Onondaga's centennial. Gleanings of a century, Vol. II, Part 109

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 109

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).

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Business Men's Association and chairman of its entertainment committee. He was secretary of the Onondaga Centennial Committee in 1894, arranged the memorable parade on the occasion of the Centennial Celebration and spent much time and money in making the affair a grand success. Mr. Betts is a member of the financial committee of the Bureau of Labor and Charities, a trustee of the Syracuse Free Dis- pensary and a member of its executive committee; a manager of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children ; an influential member of the Onondaga Ilistor- ical Society, the Citizens Club, and several other prominent organizations, and one of the leading citizens of Syracuse. Silas Betts, president of the American Guernsey Cattle Club, is an uncle of Samuel T. Betts, and was born in Borodino on May 9. 1828. He was educated at Onondaga and Homer Academies, taught school in Belle Isle, and was graduated from the Albany State Normal School in 1849. He then followed school teaching until 1864, being for seven years principal of one of the public schools of Syracuse. Since then he has devoted his time largely to farming and breeding Guernsey cattle near Camden, N. J. He was one of the organizers of the A. G. C. C. and has been its president since 1890.

Kraus, Kilian, Syracuse, watchmaker and jeweler, attended the old Government Horological College in Furtwangen, Baden. Germany, from 1861 to 1864, a period of four years. In 1868 he came to Syracuse and in 1872 established himself in business as a dealer in fine watches of all grades, jewelry, diamonds, etc., and as a repairer of fine watches. He has continued at his present location, 352 South Salina street, for ten years.

· Walier, Joseph, Syracuse, is a native of Switzerland, where he was born in Dec., 1842, and learned his trade of candy maker in Austria. He followed that occupation in Austria, Poland, France, Spain, Cuba, and San Domingo (Hayti), and came from the latter place to New York city in 1852. In 1854 he removed to Syracuse, where he has ever since resided. For the first ten years he worked at candy making for Reuben Wood. In 1866 he started business for himself as a candy manufacturer in partnership with Frederick Ehrhardt, the firm name being Walier & Ehrhardt, which continued until 1887, when Mr. Walier became sole proprietor. In 1894 his son Joseph C. was admitted as partner under the name of Joseph Walier & Son. For many years the business was conducted on the corner of Clinton and Walton streets; in 1893 the present brick block on the corner of North Salina street and Catawba was completed and occupied. The business is confined to the manufacture of high grade candies and extends over nearly every State east of the Mississippi River. Mr. Walier was alderman of the Second ward in 1879-80 and is a member and treasurer of Syracuse Lodge, No. 501, F. & A. M. He was married in 1865 to Miss Christina Hoffman, a native of Baden, Germany, who has borne him four chil- dren: Christina, Emma, Catherine, and Joseph C.

Gang, Charles H., Syracuse, was born in the First ward of Syracuse, April 8, 1860, and is a son of Joseph Gang, a stationary engineer, who was born in Alsace, Ger- many, in 1827, came to America and settled in this city about 1850, and died in July, 1891. He attended the public schools, and at the age of thirteen became a cash boy in D. McCarthy & Co.'s retail store. Later he had charge of their elevators and steam plant for four years, after which he was engaged in the restaurant business in

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North Salina street in the old Graff Hall. One year afterwards he formed a part- nership with Anthony Hahn, as Hahn & Gang, and opened the Mansion House in South Franklin street, which continued for ten years. In 1891 he purchased Mr. Hahn's interest, and has since been sole proprietor. In 1893, in partnership with John Weaver, as Weaver & Gang, he opened the Toogood House, the leading hotel in Canastota, and on April 15, 1895, with F. T. Wedge, under the firm name of Wedge & Gang, he opened the Hotel Imperial in South Salina street, both of which he still continues. He was also for several years heavily interested in trotting horses, and was one of the organizers and for a time president of the Central City Novelty Com- pany. He is a prominent member of the C. M. B. A., C. B. L., and Knights of St. John. Bought out the interest of Helbard of the firm of Helbard & Garlock, now known as Garlock & Co.

Dunfee, John, Syracuse, whose father, Edward, was a native of Ireland, and for some years prior to his death was a resident of Syracuse, was born in this city in the Fourth ward, March 16, 1851. With limited education and compelled by circum- stances to support himself, he started in life as a newsboy and bootblack and in business as a dealer in horses, buying his first horse for $8. He became the largest horse dealer in Western and Central New York, was widely known and continued the business ten years. He bought large numbers of horses in Canada and else- where and shipped them to city markets, mainly in New York. Finally he began contracting on city and general work and became an extensive operator. He also bought and sold considerable real estate, and at times was heavily interested in various business enterprises, nearly all of which proved successful. In 1890 he established his note brokerage and since then has probably conducted more business than any two similar concerns in the city. He is now a director and one of the heaviest stockholders in the Haberle Crystal Spring Brewing Company and a large shareholder in the Syracuse Electric Light and Power Company. In 1875 he mar- ried Annie, daughter of Charles Shortel, of Syracuse.

Finkbeiner, George, Syracuse, was born in Freidenstatte, Wurtemberg, Germany, Jan. 6, 1824, and came to America in 1851, settling in Syracuse, where he has ever since resided. He received a good general education in Germany, where he learned his trade of cabinetmaker and also served in the regular army for four years, a part of the time during the revolution of 1848-49. At the close of the war he went to Switzerland, whence he emigrated to this country. In 1857 he started his present cabinet and repair shop. Beginning poor, but endowed with all the sterling traits of thrift and perseverance which characterize the German race, Mr. Finkbeiner has been eminently successful and is thoroughly a self-made man. He is public spirited, liberal, and active in all reforms, and has been identified with the Republican party since its organization. He is elder, deacon, and secretary of the German Lutheran Evangelical church and has been superintendent of its Sunday school about six years. In 1856 he married Elizabeth Catherine Kreyss, a native of Prussia, Ger- many, by whom he has had nine children: Philip, Mary, Carrie, Elizabeth, Clara, Annie, Matilda, George, and two deceased.

Doust, Alfred G., M.D., Syracuse, is a son and the fifth child of William U. Doust, who came here from England with his wife, Sarah, about 1855, and was born in Ged- des on March 18, 1864. His parents and five brothers and three sisters are all living.

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After attending the public and high schools of this city he finished his literary edu- cation at the Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., and then entered the Medical Department of Syracuse University, from which he was graduated June 10, 1887. He began the practice of his profession in New Hartford, N. Y., where he was a member of the Oneida County and Utica City Medical Societies, and in the fall of 1889 took a post-gradaate course in the New York Post-Graduate School and Hos- pital, after which he settled in Syracuse where he has since resided. lle is physi- cian of the 13th ward for Onondaga Co. and for three years was physician of the same ward for the city. He is a member of the Onondaga Co. Medical Society, the Syracuse Academy of Medicine, the Royal Arcanum, and the English society of the Sons of St. George, of which he is also the medical examiner. Sept. 25, 1889, he married Mary Louise, daughter of Robert Service, of New Hartford, N. Y.

Van Heusen, Stephen Van Rensselaer, jr., Syracuse, was born in Syracuse Oct. 17, 1841, where he has been a lifelong resident. His father, Stephen Van Rensse- laer Van Heusen, sr., born in Rensselaer Co., Dec. 1, 1808, came to Syracuse in 1826 and died here May 11, 1895, being one of the oldest if not the oldest continuous resi. dent of the county. He was a blacksmith by trade, but for several years was en- gaged in buying and selling real estate. His wife whom he married in 1833, was Phebe Weaver Lee, of Oneida Co. She died Sept. 16, 1889. Three children sur- vive: Mrs. A. P. Wheeler, Mrs. C. S. Ball, and S. V. R. Van Heusen, jr. The latter, after finishing his education in the public schools of this city, became a clerk in the hardware store of Giles Everson, where he remained ten years, when he was made a member of the firm, which was styled Everson, Frissell & Co., in which capacity he continued for another ten years. About 1880 he opened his present real estate office. In the fall of 1864 he enlisted in Battery D, 3d N. Y. Art., and served till the close of the war, being promoted orderly sergeant, and being now a member of Root Post G. A. R. He was married in June, 1866, to Charlotte L., daughter of Edwin R. Smith, of Geddes, and they have two daughters, Genevieve and Marion.

Steele, Herbert A., Syracuse, was born in Waterbury, Conn., Jan. 26, 1857, at- tended the Episcopal Academy at Cheshire, became successively a bookkeeper two years, a coal dealer five years, and a commercial traveler, and in May, 1888, settled in Syracuse, where he has since résided. He engaged in the portrait business in 1889 and in 1890 established his present office, making fine crayon and other artistic portraits. In 1893 he married Mary B. Elwell, of Chicago.

Ormsbee, Lucius J., Syracuse, the oldest merchant in continuous and active busi- ness in Syracuse, was born in Manlius on Aug. 31, 1825. Jacob Ormsbee, his father, a native of Herkimer Co., came to Manlius at a very early day, moved thence to Syracuse, where he built many of the prominent earlier buildings, among them the Globe Hotel and the Onondaga Co. Orphan Asylum, and died here in 1893, aged 87. He also erected a number of the early structures in Baldwinsville, whither he moved in 1828, remaining until about 1848, when he went to Jordan, whence he came to Syracuse. Of his five children two died young, and three are living: Lucius J. Ormsbee and Mrs. John Leary in this city, and Mrs. Charles G. Graves, in Jordan. Lucius J. Ormsbee received a classical education at Barber's academy and Melanc- ton Stilwell's school in Baldwinsville, and on Sept. 1, 1840, became a clerk for Nor- ton, Dow & Marvin in that village. Two years later their business was merged into

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that of Betts & Downer, and Mr. Ormsbee continued with them for two years more. In 1844 he came to Syracuse and founded the business in which he has ever since been engaged-that of stationer, etc. He has carried on this trade uninterruptedly for a period of fifty-five years, and is still active in the details necessary to its suc- cess. He has always been a radical abolitionist, and has run for every office on that ticket except president of the United States. He was secretary and treasurer and a member of the executive committee of the underground railroad from its organiza- tion until its disbandment, was one of the active participants in the famous Jerry Rescue, and always escaped arrest while many of his copatriots found themselves within the hands of the law. No man in the county was more intimately connected with this commendable organization, and much of the success attained by the local body of patriotic citizens was due to his vigilance and enterprise. In 1848 Mr. Ormsbee married Caroline Coombs, of Jordan, and has three children living: L. Frank, Henry Jerome, and Mrs. Carrie A. Patterson, all of Syracuse.

Earle, William L., Syracuse and Tully, son of William R. and Maria (Stewart) Earle, was born in Truxton, N. Y., June 15, 1846, and received his education in the common schools of his native town, working meanwhile on his father's farm. Sept. 4, 1861, he enlisted as a private in Co. A, 76th N. Y. Vols., and served three years. Returning home he engaged in business as a contractor in a sash and blind factory at Binghamton, N. Y., which he continued seven years. He then moved to Cortland and opened a picture and art store, and after two years sold out and went to Broome Co. to settle his father in-law's estate. Later he removed to Tully, Onondaga Co., and read medicine with his brother, Dr. George W. Earle, and while there became interested in the furniture and undertaking business, which he has since followed. In Aug., 1893, he formed a partnership in Syracuse with James G. Williams, as Earle & Williams, and on March 14, 1894, became sole proprietor. He was one of the originators of the Undertakers' Association of New York State in 1879, and was elected chairman of the grievance committee at the first convention, which was held at Utica. Since then he has held every important office in the organization, having been vice-president, president, chairman of the executive committee, etc. He was chairman of the delegations to the International Undertakers' Convention in 1892 and 1893, has organized local societies in nine counties of this State, and is one of the leading undertakers in Central New York. He was largely instrumental in organizing the Onondaga County Undertakers' Association of which he was the first vice-president and for three years the president. He was an officer of the vil- lage of Tully, where he resides, for twelve years, being president four years, and in 1883 became a member of the Methodist church there, in which he has filled all the offices, resigning as secretary and treasurer of the board of stewards upon becoming interested in business in Syracuse. For fourteen successive winters he has done evangelical work in Central New York without remuneration. In 1889 he organized the Tully Furniture Manufacturing Company, of which he was president for one year, when he disposed of his interest therein. He was also a wagon manufacturer in that village for five years. He was one of the prime movers in organizing the 'Tully water and electric light commission in Dec., 1895, and was made and is still its president. In 1888 he organized Goodelle Post, No. 593, G. A. R., and has been its commander ever since. He has been a lifelong Republican and often a delegate to

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to political conventions. Sept. 16, 1864, he married Frances S., daughter of Elijali Baker, of Homer, N. Y., and they have one daughter, Cora L.

Hill, James L., Syracuse, the last survivor of one of the oldest families of Pompey, was born in that town March 7, 1830, and is the youngest son and child of Col. En- sign and Millie (Marsh) Hill, farmers, who came to that part of Onondaga Co. at a very early day. Colonel Hill was born in Pittsfield, Mass., served in the war of 1812, and obtained his title from holding that position in the old State Militia in Pompey. His children were Ensign W., Charles R. K., Orange E., Mary Ann William H., and James L. The latter was educated in the common school in Delphi and at the Onondaga Valley Academy, and began active life as a clerk for Allen & Taylor, merchants, in the present Empire block in Syracuse. After spending two years in Michigan he became a clerk for Tefft, Griswold & Kellogg, dry goods deal- ers in New York, and while there his health failed. Returning to Pompey in 1861, he engaged in farming until 1864, when he moved to Syracuse and purchased the old Morse farm on the eastern limits of the city, where he has since resided. Mr. Hill was deputy sheriff for three terms under Sheriffs Evans, Cossett, and Edwards, was alderman from the Eighth ward in 1874 and 1875, and in June, 1892, was ap- pointed U. S. marshal for the northern district of New York, which position he still holds. He was married in 1858 to Adaline L., daughter of A. Hamilton Allen, of Delphi, Onondaga Co. They have two children: Everard Allen Hill, a prominent lawyer, and Mary Grace, wife of Girard M. Parce, both of Syracuse.

Boynton Bros. (Frank C. and Fred L.), Manlius, successors to J. L. Boynton, are sons of John L. Boynton. John L. was a native of Springfield, Vt., and came to this State in 1848, locating in Elmira, N. Y., where he learned the marble cutter's trade. He then came to Fayetteville, being employed with James Mead until 1857. At that time he established a business for himself at Manlius Station. In 1871 he re- turned to Fayetteville and bought the old establishment, conducting the one at Man- lius Station three years longer. He conducted a very successful business up to the time of his death, June 5, 1889. The brothers have taken up the business and are now doing five times the work ever done in the shop before. They make a specialty of statuary. Most of their granite cutting is done at Barre, Vt., where they employ thirteen men in the cutting. They also have an interest in the quarry and sell a great many stones in the rough. Frank C. has been a member of the county com- mittee for four years. Both brothers are members of the Masonic order and con- nected with the Episcopal church. They were the contractors of the Gaynor water- ing trough in the town of Dewitt. They are now constructing a fine monument for the late Police Justice Mulholland, of Syracuse. The average output per year is about $27,000.

Foote, F. G., Skaneateles, of the firm of F. G Foote & Co., was born in Skan- eateles, Dec. 8, 1863, son of Perry Foote, who was born in a log cabin in the town in 1814. He followed farming until his death, which occurred in 1888. F. G. Foote learned the hardware business in Rochester, and then went into business for himself in Skaneateles. The firm carry a full line of hardware, stoves, and house furnishing goods, and is as finely stocked as any in that line. He is one of the leading mer- chants there. He sold his interest in the hardware business in Skaneateles Feb. 1, 1895, and moved to Scranton, taking an interest in the hardware business of Foote

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& Shear Co. He married Katherine Rawson, daughter of the late Judge George W. Rawson, of Rochester. They have one son, Rawson Ward, and one daughter, Kathryn Louise Foote.

Sawyer, George C., Syracuse, second son of Rev. George and Mary A. Sawyer, and only brother of Hon. A. H. Sawyer, an eminent lawyer of Watertown and for several years judge of Jefferson Co., was born in Malone, N. Y., March 1, 1839, and until the age of twelve "itinerated" with his father, a Methodist clergyman. He was educated at Falley Seminary in Fulton, and intended to enter Union College, but on account of typhoid fever was obliged to abandon college after preparing to enter senior year. After studying under private tutors for two years he entered the law office of S. N. Dada, of Fulton, and was admitted to the bar April 4, 1861. He then formed a copartnership with his preceptor, which continued till Nov. 29, 1865, when he became State agent for the Travelers Insurance Company, of Hartford, Conn., a position he has ever since held. In 1866 he came to Syracuse to reside. He has long been a member and officer of the First M. E. church, and has served as president of the Syracuse M. E. Union, New York State Sunday School Association, Young Men's Christian Association. New York State Y. M. C. A., and Syracuse Land and Improvement Company, and vice-president of the Thousand Island Park Associa- tion. He is also identified with various other enterprises and institutions. Nov. 12, 1862, he married Miss Julia A. Sabin, of Fulton, N. Y., and their children are Carrie E., Bertha S. (both graduates of Syracuse University), and Grace J.

Helmer, Fremont D., Syracuse, son of Darwin, was born in Mohawk, N. Y., March 20, 1862, and came with his father to Syracuse in 1864 At the age of 15 he became a clerk in the hat store of McClelland Brothers, where he remained five years, when he formed a partnership with them under the firm name of McClelland & Helmer. In 1885 he succeeded to the business, in which he has since continued. He is a mem- ber of Syracuse Lodge, No. 501, F. & A. M., in which he has held many of the offices. Feb. 6, 1882, he married Emma, daughter of Stephen Hopper, of Syracuse, by whom he has one son, Robert Fremont. Darwin Helmer, his father, still resides in Syra- cuse, as does also his wife, Julia, a daughter of Henry Stanton, an early match manu- facturer.

Grimes, Rev. John, Syracuse, third pastor of St. Mary's Roman Catholic church, Syracuse, was born in Ireland in 1853 and received his preliminary education in the national school and with the Jesuit fathers in his native country. In 1874 he entered the classical course in the College of St. Hyacinthe in Canada, from which he was adopted into the diocese of Albany. He was sent by Rt. Rev. Francis McNeirney, D. D., to the Grand Seminary of Montreal, where he completed his theological train- ing, and received from Rt. Rev. Dr. Fabre bishop of Montreal, the several degrees preparatory to the sacerdotal order. On Sunday, Feb. 19, 1882, he was ordained to the priesthood in the cathedral of the Immaculate Conception at Albany by Rt. Rev. Dr. McNeirney. His first appointment was as assistant to the late Rev. Dr. James A. O'Hara, pastor of St. Mary's church, Syracuse, which Dr. O'Hara was then building. This position enabled Father Grimes to show his abilities as an ecclesias- tic and a financier, and he rendered valuable aid in completing the structure and organizing the congregation, who became attached to him. In 1884 Bishop McNeir- ney removed him to Warren Co., N. Y., but the pastor and people of St. Mary's peti-

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tioned for his return, and for the first time during his episcopal reign the bishop ac- ceded to the request and sent him back. Father Grimes remained with Dr. O'Hara until the erection of the new see of Syracuse and the consecration of the present bishop, Rt. Rev. P. A. Ludden, D.D., who, on June 26, 1887, appointed him pastor of St. Paul's church in Whitesboro, N. Y., with the missions of New Hartford and Holland Patent, over which he faithfully presided until the pastorate of St. Mary's in Syracuse became vacant by the death of Dr. O'Hara. On Jan. 27, 1890, at the month's mind services for the deceased doctor, Bishop Ludden, to the great satis- faction of the entire congregation, appointed Father Grimes pastor in charge of the parish, in which he has made many improvements, among them a $12,000 pipe organ. The present membership exceeds that of any other church in Central New York.

Pakelnishky, Nathan J., and Moses, Syracuse, are sons of Levi, a large real estate owner in, and a resident of, Syracuse. Nathan J. was born in Poland, Russia, March 11, 1865, came to this country and city with his parents in 1867, graduated from Meads's Business Business College, and in 1882 became a bookkeeper for Levi Levy, a position he still holds. He is a member of the Democratic City Committee and a trustee of congregation Adas Yeshuron and of the Jewish Orphan Asylum in Roch- ester, vice-chancellor of Home Lodge No. 119, K. O. P., and a member of the Gene- see Club. Moses Pakelnishky was born in Syracuse, July 22, 1869, attended the pub- lic schools, and was graduated from Meads's Business College in 1883. He held suc- cessively the positions of confidential clerk for Silverstein & Co., general manager for Freeman & Shevelson, and cashier for the Freeman Clothing Company. Both brothers are active in local politics, prominently identified with the Jewish institu- tions of the city, and heavily interested in various enterprises. In Feb., 1892, they formed a partnership and succeeded to the concern of Freeman & Shevelson, which they still continue, doing a general brokerage, loan, investment, and real estate business. He is a member of Syracuse Lodge No. 31, B. P. O. E., Home Lodge No. 118, K. O. P., the Syracuse Athletic Association, and the Genesee and Standard Clubs.

Levy, Levi, Syracuse, born in Poland, Russia, in June, 1853, came to America and settled in Syracuse in 1869, was in business in Elmira in 1871-2, was a traveling salesman until about 1880, lived in Scranton, Pa., in 1881-2, and since then has con- ducted a large wholesale jewelry business in Syracuse. He is a member of the Standard Club, vice-president of Adas Yeshuron, and a trustee of the Jewish Orphan Asylum in Rochester. He married Minnie Pakelnishky and has one child, Isadore J.

Wilson, J. William, Syracuse, son of Rev. James W., an M. E. clergyman, was born in Sodus, N. Y., Dec. 5, 1857, attended the Geneva Iligh School, was graduated from Cazenovia Seminary in 1875, and from Syracuse University in 1879, was a teacher in the first named institution one year, and began the study of law in Syracuse in 1880 in the office of Sedgwick, Ames & King. Admitted at Rochester General Term in the Spring of 1882, he began practice in Syracuse with Charles M. Platt the same year, and later was a member of the firms of Ames, Platt & Wilson and of Lewis & Wilson; since 1891 he has practiced alone. He has been

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Onondaga's centennial. Gleanings of a century, Vol. II, Part 109

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