Onondaga's centennial. Gleanings of a century, Vol. II, Part 24

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 24

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Maurice AGraves

BIOGRAPHICAL.

Mr. Graves has never sought political office, but his public spirit and patriotism led him on September 8, 1862, to enlist in Co. I, 81st N. Y. Vols., in which he served until December, 1864, when he was transferred to Co. 1, 10th Vet. Reserve Corps, which was stationed in Washington during the last year of the Rebellion, guard- ing the White House, War Department, and other public buildings. He was present at Lincoln's second inauguration, took an active part in the exciting scenes attending the President's assassination, and has in his possession the drum that sounded the call for the first troops on that occasion. He also participated in the funeral obsequies and in other events, including the grand review, when he was sta- tioned with his drum corps opposite the grand stand to salute the regimental colors as they passed. He was honorably discharged July 26, 1865, and since September of that year has resided in Syracuse, where he has taken an active part in church and missionary work. He was for many years a deacon and trustee of the Dutch Reformed Church in James street, and for some time was engaged in Sunday school mission work in connection with the Young Men's Christian Association. About 1882 he was elected superintendent of Rose Hill Mission (Sunday school) and con- tinued in that capacity for twelve years. In 1886 this mission was reorganized into the Westminster Presbyterian church, largely through the zealous labors of Mr. Graves, who was elected one of the first trustees, a position he held some time. He has also been an elder in that church during the past ten years. He was for several years a member of Syracuse Presbytery, and in 1894 was elected a delegate to the general assembly held at Saratoga. He is a member of the Citizens' Club, Post Root G. A. R., Syracuse Lodge No. 501. F. and A. M., and Central City Chapter, No. 70, R. A. M.

January 17, 1872, Mr. Graves married Miss Christina, daughter of Philetus Reed, of Syracuse, and they have three children: Nathan R., Alice R., and Helen B.

JOHN J. MOORE, M. D.

JOHN JAY MOORE, M. D., son of Apolos and Frances (Reed) Moore, was born in Stittsville, Oneida county, N. Y., on the 21st of October, 1861. His mother died in 1871, leaving two other children: Clarence H. and Jennie (since deceased). In 1872 the father moved with the family to the town of Manlius, Onondaga county, where he spent the remainder of his life, dying in September, 1892, at the age of sixty- four years.

Dr. John Jay Moore, the subject of this sketch, was reared upon the paternal farm and finished his literary education in the academy at West Winfield, N. Y., from which he was graduated in 1875. He inherited those sterling characteristics which distinguished both his father and mother, and early manifested a strong in- clination for a professional career. Deciding upon medicine as being peculiarly suited to his tastes he entered the medical department of the University of New York City, and was graduated from that institution with the degree of M. D. in 1882. Immediately afterward he established himself in the practice of his profession in Syracuse, where he has since resided.

Dr. Moore has met with unvarying success in his chosen calling, and very soon E

ONONDAGA'S CENTENNIAL.

after his graduation took a prominent position among his fellow practitioners in the city. Imbued with an innate love and zeal for his profession, and endowed with those traits of character that mark the successful man, he has built up a large and remunerative professional business and won a warm place in the affections of his patients. He has always taken a lively interest in public and municipal affairs. He served one term as school commissioner of the Sixth ward and is now completing his second term in that office from the Eighteenth ward. He was a charter member of the Syracuse Academy of Medicine and is also a prominent member of the Onon- daga County Medical Society and of Syracuse Lodge No. 501, F. & A. M.

Dr. Moore was married in February, 1882, to Miss Emma I. Bethel, daughter of John Bethel, of Syracuse. They have one son, H. Reed Moore, born July 31, 1892.

IGNATIUS SAWMILLER.

HON. IGNATIUS SAWMILLER is a native of Germany. He was born at Donaurieden, a place situated near the Danube River, and about five miles distant from the city of Ulm, in the Kingdom of Wurtemburg, May 20, 1844. The first ten years of his life were spent by the blue waters of that river, famous in history and song. At ten years of age he came with his parents to this country, and with them cast his lot in Syracuse. What the possibilities of the new world were for achieving success he knew not, and although his parents were not so circumstanced as to afford large aid in the way of money, yet they had endowed him with something infinitely better, a sturdy character and a well balanced head. Both of these have been potent elements in working out a success against many obstacles. His life in this country began with the struggle for self-maintenance, so he set about doing whatever he could find to do in various kinds of labor. Therefore his opportunities for acquiring an educa- tion were necessarily limited; but he made good use of the time he could spare in winter to attend school. At eighteen he took a course in the old Bryant & Stratton Business College, which was then the leading institution of its kind in the State. His evenings subsequently were spent in the office of Mr. A. L. Mason in Syracuse, where he received much valuable training to supplement and put into use the theories " taught during his business education. He spent several years as a worker in the salt fields around Syracuse, until in 1868, he had by industry accumulated a suffi- cient amount of money to engage in the manufacture of that product for himself. In 1876 he entered iuto copartnership with A. L. Mason under the firm name of Mason & Sawmiller for the manufacture of salt, and two years later they added to this the ice business. In 1882 Mr. Sawmiller abandoned the salt industry and Mr. Mason in 1884 retired from the ice trade, thus terminating the partnership. Mr. Mason was at once succeeded by John Sawmiller, and the firm then became Sawmiller Brothers. 1n 1888 they engaged also in the coal business, establishing a plant and opening an office near their ice houses on the Liverpool road, adjacent to the city. Mr. John Sawmiller some time ago retired from the firm, Ignatius now carrying on the business alone, but that is still the headquarters and distributing point for both ice and coal. Mr. Sawmiller has a large trade in these lines, and the ice business, being, too, one of the most extensive in the city, was built up against an opposition

IGNATIUS SAWMILLER.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

that would have disheartened any man not possessing the courage and business energy of Ignatius Sawmiller. Back in the sixties Mr. Sawmiller was active in the volunteer fire department of Syracuse serving in various capacities, having acted as treasurer of No. 4 in 1866 and of the reorganized No. 2 in 1867-68.

In the meanwhile he had taken a deep interest in political matters, and as a Re- publican had attained considerable influence in the party affairs in the town of Salina, where he resides. So favorably was he regarded by the citizens of that town that in 1885 they urged upon him the nomination for member of the Board of Super- visors of Onondaga county. He finally accepted the nomination and was elected by a surprising majority. The members upon assembling that year found in Ignatius Sawmiller a man of metal, of well developed ideas and the courage to stand by them. When the machine began its work in the board it found a Marius in its camp, for Mr. Sawmiller had notions of what was right and for the best interest of his town and county. The board then stood fourteen Republicans and thirteen Democrats, so Mr. Sawmiller, by his independent position, held the controlling power. This was wielded to good effect that year in the appointment of a super- intendent of the penitentiary, for the candidate of his naming was finally chosen against an objectionable candidate of the machine. This action on his part, of course, incurred the ill nature of machine Republicans, but Mr. Sawmiller's constituents were pleased and the whole county came in consequence to regard him with much favor. The board honored him that year with the chairmanship of the committee on sheriff's accounts.

The Republicans of Salina were so well satisfied with his course that they returned him for four more consecutive terms, during which years he held chairmanships of committees on erroneous assessments, on county buildings and member of the committee on ways and means. Had it not been for his desire to conserve the best interests of the party and to avoid engendering contention he could have been in 1888 chairman of the Board of Supervisors.

By his earnest conscientious work of years Mr. Sawmiller had succeeded in changing his town of Salina from a nominal majority of one hundred for the Democratic party to one hundred and fifty majority for the Republicans.

During his course in the board a prominent German newspaper of Syracuse saw fit to speak of him in the following terms:

"The German people of this county may congratulate themselves upon the posses- sion, in the person of Ignatius Sawmiller of Salina, of a representative in the Board of Supervisors who not only knows how to watch over the interests of his constitu- ents in the narrow sense of the term, but who also takes pride in doing his German fellow citizens a favor when occasion offers, and in standing up boldly for their rights."

It said further, after his action in the board in reference to printing the supervisors' reports: "Representatives of Mr. Sawmiller's stamp are only too seldom met with here. Men like him should be sitting not in the Board of Supervisors, but in the Legislature with ample opportunities for advancing German interests in general, and for breaking a lance in behalf of individual liberty and equality."

As a result of his popularity growing out of a five years' service in the Board of Supervisors, he was in 1889 nominated and elected to the Assembly from his dristrict by over 2,400 majority, a result unparalleled in the district. The liberal element

ONONDAGA'S CENTENNIAL.

both in his party and the others aided largely in the splendid victory. The following year the machine Republicans set about to defeat his nomination, and failing in this, to prevent his re-election. But in spite of this the people returned him by about 1,600 majority.

The position Mr. Sawmiller took in the Assembly in reference to high license again brought him into prominence, for his liberal ideas on those matters met with much spirited opposition from many of his party leaders. He opposed high license, for, as he stated on the floor, there was a law already enacted fixing the license charge as high as $250. Since this law was inoperative why pass another one of the same kind? The wisdom of his action in this matter developed later for at the Repub- lican State convention in Rochester in 1892 a resolution was passed by the Republi- cans embodying the principle as that put forth by Mr. Sawmiller.

Having returned from the Assembly with a creditable record and increased popu- larity, Mr. Sawmiller was urged in 1891 to become the candidate of his party for the office of sheriff. After due consideration and assurance of cordial support by the faction, of which he was one of the best workers, he consented to enter the field; but his evident strength and popularity so aroused the old machine that every means was resorted to compass his defeat in the nominating convention. At the outset the convention stood in his favor, yet when the result was ascertained a combination of factions had nominated a machine man. A prominent leader who had given him promise of support could doubtless explain the reason of this. The treachery played at that time lost the Republicans of Onondaga county two members of assembly and a State senator, and was the means later of losing for this State a United States senator. In 1894 the people of the county still looked to Mr. Saw- miller to again become the candidate for the office of sheriff, but he was too shrewd to fall a victim to the old machine, for at once realizing that the desires of the people in the matter were of no avail he stepped aside and permitted the ring element to act its own sweet will. Mr. Sawmiller is now applying his energies to his business interests, endeavoring to recoup himself somewhat for the money and valu- able time spent in furthering the interests of the party,

Mr. Sawmiller married, in 1868, Miss Josephine Sax, of Syracuse. They are mem- bers of the Church of the Assumption on North Salina street.

DAVID. A. MUNRO, JR.

DAVID ALLEN MUNRO, JR., was born at Camillus, Onoudaga county, November 15, 1844. He was the first in a family of four sons, three of whom are now living in Camillus. His father, David A. Munro, is also a native of that town. David Munro, grandfather of the subject of this sketch and father of David A. Munro, came to Camillus in the early history of the town and county. He was one of the foremost men in that part of Onondaga county, occupying a prominent place in the progress and development of the community. He accumulated a large estate, a liberal amount of which was devoted to various worthy objects. David A. Munro · has, too, been one of the most successful business men in Onondaga county. He has for many years been interested in important enterprises that have required

DAVID ALLEN MUNRO, JR.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

keen judgment and financial ability in their management. He is still actively in- terested in business matters besides keeping in touch with the affairs material to the advancement of his native town.

David Munro married for his first wife Mary Jane Hill, daughter of Deacon Hill, by whom he had the four sons referred to. David Allen Munro, jr., was raised in Camillus and received his education there and at the Munro Collegiate Institute at Elbridge. After graduating in 1862, being then only seventeen years of age, he enlisted in the 122d N. Y. Vols. On account of his valiant acts and military proficiency he was soon promoted to first lieutenant and afterwards to aide-de-camp to Colonel Hyde, serving in that position to the close of the war. He participated in many of the important battles of the Rebellion, in one of which (the battle of the Wilderness) he received a gunshot wound.

Mr. Munro was not endowed with a robust constitution, consequently he never en- joyed vigorous health to a degree that enabled him to engage in business pursuits unmindful of his health, yet he was actively interested in various industries, chief among them being that of agriculture. He owned and superintended several large farms in the vicinity of Camillus. Through inheritance and careful management he accumulated a large estate, consisting of realty and other holdings. Mr. Munro possessed those qualities of mind and heart that insured for him the highest respect and esteem of all who ever had the pleasure of his acquaintance. He was kind, thoughtful and generous in spirit, while his integrity remained unspotted throughout his life. His social and domestic relations were the embodiment of honor and Chris- tian uprightness.

In 1866 Mr. Munro married Ida J. Stickle, who died in 1875. Two years later he married Emma E. Brown, a native of Geneseo, Ill., born in 1852. She was a daugh- ter of Frederick P. and Harriet Bennett Brown of Elbridge. Frederick P. Brown was a son of Squire M. Brown, one of the earliest settlers of that town. Frederick P. Brown in 1852 went to Illinois and remained there till his death in 1889. His wife is now living in Iowa.

In his political faith David Allen Munro, jr., was as sincere and honest as he was in the tenets of his church. He was a Republican because he believed in its prin- ciples, and lent his time, money and influence to advance its interests. In 1892, after being repeatedly urged so to do by the leaders in the party, he accepted the nomination for member of assembly in his district. Except for an error in the ballots, which was taken advantage of by the opposition party, he would have been elected by a splendid majority. As it was he was counted out and thus robbed of the honor which his many friends and constituents had desired to confer upon him. Increasing ill-health began to make inroads upon his constitution in 1894, and on May 6, 1895, after a brave struggle against a fatal malady, he died. He is survived by his wife and two sons: Harry A., aged thirteen ; and David Allen, aged eleven.

HENRY L. DUGUID.

HENRY LYMAN DUGUID was born in the town of Pompey, Onondaga county, De- cember 25, 1832. His paternal grandfather, John Duguid, came to America from

ONONDAGA'S CENTENNIAL.

Aberdeen, Scotland, to engage in business, near the close of the last century, and later married Eunice Day. His father, William Duguid, was among the many early settlers of Pompey whose industry, thrift, and sterling worth have contributed to give to that town an enviable name. William married for his second wife Miss Eve- line Van Buren, a sister of Harmon W. Van Buren, of Syracuse, and daughter of Peter Van Buren, a sturdy Mohawk Dutchman from Kinderhook, and Elizabeth Upham, his wife, of good New England stock.

Henry passed his boyhood in the wholesome atmosphere of a Christian home and there laid the foundation of a character that is worthy of emulation in every respect. He attended the district schools and Pompey Academy, and in 1856 was graduated with honor from Hamilton College, where, besides his regular collegiate course, he read law during his junior and senior years under Prof. Theodore W. Dwight. In 1856 he entered the law office of Hon. Daniel Gott, at Syracuse, and later the office of Judge J. M. Woolworth of Omaha, Neb., and was admitted to the bar at Council Bluffs, Iowa, in 1857. In 1858 he returned to Onondaga county, and on January 5, 1859, was married to Miss Harriet Eliza Wells, only daughter of John Sellew Wells and Mary Hinsdell. his wife, both of Pompey. Her ancestors were all residents of Onondaga. Her paternal grandfather, Elijah Wells, with his wife, Lucy Sellew, came to Pompey in 1799 from Glastonbury, Conn. Her maternal grandfather, Moses Hinsdell and wife, Rachel Hibbard, daughter of Leah Cronkite Hibbard, passed their lives at their home between Jamesville and Pompey. In 1859 Mr. Duguid settled in Syracuse, where he ever afterward resided.

Mr. Duguid never began the practice of law, but found business opportunities opening to him which appeared more to his tastes and in which he achieved unusual success. In 1845 Pope & Dawson started the first saddlery hardware establishment in Syracuse, and under various firms it attained a high reputation in business circles. In 1858 Mr. Duguid became associated with Edward S. Dawson in this manufactory, and at a later date, after the retirement of Mr. Dawson, Jacob Brown was admitted to the firm. That concern, like all others that came under the influence of Mr. Duguid's tireless energy and activity, proved remarkably successful, and in 1868 he became the principal owner and senior member of the firm of Duguid, Wells & Co., his brother-in-law, J. E. Wells, having been admitted to a partnership interest. Subse- quently the name was changed to Duguid & Wells, and after the death of Mr. Duguid, the Duguid Saddlery Company was organized and incorporated with his son Henry W. as president. The business developed into large proportions, and has continuously exerted a marked influence upon the growth and prosperity of the city.

Mr. Duguid's reliability and far-seeing judgment in financial affairs was so gener- ally recognized in Syracuse that he was elected in 1883 president of the Syracuse Savings Bank and held that position until his death. Taking a keen interest in pub- lic matters, he was brought into considerable prominence in politics as a member of the Republican party, and in recognition of his service and his fitness for the posi- tion he was appointed U. S. internal revenue collector for the 23d district of this State and held the office from 1869 to 1873. Upon the organization of the paid fire department of Syracuse he was appointed one of the fire commissioners and served as president of the board in 1877 and 1878. In 1878 he was elected to the State Leg- islature and by re-elections served in the Assembly in the sessions of 1879, 1880, and 1881. He rendered effective services as a legislator and took a prominent part in

BIOGRAPHICAL.

the labors of that body, being placed on some of the most important committees, in- cluding the special railway investigating committee. Ilis liberal education, his great business experience, and his unimpeachable integrity peculiarly qualified him for the duties of the position. In 1880 and 1881 he served as chairman of the com- mittee on commerce and navigation and a member of the committee on cities, and in the latter year a member also of the committee on Indian affairs. His most valu- able legislative service, however, was rendered in the series of railway investiga- tions, which made him favorably known throughout the State.

Mr. Duguid and his wife were active members of the First Presbyterian church until 1870, when they went out with others to build up the Fourth Presbyterian church, with which they were connected for seventeen years. At the organization of the Fourth church Mr. Duguid was elected president of its board of trustees, a posi- tion he held during his connection with the society. In 1887 he again went out with other workers to organize the Memorial Presbyterian church out of the Scattergood Mission School, in which his late uncle, H. W. Van Buren, had for many years taken a deep interest. Of this church he was also made president of the board of trustees. He was a leading spirit in building up the Syracuse Y. M. C. A. and for two years filled the office of president. He was also president of the board of trustees of the Onondaga County Orphan Asylum for twelve years. He left his mark upon the re- ligious life of the city, and his citizenship was fruitful in benefits to the community. His wife died in April, 1888. He died in Tucson, Arizona, December 30, 1888, while on a slow journey to Southern California.

Mr. and Mrs. Duguid had three children: Mary Evelyn, who in January, 1894, was married to Donald Dey, a native of Scotland, of Dey Brothers & Co., dry goods merchants in Syracuse, and has one daughter, Harriet Duguid Dey; Harriet Eliza Duguid; and Henry Wells Duguid, president of the Duguid Saddlery Company, of Syracuse.

LUKE RANNEY.

HON. LUKE RANNEY was born in Ashfield, Mass., November 8, 1815. He with his parents moved in 1823 to Aurelius, Cayuga county, N. Y. His father, William Ran- ney, was born in Middletown, Conn., June 30, 1785. His wife, mother of Luke Ranney, was Betsey Alden, born in Ashfield, Mass., 1789. She was a direct descen- dant of John Alden, one of the Mayflower passengers to this country and the hero of Longfellow's famous poem, Miles Standish and Priscilla. The members of the fam- ilies from the original comer down through the whole line have been people of strong character and bright intellect. Mrs. Ranney died at Elbridge, N. Y., May 9, 1870.

William Ranney, father of the subject of this sketch, came to this part of the State at a time when agriculture was undeveloped, and yet it was about the only industry that received any attention. So he followed that occupation, devoting his energy and much time to the settling and clearing up of his farm. Like the Aldens, Mr. Ranney came from a family noted for high character, marked astuteness and honor. The direct line is followed back to Thomas Ranney who came to this country in 1630 from Scotland.

After devoting twelve years to farm life in the town of Aurelius, Mr. William

ONONDAGA'S CENTENNIAL.

Ranney sold out and removed to Elbridge, where he spent the rest of his life. He died September 2, 1857.

Luke Ranney spent his boyhood on his father's farm, attending the district school during the winter and helping in summer with all his young energy at the farm labor, for in those days idle hands found no place among the pioneers. But as Luke at- tained early boyhood his active mind was reaching out for knowledge beyond what could be acquired at the common school. Every shift was made to gratify his thirst for knowledge, and after the close of the long day of toil a great part of the night was given over to reading and study. The scanty library which the family possessed was pored over, read and re-read and absorbed by the young boy. Finally in 1834 he was sent by his father to Shelburne Falle, Mass., to school. The mode of reach- ing that place, like everything else, was crude, and attended with much delay. The canal boat was the conveyance as far as Albany, and from there the route to his school lay across country, a distance of sixty miles. The stage fare for the trip was $3, but this amount was more than a boy of Luke Ranney's stamp would consent to expend for the transportation, so he and his companion set out on foot, arriving at their destination footsore and very weary. With the money thus saved he purchased Rollin's Ancient History, which he devoured with gusto, and added one more valu- able book to his cherished library. The next fall in response to the wish of his father young Ranney went to Van Buren county, Mich., to aid his brother on a farm, which the elder Mr. Ranney had purchased. The trip was made by boat to Detroit, the the last boat bound west on the lake that fall. From Detroit the journey was made with a yoke of oxen, the distance being one hundred and fifty miles. He arrived at his brother's camp, for the farm house consisted merely of a rude log shanty in which his brother kept "bachelor's hall." Luke Ranney remained there several months, subsisting much of the time on potatoes and pork, and was a good part of the time in this dense solitude without any living companion whatever, as his brother's busi- ness took him away for long periods.

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Onondaga's centennial. Gleanings of a century, Vol. II, Part 24

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