Onondaga's centennial. Gleanings of a century, Vol. II, Part 53

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 53

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Single, John, Syracuse, son of Simon (who came from Germany in 1838, settled in Syracuse in 1846, and still lives here), was born in this city October 14, 1860, being one of five children : Herman, John, Frank, Mrs. Lee Jacobs (deceased), and Mrs. Louisa Schwarz. His father was a cabinetmaker. He was the first apprentice on the Evening Herald and held cases on the Journal for several years. In 1887 he started business on his own account in North Salina street as a job printer and f

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wholesale and retail dealer in paper. In 1890 the John Single Paper Co., Ltd., was incorporated with a capital of $100,000, and with Clarence G. Brown, president; Joseph Bondy, vice-president; and John Single, treasurer and manager. 'I he latter has continuously held that position, the other officers being Frank Hopkins, presi- dent, and D. J. Hogan, secretary. Dec. 8, 1893, their establishment in West Water street was destroyed by fire, and the concern was then moved to its present location in West Fayette street with a wareroom in Walton street. This is one of the largest houses of the kind in the State, and enjoys a trade which extends throughout the east. They handle all grades of wrapping paper, blank books, office stationery, etc., and do general book and job printing. They also sell the entire product of the Delphos Paper Mills of Delphos, O., of which Mr. Single became the owner in 1892. Oct. 23, 1883, Mr. Single married Emma L., daughter of John Keehner of Syracuse. and their children are Laura E., Jessie, Edna, and Pauline.

Schnauber, Frank J., Syracuse, a native of this city, born Sept. 14, 1865, is a son of Justus Schnauber, who came to this city from Germany in 1831, and still resides here. He was graduated from the Syracuse High School in 1884 and from the Syracuse University in 1888, and immediately became topographical draftsman for the Water Commission, a position he held until the preliminary work was completed, He then accepted a post as rodman with A. R. Hill on the Brooklyn elevated railway con- struction until August, 1889, when he returned to Syracuse in the employ of the Water Board. In March, 1890, he was appointed assistant engineer under City En- gineer H. W. Clarke and has remained in the city engineer's office to the prseent time, being principal office assistant since 1893.

Shea, John T., Syracuse, son of Maurice, who came to Onondaga Co. when very young, was born in this city, Feb. 25, 1872, and was educated in the schools of the city, and in 1888 entered the real estate office of E. B. White. In 1890 he established his present real estate business, in which he has been very successful.

Sawyer, James Emery Cochrane, Syracuse, was born in Boston, Mass., Aug. 12, 1842, his ancestry on both sides being of old New England stock. In May, 1861, he left Phillips Exeter Academy, N. H., to volunteer in the 4th Maine Regiment. In 1863 he was received into the East Maine Conference of the Methodist Episcopal church. From that time he gradually rose to prominence as a preacher and to recognition as a clear and vigorous thinker, an able lecturer and a strong and grace- ful writer. His ministerial labors record marked success in such appointments as Beacon Street church, Bath, Me .; Broadway and Chestnut Street churches in Providence, R. I .; the First Methodist Episcopal church, Saratoga Springs; Ash Grove church, Albany ; Plattsburg, and the State Street church, Troy. He was also four years presiding elder of the Albany District, and for over four years was pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church of Pittsfield, Mass. Dr. Sawyer was a member of the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal church, held in Philadelphia in May, 1884, in which he introduced a resolution that the Committee on Episcopacy be instructed to carefully consider and report upon the desirability of having two of the bishops assigned to reside in foreign fields. The resolution was favorably reported upon by both the Committee on Missions and the Committee on Episcopacy, and led to many days of very able debate. It was finally defeated by a small margin for

FAMILY SKETCHES.

want of a concurrent vote of the two orders, but the discussion resulted in the election of William Taylor at that session of the General Conference as missionary bishop for Africa, and four years later in the election of J. M. Thoburn as missionary bishop for India and Malaysia. Dr. Sawyer was one of the special speakers at the Centennial Conference, held in Baltimore in Dec., 1884, his theme being " The Mission of Methodism to the Extremes of Society." At the Centennial of New England Methodism, held in Boston in Oct., 1890, he was assigned to speak on "Limitations to the Pastoral Term," and produced a profound impression by his strong advocacy of the removal of the time limit from the pastorate. The General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal church, at its quadrennial session in May, 1892, elected him editor of the Northern Christian Advocate, which is published for the denomination by Hunt & Eaton, Syracuse, and is one of its most important periodicals. While a pastor in Providence, R. I., he was on the editorial staff of the Providence Journal, and for many years he was a frequent contributor to several prominent periodicals, including The Christian Advocate, Zion's Herald, and the Albany Journal. His literary and poetic taste, manifested in his writings, sermons and lectures, together with his Christian spirit, his genial manner, his wide information, and his thorough acquaintance with the spirit and economy of Methodism, naturally and easily fit him for the position of editor of an influential denomination journal. He is a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, of the American Institute of Christian Philosophy, and of various charitable organizations, and is a trustee of Wesleyan University. He is also an enthusiastic member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and is chaplain of the veteran organization of the 4th Maine Regiment and the 2d Maine Battery. As a lecturer on educational and patriotic occasions and at religious conventions, he is in great demand. The degree of D. D. was conferred on him in 1888 by Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn. He was married, March 9, 1862, to Lucy A. Sargent, of Searsport, Me. They have had two daughters, one of whom died in childhood. The surviving daughter is Mrs. Flora L. Turknett, of Syracuse.

Stillman, Albert A., D. D. S., Syracuse, is a son of Samuel R. and a native of De Ruyter, N. Y., and was educated at select schools and at De Ruyter Institute. In 1880 he entered the dental office of Dr. Alexander Bain, afterwards the famous boat builder, of Clayton, N. Y., and was graduated from the New York College of Dentistry in 1882. He began practice at Geneva in March of that year in partner- ship with Dr. Charles A. Slocum, whom he succeeded in 1883. In Feb., 1884, he came to Syracuse, where he has since resided and followed his profession. While a student in the dental college in New York Dr. Stillman received honorary mention, standing second in the graduating class of about forty members. As a devotee of rifle practice he has acquired a world-wide reputation, and his interest in this sport dates from his youth, although his active rifle practice commenced about 1888. He is recognized as one of the finest marksmen in the State and as the best in Central New York. At the World's Fair shoot at Chicago in 1893 he won third in two matches of three shots each. He is a member and for several years was president of the Syracuse Rifle Club, was the organizer and the first president of the Syracuse Indoor Shooting Club, and is a member of the Knights of Pythias, of which he is past chancellor and past district deputy grand chancellor. He is also a director of the Boulevard Land and Improvement Co. of North Tonawanda, N. Y., and is connected

ONONDAGA'S CENTENNIAL.

with the Central City Brick Co., and the Syracuse Post. In 1883 he married Miss Sarah Louise Graley, of Oneida, who died in 1889

Solomon, Samuel D., Syracuse, son of David and Molly Solomon, was born in Mohawk, N. Y., March 22, 1863, came with his parents to Syracuse in 1872, and was graduated from the Syracuse High School in 1882, after which he took a six months post-graduate course in that institution. In the fall of 1882 he entered Syracuse University and was graduated in the classical course in 1886. He studied law with Costello, Ide & Hubbard, with Henry L. Schwartz, with Baldwin & Kennedy, with Baldwin, Lewis & Kennedy, and at the Columbia Law School while Prof. Theodore W. Dwight was warden, and was admitted at Utica in April, 1888. He was manag- ing clerk for Baldwin & Kennedy until the autumn of 1889, when he opened an office at No. 36 Wieting Block and in Aug., 1890, removed to his present address No. 1 Empire Block. He was a member of the Order of the Iron Hall, in which he has held several offices, being delegate to Indianapolis in Sept., 1892, and to the supreme sitting in Philadelphia in May 1893. He is a member of the Home Circle, of which order he is a delegate to the Grand Lodge of this State. He belongs to the Society of Select Guardians, in which order he was at one time a member of the Supreme Council; and of the A. O. F. of A. and of the German order of Harugari. He is prominent in the Masonic fraternity, being senior warden of Salt Springs Lodge, No. 520, F. & A. M., a member of Central City Chapter No. 70, R. A. M., also of Central City Council No. 13, R. & S. M., and is secretary of the Masonic Board of Relief of Syracuse and a member of the Masonic Hall Association of Syracuse. He is un- married.

Soldan, Charles G., Syracuse, was born in Buffalo, N. Y., in 1846, and when six years old moved with his parents to Detroit, Mich. In the spring of 1861 he came with the family to Syracuse, where his father, the Rev. Charles F. Soldan, was pastor of the German Evangelical Lutheran church on Butternut street about fifteen years ago, taught German and Latin in the High School for a time, and died in March, 1875. The death of his wife occurred here in 1869. They had eight children, of whom four are living. Charles G. Soldan received his education in what is now Prescott School, in Syracuse, and at the age of sixteen became clerk for Edward Griswold, hatter. Later he held similar positions with C. W. Cornell, bookseller. A. C. Yates & Co., clothiers, two years each, and in 1868 he took a clerkship with C. & J. B. Hubbard, druggists. J. B. Hubbard died that year, and when Charles Hubbard and J. B. Moore formed a partnership in 1874, Mr. Soldan became a mem- ber of the firm under the name of Charles Hubbard & Co. This style was changed upon Mr. Moore's death in Jan., 1892, to the present style of Soldan & Hubbard. Mr. Soldan is a Mason in the Knight Templar and Mystic Shrine degrees, and is in- terested in the progress and advancement of the city of his residence. Oct. 19, 1871, he married Elizabeth Arheidt, of Syracuse, and has six children: Harriet, Flor- ence, Maud L., George Frederick, Charles Lewis, and Walter De Forest.

Soper, Bradley W., Syracuse, born in Harrisburg, Lewis Co., Sept. 6, 1842, moved with his parents when three years of age to Hartsville, Madison Co., where he attended school until ten years old, after which he worked on the farm till the age of seventeen. He then became a clerk in a store in Chittenango, where he remained

FAMILY SKETCHES.

until Jan. 12, 1870, being a partner in the business during the last four years. He came thence to Syracuse and started a grocery store in partnership with Arthur A. Cook, under the firm name of Soper & Cook, whom he subsequently bought out. One year afterward William Everson became his business associate and two years later Albert T. Van Antwerp purchased Mr. Everson's interest, the firm becoming B. W. Soper & Co., which continued until 1890, when Mr. Soper became sole owner. At different times he has conducted three branch stores in the city, but his principal establishment has remained at its present location in North Salina street since 1870. He has been eminently successful. He was vice-president of the Merchant's Build- ing and Loan Association for one year following its organization in 1888, and is prominently connected with various other enterprises in the city. In 1871 he mar- ried Miss Helen Vosburg, who died in 1879, lerving one daughter, May V. His sec- ond wife, whom he married in 1881, was Clara, daughter of Jared Ludington, of Syr- acuse, who died in 1889, leaving two sons, Lucian J. and Scott B. In 1891 he mar- ried, third, Clara, daughter of Dr. Charles H. Hill, of this city. Mr. Soper began life at the age of ten years, starting without a cent, but by strict attention to busi- ness, honesty, and singleness of purpose, he has forged ahead into the foremost ranks of his competitors. He is pre-eminently a self-made man.

Stinard, Frank H., Syracuse, son of Andrew L. and Emma A. (Phelps) Stinard, was born in Lansingville, Tompkins Co., April 10, 1859, was graduated from Leav- enworth Institute at Wolcott, N. Y., in 1873, and lived on a farm in Wayne Co. until 1878, when he came to Syracuse, where he engaged in the woolen trade with the firm of Stinard & Edwards. In 1884 he embarked in his present business as real estate dealer ; first as Jones & Stinard, then as Jones, Stinard & Leavenworth, after- wards as Stinard & Leavenworth, and finally alone. He has been instrumental in developing and improving several sections of the city, among them Bellevue Heights and the Bassett estate. Jan. 1, 1891, he married Carrie, daughter of Dwight C. Coville, of Syracuse. They have two children: Herbert L. and Russell A.

Standart, John L., Syracuse, son of John L.and Penelope (Kennedy) Standart, was born in Attica, Ind., Jan. 21, 1859, and moved with his parents to a farm near Adrian, Mich., in 1861, where he attained maturity. During the summers he worked on the farm and in winter attended the Quaker institution there known as Rasin Valley Seminary. His mother was a sister of ex-Judge George N. Kennedy, of Syracuse, and through this relationship, Mr. Standart came to this city in Oct., 1878, and be- gan the study of law in his uncle's office. He was admitted to the bar at the Roch- ester General Term in the spring of 1880, and immediately commenced practicing his profession with Sedgwick, Kennedy & Tracy. About a year later he was em- ployed to assist in buying the right of way for the West Shore Railroad through the city of Syracuse, a work he performed practically alone and to the satisfaction of all interested parties. He was then appointed paymaster on the middle division of that line between Canastota and Rochester. In 1888 he returned to Judge Kennedy's office as his private secretary, which position he since filled with credit and ability. He is a member of Central City Council, No. 383, Royal Arcanum, of which he has been orator for six years. Mr. Standart has acquired a high reputation as a writer of both poetry and prose. His contributions to the local press have received the encomiums of the best literary critics, who have pronounced his verse worthy of

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preservation, and have frequently urged him to collect and publish it in permanent form. He is a steady contributor to all the periodicals issued in the interests of the Royal Arcanum, and through this medium acquired renown abroad as well as at home. April 15, 1880, he married Miss Florence, daughter of Josiah Arnold of Syr- acuse, and they have one child, Marjorie.

St. John, Ballou & Co., Syracuse .- This concern originated with Joseph H. St. John and William F. Ballou, under the firm name of St. John & Ballou, on May 1, 1892, with a small salesroom. Sept. 1, 1893, their regular and present warerooms were opened, and on March 1, 1894, a stock company under the above name was in- corporated with a capital stock of $40,000 and with the following board of directors: William F. Ballou, president and treasurer; W. H. Girvin, vice-president and treas- urer ; and J. H. St. John, secretary and manager. The firm handles only pianos of the highest quality, such as the Chickering, Krakauer, Krell, Foster, and Sterling, being general agents for Central New York. Mr. St. John is a thoroughly practical man, having entered the piano business under the tutorship of Henry Dreher, of the B. Dreher's Sons Co., of Cleveland, O., one of the largest retail piano concerns in the country. He was also an apprentice in three large piano establishments in Bos- ton and afterwards worked at tuning and repairing for about two and one-half years, which gave him a wide practical experience. Having an inclination for selling he gradually drifted into that branch of the business, and in this capacity was con- nected with the houses of J. T. Wamelink and B. Dreher's Sons Co. in Cleveland, O. In 1892 he came to Syracuse and has since ranked as one of the foremost music dealers in Central New York. His aim is to elevate the standard of musical taste and to foster and encourage every kindred enterprise.

Snavlin, Charles T., Syracuse, born in West Monroe, Oswego Co., March 25, 1860, is a son of Theodore J. Snavlin, who emigrated to America from Alsace-Loraine, Germany. He taught school a few terms, came to Syracuse in 1880, studied law with George Warner and Oscar J. Brown, and was admitted at Utica in 1883. He practiced his profession in Syracuse until about 1890, since which time he has de- voted his attention to the real estate business and contracting. May 30, 1893, he married Cora May Bell, of Syracuse.

Sawyer, Frank H., Syracuse, son of Newton, was born in Whitesboro, N. Y., Oct. 18, 1871, was educated at Amsterdam, and learned the trades of engraver and printer in Syracuse, coming here in 1890. In 1892 he started his present business, doing general artistic engraving and printing.

Stoddard, Charles E., Syracuse, was born in Homer, N. Y., Nov. 8, 1842, and while a child came with his parents to Syracuse. Prentice S. Stoddard, his father, was a wholesale grocer in Rochester, a wholesale and retail book and stationery dealer, and later a general insurance agent in Syracuse, and in 1865 moved to Boston, where he died about 1887. Charles E. was graduated from the High School in 1859, spent the vinters of 1865-66 in the South, connected with the Direct Tax Commission in the State of Arkansas. Returning to New York city, he engaged in the railway supply business with an elder brother, William O., who had served as one of Lincoln's sec- retaries during the Rebellion. Later he went to Chicago and engaged in the com- mission business, and in 1882 returned to Syracuse, where he was successively an

FAMILY SKETCHES.

insurance agent and a commercial traveler. In 1892 he became identified with the savings and loan business and since May, 1893, has been secretary and one of the directors of the Onondaga Savings and Loan Association, which was incorparated that year. In Nov. 1863, he married A. Lin, daughter of Frederick Gilbert, of the town of Onondaga, now of Syracuse. She died in 1873.

Tyrrell, John O., Syracuse, is a son of George W. and Harriet (Bartlett) Tyrrell, who were married at Fayetteville in 1840, and was born in Orville, in the town of Dewitt, Aug. 15, 1858. George W. Tyrrell, whose father came to Manlius at an early day, was born in that town in 1806, moved to Dewitt in 1842. and died there Feb. 27, 1870. His children were George H., Charles F., Edson E., two who died young, Addison M., and James S. and John O., twins. John O. Tyrrell was reared on a farm and received his education in the district schools of Dewitt, and remained on the farm until 1879, when he engaged as lineman for the American Union Tele- graph Co., was made section foreman at Schenectady in 1887, and came to Syracuse in 1890, and holds the same position. He was for one year president of the old Linemen's Union and prominent during the existence of that organization.

Turtelot, Vance, Syracuse .- The progenitors of the Turtelot family landed at Salem, Mass., in 1687. The family is of French Huguenot descent. Their ancestors finan - cially and personally assisted Henry of Navarre in his war against the Catholics, and were of the number who fled to America at the time of the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes to escape the religious persecution. They were the most influential and prominent of that race who came to this country at that time, and were descendants of the house of Burgundy. They purchased a large tract of land at Oxford, Mass., and founded a colony there, and at their own cost and expense brought the colonists to the settlement. A granite monument now marks the spot where they erected a fort for their protection against the Indians. Many of their descendants have at. tained distinction in professional life. Mr. Turtelot is a son of Rev. Stephen Turte- lot, M. D., and was born in Herkimer, N. Y., Oct: 3, 1854. He was graduated from Cazenovia Seminary in 1877, and from Syracuse University in 1882, read law with Ruger, Jeuney, Brooks & French, with P. M. French, and with Hon. William M. Ross, and was admitted to the bar in 1886, since which time he has practiced in Syra- cuse. He has had considerable real estate litigation, and is practically the legal manager of the affairs of the Wesleyan Methodist Connection of America. He has also done considerable business for the Wayne Building and Loan Association, the New York Mutual Savings and Loan Association and for the Syracuse University. He is the present vice-chancellor of Syracuse City lodge No. 215, Knights of Pythias, and belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church. A wife and three children consti- tute his family.

Teall, Col, William W., Syracuse, son of Hon. Oliver Teall, was born in the town of Manlius, April 23, 1818, and after receiving his preliminary education in a private school in Syracuse, attended successively the Cazenovia Academy, the Academy at Hamilton, Madison Co., Bartlett's High School in Utica, Union College in Schenec- tady, and the Law Department of Yale University, graduating from thelatter, which was then under the presidency of Judge Daggett. He completed his legal studies in the office of Noxon & Leavenworth in Syracuse and was admitted to the bar under

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Chief Justice Nelson in 1839. He immediately commenced the practice of his pro- fession in this city, where his father had then resided for several years, and his private law library, purchased in Philadelphia, was conceded to be one of the most complete in the State. Sept. 1, 1835, he was commissioned by Gov. William L. Marcy, judge-advocate of the Seventh Brigade Artillery, New York State Militia, with the rank of major, and assigned to Gen. Leavenworth's staff. In 1842 he was admitted as an attorney, proctor, and solicitor in the U. S. District Court, Northern District of New York, and in the same year became surveyor of the Saratoga Mutual Fire Insurance Company. In Feb., 1844, Gov. Bouck appointed him Indian agent of the Onondaga Reservation. During much of this time and long afterward he owned a number of salt blocks and was engaged in manufacturing salt. On July 23, 1845, in competitition with many prominent citizens, he was appointed by President Polk postmaster of Syracuse, being probably the youngest man selected for that trust by that administration, and held the office four years. In Oct., 1846, the postmaster- general appointed him depository for public moneys. He was one of the originators and first trustees of the Syracuse Savings Institution, incorporated March 30, 1849, and was chosen first treasurer, serving in that capacity until elected cashier of the Syra- cuse City Bank in 1851. He was one of the chief instigators and first directors of this latter fiduciary concern, which was organized in 1850, and remained its financial officer until after the panic of 1857, successfully carrying it through that great crisis and performing also a lasting service for every country bank in the State by oppos- ing State superintendent of Banking James M. Cook, who refused to use his power to avert general disaster by surrendering deposited securities upon the retirement of circulation. Soon afterward Colonel Teall sold his stock in the bank and retired from its management. In 1855 he was interested in the construction of the Blue Ridge railroad, and in 1856, he purchased for $53,000 the controlling interest in the Onon- daga Bank, which he managed and directed in connection with the Syracuse City Bank; in the same year he bought Charles A. Wheaton's share in the saddlery hard- ware business of Wheaton & Dawson, of Syracuse, of which he subsequently be- came sole proprietor. In 1857 he organized and owned the principal part of the capital stock of the Syracuse Saddlery Hardware Manufacturing Co., and in 1858, in conjunction with J. H. Hinman, he established the private banking house of Teall & Hinman, of which he later became the sole owner. In 1862 he gratuitously offered his services to the government and was appointed on Oct. 4, commissary of subsistence with the rank of captain, and on the same day received from President Lincoln an appointment as chief commissary of the Right Grand Division of the Army of the Potomac, and was assigned to Gen. Sumner's staff with rank of lieutenant- colonel. He toook part in the battle of Fredericksburg, and while in the neighbor- hood did effective service in balloon reconnaissance, making frequent ascensions, and on one occasion taking a correct survey of Lee's camp, which produced momentous results. Upon the death of General Sumner, March 21, 1863, Colonel Teall, whohad been ordered to Missouri, was assigned to the provost-marshal's department in New York State, supervising the draft, and on April 24 was transferred to the Department of Missouri. In Jan., 1864, he sent in his resignation to the War Department, which was accepted Feb. 2. In 1870 he became a director in the Lake Ontario National Bank of Oswego and in 1871 was elected secretary of the Abel Loom Co. Prior to this, however, he had become actively interested in various other enterprises.

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Onondaga's centennial. Gleanings of a century, Vol. II, Part 53

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