Onondaga's centennial. Gleanings of a century, Vol. II, Part 52

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 52

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FAMILY SKETCHES.

Phelps, Samuel A., Syracuse, was born in this city, over his father's blacksmith shop on the site of the present Myers block, March 8, 1830. Ilis father, Samuel 11., came here from Lowell, Mass., in 1821, followed his trade of blacksmith for many years, and died in 1861, aged sixty-one. He had nine children, seven of whom are living, and all the sons but one became blacksmiths. His children were: Charles II., of Syracuse, Sarah Ann, deceased, Maria, Jacob L., Commodore C., deceased, Samuel A., John W., Jane and George S. Samuel A. Phelps early learned the trade of blacksmithing; in fact, he began in his father's shop as soon as he couldl lift a hammer. He has always continued in this business, has never lived outside of Onon- daga Co., has occupied his present location on the corner of Railroad and Mulberry streets since 1847, and is probably the oldest active blacksmith in continuous work in Central New York. In 1851 he married Sarah D., daughter of Harry Carley, of Mohawk, N. Y., and their children are Helen, Ida, now Mrs. Addison Terrill, Cath- erine, now Mrs. J. C. Auchampaugh, deceased, Henry R., and Georgia, now Mrs. F. R. Burdick, all of Syracuse.

Peck. Charles H., Syracuse, son of Henry C., was born in Phoenix, N. Y., Sept. 16, 1861, attended the Phoenix Academy, studied law there with C. W. Avery and in Syracuse with Brown & Garfield, and was admitted at Rochester in Oct., 1882. Jan. 1, 1883, he formed a partnership with ex-Judge Henry Riegel, which continued several years. Jan. 1, 1894, he became a member of the present firm of Hancock, Beach, Peck & Devine.

Ryan, Peter Lawrence, Syracuse, was born at 411 Gifford street, Syracuse, where he now resides, in April, 1856, and is a son of Lawrence Ryan, who came here from Ireland in 1842 and died in 1890, aged seventy-six, and of Bridget (Howard) Ryan, a native of Ireland, who survives and lives in this city. The family consisted of three children: William Howard (died in 1875), Peter L., and John Joseph. Lawrence Ryan was a general contractor and built many of the finer dwellings in Syracuse. He did the first mason work on St. John's cathedral, and built the Henderson and Walch blocks, the McCarthy block on Gifford street, and many others. Peter L. Ryan was graduated for the High School of Syracuse in 1875. Prior to that, begin- ning in about 1870, he had clerked in the drug store of Doyle & Ashfield in the Hotel Burns block, and when Smith & Pierce opened a drug store in the Andrews building on the corner of Fayette and Clinton streets, he filled a similar position for them for one year. While there he began the study of medicine with Dr. Gregory Doyle, but business forced him to relinquish this much desired profession and devote his time wholly to commercial pursuits, and determining to secure an education, he entered the High School with the above results. In 1876 he traveled through the South with Rev. J. J. Kennedy, and returning to this city associated himself with Smith & Dalton, druggists, for a short time. He was then employed by Cook & Plant in what is now the store of the P. L. Ryan Drug Co. on East Genesee street; three years later, Mr. Cook having become interested in the shoe business, leaving Mr. Plant alone, Mr. Ryan formed a partnership with John H. Coogan as P. L. Ryan & Co., and purchased the establishment in which he has ever since been interested. This was in 1880; in 1881 he traveled quite extensively in Europe; in 1888 he pur- chased Mr. Coogan's interest in the store and continued alone until Feb., 1895, when he organized the P. L. Ryan Drug Co. At the same time he became general

ONONDAGA'S CENTENNIAL.

manager of D. McCarthy & Co.'s new drug department. Mr. Ryan was the origi- nator of the "drug war " in Syracuse, one of the most noteworthy events in local commercial history, in the spring of 1895. For many years a strong combination of prices had been maintained by a local organization of druggists, and this, single handed and alone, he completely broke. He is a Democrat and somewhat active in politics, has been a member of the New York State Pharmaceutical Association since 1882, and of St. Lucy's church choir for eighteen years, and belongs to the C. M. B. A. and C. B. L. In May, 1882, he married Ada C., daughter of Asa C. Fyler, of Syracuse, a graduate of the Syracuse High School and of the Sacred Heart Convent of Kenwood, N. Y. Their children are Anna Howard, Lawrence Marvin, Bernard Francis and Howard Peter.

Russell, George H., Syracuse, was born in Constantia, N. Y., Nov. 4, 1858, and came to Cicero with his parents, Lewis S. and Margaret (Finehout) Russell, in 1862. Lewis S. Russell was long a traveling salesman for Salmon & Pierce and for Acker- man & Skinner, of Syracuse. He was also coroner and magistrate in Oswego Co., and a commissioned officer in the old State militia. George H. Russell was educated in the district schools of Cicero and the public schools of Syracuse, finishing at the old German Theological Institute at Newark, where, in April, 1874, he engaged as a clerk in a drug store and remained six years, In 1880 and 1881 he traveled through the West and in the Mississippi valley, and in the fall of 1881 opened a drug store in Liverpool in partnership with his father, the firm name being Russell & Son. His father died in Oct., 1886, aged seventy-eight years. The business was sold in 1887 and George H. came to Syracuse, where he started his present drug store at 1601 East Genesee street, under the same name of Russell & Son. Mr. Russell is past master of Liverpool Lodge No. 525, F. & A. M., and a member of Salem Town Consistory No. 32, A. & A. S. R., of Auburn. He is an enthusiastic coin collector and possesses a fine and valuable collection of American and Roman coins. In Oct., 1885, he married Vina A., daughter of Henry Stanton, of Syracuse, by whom he has had two children: Lewis H. and Paul G.

Rider, Arthur B., Syracuse .- The ancestors of the Rider family include many prominent personages, and on the paternal side their lineage is traced to Exeter, England, early in the seventeenth century. Among them were Gov. William Bradford, who came in the Mayflower in 1620; Deputy Governor, Major Bradford, who succeeded Myles Standish as military head of the Old Colony ; Kenelin Winslow, brother of Gov. Edward Winslow; Gov. Thomas Dudley, one of the four who arrived with the charter of Massachusetts Bay on the Arbella in 1630; Rev. John Woodbridge, and many other founders of New England. One of the descendants is Mrs. John Quincy Adams, of St. Paul, Minn., now vice-president general of the National Society of Daughters of the Revolution. Samuel Rider, nine degrees removed from Arthur B., came to Yarmouth, Mass., January 7, 1639, and became lieutenant of militia in 1653; his son Zachary is said to have been the first white child born there. On the maternal side, named Harter, members of the family were very early settlers in Herkimer Co., where the great-grandfather of Arthur B. is credited with preaching the first sermon. Timothy Rider enlisted when fifteen and served eight months in the Revolutionary war. John Ryder, father of Timothy, was also a Revolutionary soldier from Massachusetts. Putnam Rider, son of Timothy,

FAMILY SKETCHES.

was the father of George D. Rider, who was born in Parish, N. Y., and died in Syra- cuse April 7, 1893, aged sixty-six. All were long-lived and vigorous. Arthur B. Rider, son of George D., was born in Manlius Center, Sept. 26, 1856, was educated in Pulaski, N. Y., and graduated from the Mexico Academy in 1876. He studied law in Phoenix, N. Y., with Judge Charles W. Avery, was graduated from the law department of Hamilton College in May, 1881, and was admitted at Utica, May 30, of the same year. That fall he began practice in Richburg, N. Y., and in Dec., 1886, came to Syracuse. Oct. 1, 1894, he formed the present law firm of Rider & Benedict. Mr. Rider served as police justice, justice of the peace, and corporation attorney in Richburg.

Reeve, Hiram E., Syracuse, ticket agent of the West Shore Railroad at Syracuse, is a son of Hiram Reeve, and was born in Germantown, Columbia Co., N. Y., Aug. 20, 1850. Reared in a country village and educated at the district schools until the age of eighteen, he commenced life as a clerk in a grocery store in Hudson, N. Y., where he remained until 1870, from which time until 1874 he was connected with the firm of Washburn & Co., general merchants and freight agents in Linlithgo, N. Y. In 1874-75 he was employed in the grocery store in Garrison of Charles Washburn, a brother of the Washburn of his previous employers, and in 1876 he went to Ligonier, Ind., in the employ of his brother. In 1879 he opened a general store in Greenfield Mills, Ind., where he was postmaster about two years prior to 1881. Selling out he returned East and became bookkeeper in a grocery store in Jersey City, N. J., and later was superintendent of the Garrison and West Point Ferry Co. for five years. On Sept. 20, 1887, he was appointed ticket agent of the West Shore Railroad at Syracuse and removed to this city, where he has since resided. Oct. 16, 1876, he was married to Miss Carrie, daughter of John G. Hopper, of Garrison, N. Y., by whom he has two children: Olive, born Aug. 13, 1877, who was graduated from the High School of this city in Jan., 1895, and is now a student in Syracuse University ; and Wesley H., born July 5, 1879, for several years in the U. S. navy, latterly attached to the cruiser Raleigh of Admiral Mead's North Atlantic Squadron, and now in the High School of this city.

Rausch, John F., Syracuse, was born in Hungary in 1856, came to the United States in 1881, and settled in Syracuse in 1884, where he has since resided. The same year he established his present business, that of caterer, baker, and confectioner, at which he has had an experience covering nearly a quarter of a century. He has always occupied the same location on Warren street. Catering for weddings, re- ceptions, balls, etc., and the manufacture of ices and creams, are his specialties.

Schilly Brothers, liverymen, Syracuse, are natives of Hastings, Oswego Co., and sons of Valentine, an early settler of that town. The firm is composed of Charles and John Schilly, both of whom came to Syracuse in 1887. John was born in Sept., 1868, and his brother in Oct., 1865. In April, 1991, after a thorough practical ex- perience, they started their present livery business in North Warren street by pur- chasing the establishment of Thomas Jackson. They have been eminently suc- cessful.

Sheppard, James, chief detective of the Syracuse police department, was born in Dorsetshire, England, May 12, 1848, and came to America with his parents, Robert

ONONDAGA'S CENTENNIAL.

and Mary Ann (Kimber) Sheppard, in June, 1852, settling in Syracuse, where the father died in Aug., 1853, and the mother in 1887. Of the family of three children James Sheppard is the only survivor. He was very early thrown upon his own resources, and after receiving a common English education in the public schools of this city he began the work of self-support by running for several years on the New York Central Railroad between Syracuse and Albany. Oct. 23, 1873, he was appointed a patrolman on the police force and on Nov. 4, 1881, was promoted to the post of detective. On June 1, 1893, he received the appointment of aide to the chief and chief detective of the department. He was married on Thanksgiving day, 1874, to Margaret, daughter of John West, of Syracuse, and their children are Bertram James, and Mabel Irene.

Stoup, James R., Syracuse, son of Michael and Jane Stoup, was born in Loraine, Germany, Sept. 13, 1845, and in 1852 came to America with his parents, who soon settled at North Manlius, Onondaga Co., where the mother died in 1868 and where the father, a farmer, still resides. Of a family of eight children five are living, viz. : Barbara (Mrs. Frank M. Smith), James R., Maggie (Mrs. Conrad Paltz) Jennie (Mrs. A. Kippley), and Frank. Mr. Stoup remained on the farm until he was sixteen years old, when he went to Washington, D. C .. and followed the business of a barber for four years. In 1865 he came to Syracuse and continued barbering as a journeyman until 1868, when he opened the present shop of Stoup & Harbach in the Larned block in partnership with Anthony Chryst. In 1888 he sold out to his brother Frank and the firm became Stoup & Harbach. He then opened his present restaurant in the Empire block. Mr. Stoup was one of the first stockholders and is the present vice-president of the National Brewing Co., is a member and presiding officer of the Knights of Pythias and first lieutenant of the uniformed rank of that order, is past master workman of Central City Lodge No. 182, A.O. U. W., and is a member of the Royal Arcanum, I.O.O.F., and Degree of Honor. He was married in 1871 to Miss Matilda Baumer, of Syracuse, and their children are Raymond and Florence.

Sandford, Abraham D., Syracuse, was born in the city of New York, March 31, 1831. In the spring of 1833 his father, Aaron Sandford, purchased a farm in and re- moved to the town of Lee, Oneida Co., where the lad grew up, assisting his father in the farm work summers, and attending the district school winters. At seventeen he was apprenticed to Deacon Richard Peggs, of Rome, to learn the trade of car- riagemaker. Having completed his apprenticeship, he set up in business for himself as manufacturer of carriages and sleighs, at Delta, Oneida Co., and remained there until April 30, 1861, when he was commissioned a mail agent on the route from Syracuse to Buffalo, via the Auburn road. His instructor was the late George Raynor, who had had many years of active experience in the service. Mr. Sandford remained on this route until July 13, 1868, when he was promoted to head clerk, and transferred to the main line of the New York Central, running between Albany and Buffalo. He remained on this route until July 1, 1872, when he was promoted to chief clerk of the line, with headquarters at Syracuse. To Mr. Sandford, in this important and responsible position, was intrusted the charge, not only of the service and the postal clerks on the New York Central, but as well of the mail service and postal clerks on all the railroads north of that line in the State, and all lines connect- ing with the New York Central from the south, making in all twenty-six railroads

FAMILY SKETCHES.

whose postal service was under his supervision. In Nov., 1882, he was transferred to Albany, as superintendent of mails in the Albany post-office, being the first to fill that position in that office. He very soon inaugurated important reforms in the mail- ing division of that office, greatly improving the discipline and increasing its effi- ciency. Ilere he remained until March 1, 1889, when he was transferred to Syracuse as superintendent of mails in the Syracuse post office, being the first, also, to fill that position in that office. Superintendent Sandford entered upon his duties in this city contemporaneously with the removal of the office from its old quarters in the Bastable block to its new and permanent home in the Government building. Here the veteran of the United States railway mail service still remains. He is the dean of the postal service, having deen connected with it uninterruptedly longer than any other man in the United States.

Sandford, G. S., Syracuse .- The Gray Brothers Boot and Shoe Manufacturing Co. was founded in Little Falls, N. Y., in 1865, by H. II. and J. D. Gray, but was soon after moved to Syracuse. At this time there were but few manufacturers of stylish and high grades of ladies' shoes in the country. Levi Gray, their father, manufac- tured a heavy grade of ladies' shoes and the above served their apprenticeships under him; being men of skill and taste they determined to enter business for them- selves, but instead of the heavy coarse work they aimed to produce an article equal to any make, and from the start their work was equal in style, workmanship and quality to any manufactured in the country. In 1873 they exhibited their goods at the World's Fair at Vienna, and received the first prize over all manufacturers of machine made shoes. They followed this up at the Centennial at Philadelphia in 1876, and received the highest diploma for both hand and machine made shoes, com- peting not only against this country, but the world. In 1880 the firm was transferred to a corporation under the style of the Gray Brothers Boot and Shoe Manufacturing Co., with H. H. Gray, president; J. D. Gray, vice-president; D. C. Gray, treasurer ; and G. S. Sanford, secretary. In 1881 H. H. Gray died, and D. C. Gray moved to California ; this left the business in the hands of J. D. Gray and G. S. Sanford, who conducted it until 1889, when Mr. Gray withdrew, and moved to California, trans- ferring his stock to William II. Warner, G. S. Sanford, and V. E. Maurer. The corporation continued with the following officers: G. S. Sanford, president; W. H. Warner, treasurer; and V. E. Maurer, secretary. In 1893 Mr. Warner disposed of his stock to G. S. Sanford and W. A. Hill. In the spring of 1895 Mr. Sanford retired, selling his interest to W. H. Warner. The officers of the company are W. H. Warner, president; W. A. Hill, treasurer; and V. E. Maurer, secretary. Their goods are sold in all the States and Canada.

Stevenson, Lucius A., Syracuse, born in Syracuse in 1850, is a son of Dr. Archi- bald M. Stevenson, who came from Ireland to North Manlius, Onondaga Co., moved thence to Cicero, and finally settled in Collamer, where he practiced medicine about thirty years, and where he died in July, 1891, aged sixty-six. Lucius A. Stevenson began as a clerk in a dry goods store in Syracuse, after which he was in Ogdensburg one and one-half years, a groceryman in Collamer two years, and a clerk for N. Peters & Son seven years. In 1875 he formed a partnership with John Q. Ramsey, and engaged in the clothing business on North Salina street in Syracuse, and two years later the firm became Lieberman & Stevenson. He was subsequently the local

ONONDAGA'S CENTENNIAL.

manager for Owen Brothers, of Utica, and one year (1887) later became a member of the firm of Owen Brothers & Co., which consisted of Mr. Stevenson, J. Irving Free- man, J. Henry Olcott, Harlow A. Pierce, and Owen Brothers. This was the incep- tion of the well-know Star Clothing House. Six years afterward the partnership expired by limitation, and for one year Mr. Stevenson was again local manager for Owen Brothers. In May, 1894, he purchased their interest with W. S. Peck Co. as special partners. This is one of the most extensive clothing establishments in Cen- tral New York, and their stores in the Kirk Building are among the largest and hand- somest in the country. Mr. Stevenson is prominently identified with the growth and prosperity of Syracuse, and is a member of the K. P., and the Business Men's Asso- ciation. Jan. 1, 1871, he married Nettie, daughter of Hon. John I. Furbeck, of Col- lamer.

Schillinger, William, Syracuse, is a son of Solomon (who came to Syracuse fron Bavaria, Germany, in 1859, had born to him fourteen children, and died here in Nov., 1893), and was born in this city Nov. 24, 1862. Educated in the common schools, he began the support of himself in the tobacco business, and for ten years was in the employ of Nicholas Lattener. In 1885 he started the Globe Steam Laundry, of which he has since been the proprietor, building up from a small beginning an extensive and successful trade. He has been for thirteen years a member of the C. M. B. A., and was a charter member and one of the organizers of the German Catholic Young Men's Association, which has enjoyed for fifteen years an existence marked with un- interrupted success. He was also a charter member and first treasurer of Syracuse Lodge S. F. I., and is prominently connected with other organizations. June 18, 1889, he married Margaret A., daughter of Daniel Carroll, of Syracuse, and they have had three children: William Carroll (deceased), Agatha Violet, and Margaret Hazel.

Scoville, Wilfred M., Syracuse, was born in New Hampshire, on Oct. 6, 1846. James Scoville, his grandfather, was born in Connecticut, Aug. 11, 1772, married Lydia Hall, who was also born in that State, July 29, 1778, and came to Pompey in the fall of 1795, settling about one-half mile north of Oran village, where they died -- he on Aug. 5, 1847, and she on March 31, 1853. Their children were Hiram, born Jan. 3, 1795; Timothy H., born Nov. 8, 1796; James A., born Aug. 6, 1798; Amasa, born Feb, 10, 1800; Lydia, born Nov. 15, 1801; Julia, born Oct. 3, 1803; Athildred, born Jan. 20, 1806; Anna, born Jan. 27, 1808; Selinus, born Sept. 17, 1809; Mary, born Jan. 15, 1811; Stephen, born Feb. 13, 1813; Hezekiah I., born Jan. 9, 1814; Harriet N., born Jan. 14, 1817; Joseph Albert and Benjamin Alfred (twins), born March 5, 1819; and Sally, born Feb. 13, 1821. All attained maturity except Stephen and Sally, who died in infancy, and of the number Julia, Hezekiah and Harriet are living. Joseph Albert Scoville was a farmer, and became a well-known contractor on the Erie Canal enlargement, being one of the firm of Denison, Scoville & Co. March 24, 1841, he married Eliza Bowers, in the fall of 1845 they removed to New Hampshire, and returned to Pompey in 1847, and he died at Oran Sept. 24, 1881; his wife's death occurred Sept. 6, 1854. They had three children, of whom two died in infancy. Their only surviving son, Wilfred M., was educated at the Manlius Acad- emy, and in the Rural High School at Clinton, under the Rev. D. A. Holbrook. In 1871 Mr. Scoville married Miss Elva M., daughter of Charles Severance, of Oran,

FAMILY SKETCHES.

and they had four children: Lewis (who died in infancy), Albert W., Charles S., and Frank. He remained on the homestead farm until the age of twenty-seven, when he moved to Manlius and engaged in the coal and lumber business as a mem- ber of the firm of Hart & Scoville, where he continued nine years. The firm also acted as station agents. Mrs. Elva Scoville died March 25, 1885, and in Dec., 1885, Mr. Scoville came to Syracuse and engaged in the merchant tailoring business, which he conducted two and one-half years, and since then he has occupied various posi- tions. He was a clerk in the money order department of the Syracuse post-office during M. H. Northrup's first term, and under Carroll E. Smith he was superintend- ent of the same for a few months. July 15, 1893, he was appointed superintendent and still holds that position.

Saunders, William F., Syracuse, is a son of Perry H. and Sarah (Emerson) Saun- ders, and was born in Cuyler, Cortland Co., July 20, 1853. His grandfather, Dear- born Saunders, emigrated from Connecticut and settled in the present town of Cin- cinnatus, N. Y., in 1794, and shortly afterward his wife, craving a visit to hier old New England home, made the entire journey through the forests on horseback, car- rying a year old baby in her arms. Perry H. was born in Cincinnatus on May 10, 1811, and died in Cortland Co. in 1890. He was one of the prominent eitizens of that locality, and assisted in building several churches. William F. Saunders was educated in the schools of his native town and at De Ruyter Academy, and remained on his father's farm until the age of twenty-one, when he engaged in the nursery business as salesman for Lyon & Fisk, of Rochester, in which he continued for six years, traveling over this and the New England States. In 1879 he established himself in the livery business in Homer, N. Y., and successfully conducted that for eleven years. While there, being a staunch Republican and active in the councils of his party, he served as village trustee one year, as delegate to the Cortland Co. conventions for ten consecutive years, and as a member of the county committee for some time. He was also a trustee of the Homer Baptist church for nine years. Early in 1891 he came to Syracuse and on April 13, purchased the large livery establishment owned by the the Burns Brothers, which he has since carried on with great success. He was one of the foremost originators of the Syracuse Carriage Men's Protective Association, which was organized Sept. 27, 1892, and which he has continuously served as seere- tary and treasurer. This society has for its purpose the regulation of fees for carry- ing passengers, making the prices uniform throughout the city, and also the eleva- tion of general livery business to a higher standard. It shows that about seventy-five carriages and coaches suitable for funerals, weddings, etc., are now in active use in Syracuse, exclusive of a larger number of coupes, broughams, and similar vehicles, against about fifteen in operation some twenty years ago. June 17, 1880, Mr. Saun- ders married Ellen M., only child and daughter of William G. Skinner, of Taylor, Cortland Co., and they have three sons: Wallace W., Cass E., and Sherman V.

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Onondaga's centennial. Gleanings of a century, Vol. II, Part 52

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