Onondaga's centennial. Gleanings of a century, Vol. II, Part 55

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 55

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ONONDAGA'S CENTENNIAL.

was married in 1874 to Elizabeth Becker, of Cincinnati, O., and they have four chil- dren: Herman W., John, Lilly, and Emma.

Baumgras, Mrs. Ophelia P., Syracuse .- William Baumgras was born in Waltmore, Germany, Jan. 8, 1829 came to America and settled in Syracuse in 1844, and died July 4, 1885. Ile was a painter by trade, which he followed first as a journeyman, and finally established business for himself, which he continued successfully untilhis death. In 1849-50 he was associated with his brothers Frederick, Charles and Jacob ; he was then alone until 1864, when he formed a partnership with his brother Fred- erick under the firm name of W. & F. Baumgras, which continued until 1874. Upon his death he was succeeded by his son Julius A., who in 1891 organized the present Baumgras Decorating Company. Mr. Baumgras was astaunch Republican and very active in the campaigns of his party, which often placed his name on its ticket for office. He was supervisor of the old Fourth ward in 1854-65 and served the city as police commissioner in 1874-75. In 1850 he married Miss Ophelia P., daughter of Peter Gates, of Syracuse, who survives him. Their children, all living, were Julius A., Clarence M., W. Horatio, Lucius C., Julia J., J. Henry, Augusta O., and Geo O.

Brower, Hiram C., Syracuse, born in New York city in 1826, came to Syracuse with his parents on a canal boat in 1828, and has ever since resided here. His father, Abraham G. Brower, was a locksmith and the founder of the present business of H. C. Brower & Son, and died here in 1883, aged eighty-three years. Hiram C. was educated in the public schools and in Mayo's select school, and at an early age ap- prenticed himself to the printer's trade, at which he worked on the Microscope, the Onondaga Chief, and the Onondaga Standard, at a period when balls instead of roll- ers were used in distributing ink on the types. In 1845 he succeeded his father in business as a locksmith, at which he had worked as an apprentice for more than seven years, beginning at the age of fourteen. From that time to the present he has been located on his present site, having erected his present building as well as its prede- cessor. In 1875 the firm of H. C. Brower & Son was formed by the admission of his only surviving son to a partnership interest. Mr. Brower was sealer of weights and measures two terms, long a member of the old Fire Department, a member of Kel- logg's Band for eleven years, and a member of the Citizens' Corps under Captain Walrath, from which he was honorably discharged by Col. J. Dean Hawley. Captain Walrath was succeeded by Capt. J. Mosher Brower, who was killed in the Rebellion. Notwithstanding his extensive business Mr. Brower has found time to travel consid- erably, making a tour through England, Ireland, and Scotland in 1886. In 1850 he married Sarah Ann, daughter of Robert Davis, of Syracuse, whose mother died at the great age of ninety-three years. They have had four children, only one of whom, Frederick C., is living. The others were Alfred Eugene and Alfred Vivine (twins) and Robert C.

Belden, James M., Syracuse, son of A. Cadwell Belden, was born in Pompey, July 10, 1852. He was educated in the public schools of Syracuse, Dr. Reed's School, Walnut Hill, at Geneva, and Cornell University. He engaged in the wholesale lumber business under the firm name of Crane, Belden & Co. Four years later Mr. Crane retired and the firm became Belden & McDowell, which continued six years, when Mr. Belden withdrew. Since then he has been prominently identified with several important interests. He was school commissioner of the Third ward; was on

FAMILY SKETCHES.

the staff of Gen. J. Dean Hawley, and later on the staff of Gen. D. H. Bruce with rank of major, remaining with the brigade until it was transferred to Elmira. He is a director in the Robert Gere Bank, was one of the incorporators and first direct- ors of the Seventh Ward Street Railway Co., and was one of the incorporators of the Steam Heat and Power Co. He was married Oct. 24, 1878, to Jessie Perry Van Zile, daughter of Oscar E. Van Zile, of Troy, N. Y. They have five sons: Mead Van- Zile, James Jerome, 2d, Augustus Cadwell, Perry and Oscar Van Zile.

Blogett, Prof. Andrew Burr, Syracuse, was born in Mottville, Onondaga Co., in 1850, and received his early education in the De Ruyter Institute and at Cazenovia Seminary. As a boy he was a diligent student and a great lover of study as well as prominent in athletic lines. He began teaching in 1870, taking charge of a small school at Skaneateles Falls. He afterward taught in several places in Madison Co., acquiring such success that attention was called to his work and an offer was made him to take charge of the Union school at Tully. Here he remained for two years. An opportunity being given he accepted a position as instructor in Cazenovia Semi- nary, remaining there until 1877, when he was appointed principal of the Salina school in the First ward in Syracuse. In March, 1881, the Board of Education transferred him to the principalship of the new Prescott School in the Fourth ward, where he worked diligently for eight years, raising the school to a high standard of excellence. In 1889 Prof. Blogett was appointed by the Board of Education as superintendent of the public schools of the city, and in that capacity he has labored ever since. During his administration the educational system has been enlarged and developed as never before. Many improvements have been made at his instigation, the Board of Education placing unfaltering trust in his ability to judge of the city's demands. He is known among educational men all over the State as a man of marked ability. He was president of the New York State Teachers' Association in 1892, and presi- dent of the Council of School Superintendents of the State in 1895. May 1, 1879, he married Frances H. Eggleston, of Buffalo, N. Y. They have one son, Clements Winfield, born Feb. 19, 1885.

Bostwick, Edward M., Syracuse, born in Dewitt, April 14, 1847, is a son of Harvey Bostwick, who came from Connecticut to Pompey in 1817, moved thence to Dewitt in 1825, and died in Syracuse in May, 1886. His wife, Eliza, died herein Feb., 1885. They had five sons and five daughters. Edward M. was educated in Fayetteville and began life a farmer. In 1864 he enlisted in Co. HI, 2d N. Y. Cav., was promoted corporal, was wounded at the battle of Five Forks, Va., April 1, 1865, and was dis- charged in Nov., 1865. Returning from the war he was engaged in a sash and blind factory in Fayetteville for three years, and afterwards at farming. Sept. 1, 1871, he was appointed a letter carrier at Syracuse under Gen. I. H. Bruce ; five years later he was made superintendent of letter carriers, which position he has since held, being one of the oldest men in continuous service in the city post-office. Oct. 16, 1872, Mr. Bostwick married Alice M., daughter of Norman Hammond, of Clay, N. Y., by whom he has three children, Mamie, Harry, and Millard.

Belknap, Samuel F., Syracuse, was born in the town of Mexico, Oswego Co., N. Y., was educated in part at the Mexico Academy and was graduated from the State Normal School at Albany, N. Y., in 1868, and from Cornell University, B. S., in 1873.

ONONDAGA'S CENTENNIAL.

Ile was one of the editors of the Cornell Era during his junior year and historian of his class. Graduating from the Albany Law School, LL. B., in 1874, he was at once admitted to the bar, and in 1876 began practice in Syracuse where he has since re- sided. He has always been an active Republican and was elected justice of the peace at the charter election in 1883, re-elected in 1887, and again in 1891. While serving as justice he has not neglected the regular work of his profession, and has a lucrative law practice outside of his business as justice.

Brown, Dr. U. Higgins, Syracuse, was born in Higginsville, Cortland Co., N. Y., July 14; 1850, and received his preliminary education at the Cortland Academy. He studied at the Cleveland Medical College and was graduated from the New York Medical College in 1873, after which he spent a year in Paris, London and Vienna, pursuing special studies as an oculist and anrist. In 1875 he opened his present office in Syracuse. Dr. Brown has acquired eminent success in his chosen profession and ranks high among the foremost practitioners of the country. He has estab- lished a wide reputation. He is a member of the New York State Medical Society and Medical Association, the Central New York and Onondaga County Medical Associations, the Central New York and Onondaga County Medical Societies, the Syracuse Academy of Medicine, and the American Medical Association, and for the past fifteen years he has served as oculist and aurist to St. Joseph's Hospital, St. Vincent de Paul's Orphan Asylum, and the House of Providence. He has held the appointment of special U. S. examining surgeon for pensions for the last six years; also has charge of the Free Dispensary for Diseases of the Eye and Ear, located at 308 Warren street, Syracuse. These positions and professional connections attest his eminence and the high standard of his work. On June 24, 1893, he was married to Miss Isabel Adelaide Raynor, of Syracuse.

Carson, James C., M. D., Syracuse, superintendent of the Syracuse State Institu- tion for Feeble-Minded Children, was born near Geneva, N, Y., and graduated from the Canandaigua Academy in 1867. He began the study of medicine with his brother, Dr. M. R. Carson, at Canandaigua, and with Dr. Jonas Jones, of Rochester, who was at that time superintendent of the Rochester City Hospital. In this institu- tion Dr. Carson spent a year during the period of his medical pupilage. He attended lectures in the University of Michigan, and later at Bellevue in New York city, where he graduated in 1870. After graduation he began medical work at Brigham Hall, a private institution for the insane at Canandaigua, N. Y. Here he was under Dr. George Cook for about seven months during the year 1870. He was then appointed third assistant physician at the State Asylum for the Insane at Willard, N. Y., where he was under Dr. John B. Chapin, now superintendent of the Pennsylvania Hospital for the Insane at Philadelphia, Pa. Dr. Carson served in all about thirteen years at Willard, and during the last ten years was first assistant physician. In 1883 he was appointed superintendent of the Institution for the Deaf and Dumb in New York city, where he remained about eighteen months, when he was appointed superintend- ent of the State Institution for Feeble-Minded Children at Syracuse, in Oct., 1884, thus having been twenty-five years in the service of the State. Dr. Carson is lecturer on mental diseases in the medical department of the Syracuse University. He is a member of the Syracuse Academy of Medicine, the Onondaga County Medical Society, the Association of Medical Officers of American Institutions for the Idiotic

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and Feeble-Minded, etc., being president of the last named organization in 1959 When a resident of Willard he was a member of the Seneca County Medical Society, and was one year its president, and while residing in New York he was a member of the New York County Medical Society. In 1890 Dr. Carson went abroad and visited a number of institutions for feeble-minded in England and France. The Syracuse State Institution was the first of its kind organized in this country, and when Dr. Carson came to it there were 320 pupils present; now there are 540. Under his able management the institution has been materially advanced, the grounds and build- ings have been enlarged and improved, and the farm at the Fairmount branch has been increased by an addition of 150 acres. Dr. Carson stands high in his special line and has a national acquaintance He was married April 30, 1874, to Jane MI., daughter of Thomas Smith, of Geneva. They have had three children: Thomas C., Elizabeth, and Robert O., deceased.

Clancy, John R., Syracuse, only child of Richard V. and Eliza A. Clancy, was born in Syracuse on March 8, 1859. Richard V. originally came from County Wexford, Ireland, to New Orleans, removed thence to Iowa, and finally settled in this city, where he died March 26, 1877, aged 56. He was long a prominent citizen and for many years was one of the firm of Clancy Brothers, bakers in the Jervis house block. In 1862 he engaged in the wholesale liquor business at what is now 247 North Salina street. He was alderman of the Third ward for three terms. John R. Clancy re- ceived his education in the public and high schools of Syracuse, where he has always resided. In 1885 he commenced as a pioneer in the manufacture of theatrical stage hardware as a regular business, with screw eyes and brace irons, adding thereto from time to time, until now he produces the largest and most complete line of popular theatrical stage supplies handled by any house in the world. Many of these articles are made under patented processes. The business extends all over the United States and Canada and reaches across the water to Australia, Europe, British India, and other foreign countries. Mr. Clancy was a charter member of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and served as its secretary for several years. He has been especially active in founding, developing and maintain- ing this humane organization, and to his efforts it owes a large share of its growth and success. He has been secretary of St. Joseph's Aid Society since its formation except one year, and is a member of the Business Men's Association, the Citizens' Club, and the Camera Club, being vice-president of the latter several years. Ile is also a member of the Theatrical Mechanics' Association, of which he was secretary for a number of terms, and president one year. April 29, 1886, he married Miss Elenora V., daughter of John Copp, of Cincinnati, O. Mrs. Clancy is an accom- plished lady of rare musical attainments, and has held the position of soprano in the choir of the First Presbyterian church of Syracuse for fourteen consecutive years.

Cashman & McCarthy, the firm of, Syracuse, is composed of Thomas Cashman and John McCarthy, and was formed by the present members in 1880. They are men of wide experience, and have successfully established one of the most important in- dustries in Syracuse. Their business has grown from a small beginning to a large and increasing trade, which extends throughout Central New York. Among their products are galvanized iron and copper cornices, window caps, finials, weather vanes, crestings, steel ceilings, and slate, tile, copper, tin and iron roofing, and

ONONDAGA'S CENTENNIAL.

among the buildings upon which they have placed tile is the new City Hall. Their steel ceiling has been fitted to the Syracuse Savings Bank building, the Old Ladies' Home, the St. Vincent de Paul Orphan Asylum, and others, while they executed the metal work on the Grand Opera House, the Wieting Opera House, the Kirk building, and the retail stores of D. McCarthy & Co. and Dey Brothers & Co. All of this work is the result of careful study and skill.

Dolan, T. Frank, Syracuse, the only son of Martin and Mary Dolan, was born in Marcellus, Nov. 1, 1860. His parents, who were natives of Ireland, came to America about 1845, and finally moved to Onondaga Co. about 1848. Mr. Dolan was em- ployed on the old Astor house in New York city and can describe that house accurately. He now lives in the town of Onondaga, settling on his present farm in 1865. T. Frank Dolan finished his education at the Monroe Collegiate Institute in Elbridge, N. Y., and began life as a clerk in the old Famous Clothing House in the Wieting block in Syracuse. In 1884 he entered the employ of Crane & Hubbs, real estate dealers, and in the fall of 1890 opened his present real estate office, in which business he has been quite successful, being interested in several large real estate enterprises in Syracuse and also in the Yonkers Heights Land Company of Yonkers, N. Y. He is a member of Division No. 1. A. O. H., and represented that society as a delegate at the meeting of the National Land League in Chicago in 1891. He is also a member of Branch 49, C. M. B. A., and in May, 1894, was appointed a civil service commissioner. Mr. Dolan in politics is a staunch Democrat. Nov. 19, 1891, he married Mary T. Ready, of Syracuse, and has two children, Mary Agnes and T. Frank, jr.

Dunn, Patrick John, Syracuse, blacksmith, was born in Syracuse, March 9, 1849, and began learning the plumbing trade of F. E. Carroll in 1862, later working for Edward Joy. In 1885 he established business for himself by forming a partnership with James Morrison under the firm name of Morrison & Dunn. The next year he sold out to Mr. Morrison and started his present establishment, doing general plumb- ing, gas and steam fitting, and carrying gas and electric fixtures. In 1881 he mar- ried Bridget Ryan, of Syracuse.

Drumma, Robert, Syracuse, is a native of the First ward of Syracuse, being born there June 22, 1843, and is a son of Joseph A. Drumma, who came to this city from Alsace-Loraine, France, in 1828. Joseph A. was for many years a prominent citizen. He held several public offices, notably overseer of the poor of the First ward at the time that post was abolished, engineer and overseer of the Salt Reservation, etc. He was long and prominently identified with the salt interests, both in private and official capacities. He participated in the famous " Patriot War " on the Canadian border in 1837-38, and was captured, imprisoned, tried, and pardoned. His paternal ancestors were French, while those on his mother's side were German, and he was born Oct. 8, 1816. He married Sarah Jane Handy, who was born June 21, 1815, and he died Aug. 16, 1874. His death occurred Sept. 4, 1885. They had three children : Andrew, of Rochester; Robert, of Syracuse; and one who died in infancy. Robert Drumma began business as a cooper, which he continued for ten years, when he succeeded his father as overseer of the Salt Reservation, a position he held also for ten years. In 1887 he opened his present grocery store on South Geddes street. He

FAMILY SKETCHES.

was supervisor of the Seventeenth ward one term, and is a member of the I. O. O. F. and the A. O. U. W. In 1861 he married Miss Margaret Buston, a daughter of John Buston and a native of Ireland, and of their five children three are living: Sarah Jane (Mrs. Frank B. Stevens), Anna (Mrs. Albert Becker), and Frank B., all of Syr- acuse.

De Gan, Sirephan A., Syracuse, the sixth child of Sirephan A. De Gan, sr., who came from Canada to Onondaga Co. in 1838 and now resides in Syracuse at the age of ninety years, was born in the town of Onondaga on June 3, 1839. At the age of fourteen he learned the stonecutter's trade, and afterwards followed railroading and steamboating for about two years, when he returned to stonecutting. On April 19, 1865, he entered the employ of the late Milton S. Price as a porter in the carpet department in the large dry goods store of that merchant prince. Two years later he was made superintendent, a position he held for twenty-three consecutive years. Upon the death of Mr. Price the firm of Keveney Brothers & De Gan was organized and purchased the carpet business, which they continued until May 1, 1895, when Mr. De Gan formed a partnership with W. H. Wiltse under the name of De Gan & Wiltse, dealers in carpets, etc. A Democrat in politics, but liberal in party affilia- tions, Mr. De Gan was appointed one of the police commisioners of the city of Syra- cuse in March, 1892, an office he has since filled with credit and ability. He is a member of the A. O. U. W., of the Knights of Pythias, and of the Citizens' and Cen- tury Cycling Clubs. In 1862 he married Miss Jane, daughter of Joseph M. Devoe, of Syracuse, and has two children, Josie (Mrs. W. W. Push, of this city, who has two sons and one daughter), and Clara A.

Dalton, Thomas W., Syracuse, was born Nov., 15, 1848, was educated in the Cort. landville schools and academy, spent four years as a drug clerk, and for one year was a member of the firm of Aaron Sager & Co., druggists. In 1870 he went to the Pennsylvania oil regions, where for five years he conducted a successful drug trade. In Sept., 1874, he came to Syracuse as clerk for Smith & Pierce, druggists, both of whom soon afterward died. He then formed partnership with E. Eugene Smith, a brother of the senior member of the old firm, under the name of Smith & Dalton, and succeeded to the business. This partnership terminated in the fall of 1892, when T. O. Whitnall purchased Mr. Smith's interest and the firm became T. W. Dalton & Co. During most of this time two drug stores were successfully main- tained. In February, 1894, the Clinton street store was sold, the firm dissolved, and Mr. Dalton succeeded to the James street store, which he now continues. He has always made a specialty of homoeopathic remedies. He is a director and the vice- president of the Industrial Savings and Loan Company of Syracuse, and actively identified with other interests in the city. In the fall of 1881 he married Martha E., daughter of Prof. Edward Smith, long superintendent of public schools of Syracuse and now principal of Prescott School. They have had two sons: Eugene Smith, born Dec. 1, 1882, and Edwin Orville, born Aug. 8, 1885.

Dakin, G. A., Syracuse .- The Dakin Brothers, John A., George A., and Arthur W., proprietors of Dakin's Business College and School of Shorthand, Herald build- ing, Syracuse, are sons of Joshua J. Dakin, and were born in Hillsdale, Columbia Co., N. Y., whence they came in 1859, while children, to Tully with their parents.

ONONDAGA'S CENTENNIAL.

The father died there Dec. 25, 1865, and the mother Oct. 20, 1892. When seventeen, John A. Dakin left home and went to Iowa, but soon worked his way back to this State. Since then he has visited every State east of the Rocky Mountains and has also traveled in Canada. He is a scholarly naturalist, has collected numerous speci- mens, and for nearly ten years has been an associate member of the American Or- nithological Union. Heis one of the most skillful stenographers in the country, hav- ing a knowledge of twenty distinct systems, and possesses a rare ability of imparting the knowledge to others. He was connected with C. R. Wells's College from its incep- tion until 1892. In the fall of 1893 he opened the present Dakin institution. George A. Dakin remained at home farming and studying, and, for three months in 1888, was employed in the U. S. Geological Survey in Tully, assisting in surveying the rock formations and collecting fossils of the Devonian period. In 1893 he entered Dakin's Business College and soon afterward became a member of the firm, of which he is now the manager, assistant teacher of business branches and shorthand. Arthur W. Dakin has had a wide reputation as an artistic penman since the age of eighteen. He came to Syracuse as a teacher of penmanship and in 1890 took charge of the Bus- ness College in Amsterdam. In 1891 he sold out and started a business college in Auburn with J. A. Willis, a former pupil. In 1892 he sold out there and went south for his health, but soon returned to Syracuse, and has since been a member of the firm of Dakin Brothors. As a teacher of business branches he stands at the head of his profession, and at one time had no less than 1,000 students whom he was in- structing by mail. He is the author of a work on penmanship which has enjoyed a large sale. The Dakin College was opened with three pupils; it now has an attend- ance of seventy-five or more, and, besides, maintains one of the largest and best evening schools in the city. Dakin Bros. are live, energetic and capable teachers. Having the interest of their students thoroughly at heart, they leave no stone un- turned which might help them in their future career. Not only are they thought a great deal of by their scholars, but they are held in the highest esteem by the busi- ness men of the city in which they reside.

Francis E. Engelhardt, Syracuse, was born in Hanover, Germany, June 23, 1835, was educated in the University of Göttingen, where he was assistant to Fr. Woehler, the renowned chemist. He came to America in 1857, and was asistant in the chemical department of Amherst College for ten months, and went thence to Philadelphia, where he was chemist for Charles Ellis & Co., druggists, and also for a large sugar refinery. In 1860 he went to New York as assistant in the chemical laboratory of Columbia College, and later became professor of chemistry and natural sciences in St. Francis Xavier College in that city, and also professor of materia medica in the New York College of Pharmacy. In 1869 he settled permanently in Syracuse, where he has acquired a wide reputation in his profession. He has been the chemist for the various salt companies and for the State superintendent of the Salt Reservation, and is now milk inspector and chemist for the city. He has also been one of the experts of the State Board of Heath for liquors and fermented beverages. He is one of the most prominent chemists of the United States. He was married, first, in 1868, to Cornelia Titus, of New York city, who died May 22, 1869. His second wife is Anna Miller, whom he married in Sept , 1870, and their children are Dr. Frank G., Antoinette, Herman, Beatrice, and Anna. Dr. Frank G. Engelhardt was graduated

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Onondaga's centennial. Gleanings of a century, Vol. II, Part 55

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