elisha entered the office of the Homer Republican under Joseph R. Dixon, then a prominent factor in Republican politics and one of the leading editors of the State. Elisha died during his apprenticeship. Albert B. finished his trade and then entered the book and job room of the Syracuse Journal, which position he held for sixteen years, when he re- signed, went to Rochester, and engaged in the patent medicine business. Eugene M. Grover began a four years' apprenticeship in the Homer Republican office at the age of thirteen, and remained there until 1865, when he came to Syracuse, where he has since resided. He first entered the office of the Syracuse Courier under Stephen G. Hitchcock, and one year later became foreman of the job department. This he resigned in 1869 to enter the Journal office, where he was soon made foreman of the job room, and when the Syracuse Journal Company was incorporated in 1885 he be- came also its secretary and superintendent, and continued in these capacities until 1890. The old Journal building in East Washington street was burned in March, 1891, and when the paper took possession of its present quarters in James street in the following May, Mr. Grover started one of the largest and most complete book

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and job printing establishments in the city in the same block, where he has since carried on a successful business. He is one of the oldest and best known printers in the county, and beginning as a journey man has risen to the highest place in his pro- fession. He has been the official printer for the county of Onondaga since the new ballot law went into effect, and has also printed common council manuals, the city charter in 1895, and other important municipal works. He is a member of Syracuse Lodge, No. 501, F. & A. M. May 24, 1870, he married Miss Alma G. Karr, daughter of James and Eliza (Manning) Karr, of New York Mills, Oneida Co.

Wilkins, J. T., Baldwinsville, was born in Baldwinsville, June 18, 1856, son of William L., a native of Ballston, Saratoga Co. William L. came to Baldwinsville and engaged in the merchant tailoring business, until he built the Seneca flouring mills, which business he continued until his death in March, 1890, at the age of 67 years. He was a representative man of the town. John T. was educated in the common schools and finished at the Baldwinsville Academy. After leaving school he went to Troy, N. Y., and engaged in the clothing business, where he remained for eight years. In 1880 he returned to Baldwinsville and entered the employ of Upson & Donovan, purchasing an interest in 1887, the firm name being changed to W. Upson & Co. He married Phila, daughter of Charles Van de Warker, of Jeffer- son Co. Mr. Wilkins is one of the leading business men of the town. He has served as trustee for seven years. He has identified himself with the best interests of the town.

Schenck, Irwin V., Baldwinsville, was born in Lysander in Nov., 1846, son of Will- iam B., a native of Montgomery Co. The family came to Onondaga Co. in 1815. William B. married Catherine M. Vandevere, by whom he had three sons. He was engaged in farming up to the time of his death in 1853, at the age of 34 years. Irwin V. was educated in the common schools and finished at Baldwinsville Academy, after which he returned to his father's farm. He married Anna H., daughter of James M. Tator, who died in Aug., 1894, mourned by all who knew her. Mr. Schenck is a rep- resentative farmer of the town.

Start, Augustus, Baldwinsville, was born in Baldwinsville, Nov. 7, 1841, son of Isaiah Start, a native of Ipswich, N. H. The early ancestors settled in New Ipswich, Mass., about 1700 and were of English extraction. Isaiah Start came to Baldwins- ville in 1820. He married Sarah Ervine, by whom he had seven children, none of whom is living. He died in 1872, aged 80 years. Augustus Start married Mary, daughter of P. McCarthy, by whom he had two daughters, Alice A. and Augusta G., and one son, Ervine A. Mr. Start was engaged in farming throughout his life and was one of the prominent and popular men of the town. He died in 1876, aged 34 years.

Leamy, Thomas, Syracuse, of Leamy Brothers, extensive general contractors of Syracuse, was born in County Tipperary, Ireland, June 2, 1837. Coming to America in 1852 he engaged in building, a trade he followed more or less for several years. He also spent considerable time in travel, visiting nearly every country in the world, and thus acquired a rich fund of information and interesting reminiscence. His family upon his father's side originally came from France during the French Revo- lution and settled in Ireland, where some of their members became both wealthy and

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influential. Returning to Syracuse Mr. Leamy again applied himself to his trade and in 1871 engaged in business as a general contractor, which he has since continued. In 1878 he took his brother Patrick into partnership under the firm name of Leamy Brothers, and among the many prominent and handsome buildings which they have constructed in this city may be mentioned the county clerk's office, St. Paul's church, the Kirk block, McCarthy's new retail store, and others. Mr. Leamy was married in 1865 to Miss Lucy O'Farrell, also a native of Ireland.

McCarthy, Michael L., Syracuse, son of John, was born in Truxton, N. Y., Dec. 30, 1855. He studied law at Cortland with Judge Duell and at Oswego with W. A. Poucher, and now practices his profession in Syracuse.

Hill, Everard Allen, Syracuse, was born in Pompey, Dec. 3, 1860, came to Syra- cuse in 1863, and was educated in the schools of this city. He was graduated from the High School in 1879 and from Syracuse University in 1883, studied law with His- cock, Gifford & Doheny, was admitted to the bar in 1886, and has since practiced his profession with his preceptors, making a specialty of real estate law and surrogate's court practice. For several years he has had charge of the law business of the Syra- cuse Savings Bank. He was the first supervisor of the Fourteenth ward, serving two terms, and alderman of the same ward in 1894 and 1895. He was the first person in Onondaga Co. to join the Christian Endeavor Society, was president of the first society organized in Syracuse, and at present is a member of the Executive Commit- tee of the State organization.

Hamilton, J. Lawrence, Syracuse, son of William T., was born in Syracuse, Sept. 16, 1861. Educated in the schools of this city, in St. Paul's School in Concord, N. H., in Columbia College, and in Harvard University, he spent eight years in Mexico as manager of a mining company, and returning to Syracuse in the spring of 1888 be- came local agent for a western flour concern. In June, 1894, he formed the Electrical Specialty Company, manufacturers of and dealers in electro-medical and surgical specialties, of which he is the treasurer and manager. Nov. 20, 1889, Mr. Hamilton married Clara Ellis, daughter of William A. Beach, of Troy, N. Y., and granddaugh- ter of J. M. Ellis, of Syracuse. They have two children: Catherine Ellis and Fannie Lawrence.

Collins, Edwin, Syracuse, son of John A. and Eliza (Button) Collins, was born in Syracuse on January 3, 1865. He is a lineal descendant of Henry Collins, starch- maker, who came to Lynn, Mass., from Stepney parish, near London, England, in 1635. Dr. John Collins, of the seventh generation of Johns, was born in Brookfield, N. Y., in February, 1804, his father, John, having moved from Lynn, Mass., to Washington Co., N. Y. His sketch appears on another page of this work. He had eight children, of whom five died young and three are living in Syracuse. John Asel Collins, his son, a native of Spafford, married Eliza Button, and moved to this city about 1860. Their son, Edwin Collins, after attending the Syracuse public and high schools, became a bookkeeper for J. & F. B. Garrett and later superintend- ent of one of the Greenway Brewing Company's departments. Feb. 20, 1887, he was appointed mayor's clerk by Mayor W. B. Burns, and on April 1, 1888, received the appointment of deputy city clerk under Henry W. Bannister, a position he held by reappointment until Feb., 1896. He is a member of Syracuse Lodge, No. 215, K. P.,

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Central City Lodge, No. 161, R. A., and the Citizens and Onondaga Clubs. Nov. 27, 1889, he married Miss Bertha Erhard, daughter of Frederick Erhard, of Syracuse, who died Nov. 1, 1894.

Gorke, Herman J., Syracuse, was born in Germany, Oct. 30, 1861, and came to America with his parents in 1870, settling in the town of Lysander, Onondaga Co. His father and mother, Frederick C. and Sophia D. (Hanck) Gorke, now live in Baldwinsville. Mr. Gorke was educated first in Germany and afterwards in the com- mon schools of Lysander, and was graduated from the Baldwinsville Academy in 1884, after which he spent five years in the clothing business, one year in the oil trade, and three years as a steam contractor. On Sept. 1, 1891, he became financial manager for the Electric Engineering and Supply Company, of Syracuse, and five months later was made general manager, which position he still holds, being also elected its secretary and treasurer Jan. 1, 1895. This company was organized in 1889, and handles manufacturers' incandescent and street railway supplies, motors, dyna- mos, lamps, and general electric supplies. Mr. Gorke was superintendent of the Sunday school of the Presbyterian church of Baldwinsville in 1885-86; was the or- ganizer and, for a time, president of the Y.P.S.C.E. of that society; has been super- intendent of the Park Central Presbyterian church Sunday school for four years, and president of its Y. P. S. C. E. He married, Sept. 25, 1888, Helen M., daughter of W. W. Swetland, of Baldwinsville, and has two children, Karl S. and Doris.

Ormsbee, Henry Jerome, Syracuse, son of Lucius J., the oldest merchant in con- tinuous business in Syracuse, was born in this city April 6, 1856, and received his education in the public and High Schools. Afterward he followed different occupa- tions until Feb., 1888, when he engaged in the business of photo-engraving, being the first in Syracuse in this line, and in fact the pioneer between New York and Buf- falo to execute process work, He soon took in James M. Baily, of the Herald, as a partner under the firm name of Ormsbee & Baily Engraving Company; they con- stantly increased the scope of operation and became the leading engravers on zinc and copper in Central New York. Mr. Baily died in 1890, and since then Mr. Orms- bee has conducted the establishment alone under the name of H. J. Ormsbee En- graving Company, employing from fifteen to eighteen artists and operatives. From an insignificant beginning he has developed the business step by step, until at the present time it is equal in extent and capacity to any similar concern between New York and Chicago, its operations being confined exclusively to engraving on copper and other metals by photographic reproduction. Mr. Ormsbee has always taken an active part in amateur and local theatrical enterprises, and has staged many impor- tant entertainments, successfully supervising them with the skill of a master. In this respect his talent and ability are universally recognized, and no one holds a higher place in the dramatic life of Syracuse. He was married in Aug., 1888, to Mrs. Emma E. (Phillips) Davis, daughter of Nathan Phillips, one of the earliest settlers of Salina. They have three children : Emma Josephine, Harold Phillips, and Laura Anita.

Hisley, Charles, Syracuse, was born in Syracuse, where he has always resided, July 6, 1857. His father, Charles, sr., a fruit dealer, came to this city from Germany in 1846, and died here April 3, 1891, his wife also dying on May 17 of the same year. Of their thirteen children six are living. Charles Hisley, jr., in 1870, began learning the tailor's trade, which he followed as a journeyman for several years, mainly in the

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employ of H. P. Hall and R. J. Sloane. In the fall of 1893 he started doing a gen- eral tailoring and repairing business for himself. He was married in 1884 to Cath- erine Zimmer, of Syracuse, and has two children, Norbert G. and Leon H.

Otis, Edgar F., Syracuse, son of William T. and Eveline (Warner) Otis, was born in Chaumont, Jefferson Co., Nov. 29, 1854. His grandfather, Oliver Otis, came from Vermont and settled in what is now Oswego city at an early day, dying in the ad- joining town of Scriba. William T. Otis, his son, was born in Oswego, and when young moved to Chaumont, N. Y., where he married Eveline, daughter of Nathan- iel Warner, a native of Rhode Island. He now resides with his son in Syracuse. Edgar F. Otis, after completing his education at the State Normal School in Oswego, taught school for several years in Jefferson Co., and subsequently engaged in the hat trade in Oswego, and later in the publishing business in New York city. In April, 1885, he came to Syracuse, and in 1886 formed a partnership with Robert P. Zobel, under the firm name of Zobel & Otis, and engaged in the job printing busi- ness. This continued until Dec., 1894, when the firm dissolved, and Mr. Otis organ- ized the Otis Paper Company. He is also the publisher and managing editor of the Thousand Island Park Herald, which is issued weekly during the summer and monthly during the remainder of the year under the principal editorship of Rev. William Searls, D. D., of Auburn. Mr. Otis was for five years district secretary of the Onondaga Co. Y.P.S.C.E .; has been actively identified with the State organiza- tion and, until business cares compelled him to resign, was prominent in the work of that society. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias and of the I. O. O. F. Dec. 6, 1887, he married Addie B., daughter of F. T. Talbott, of Syracuse, and they have three children : Alva Talbott, Arthur Nye, and Rosalind May.

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Onondaga's centennial. Gleanings of a century, Vol. II, Part 102

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