Onondaga's centennial. Gleanings of a century, Vol. II, Part 60

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 60

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

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to whom they gave they name of Stuart Thomas Sliter. He also distinguished himself as a gentleman and scholar, being formerly engaged in the internal revenue office of Syracuse, but now a prominent bookkeeper in one of the largest packing establishments in Kansas City, Mo.

Tebeau, Joseph F., Syracuse, son of Isaac J., was born in Oswego, N. Y., Nov. 16, 1872, and came to Syracuse with his parents when four years of age. He was grad- uated from the Syracuse High School in June, 1891, and the same month accepted a reportorial position on the Courier, which he filled during one year. He then held a similar post on the Evening News about a year, and in April, 1893, returned to the staff of the Courier, where he has since remained, becoming city editor when the new management assumed charge in Feb., 1894.

Taylor, Judson J., M.D., Syracuse, was born in Mexico, N. Y., July 23, 1838, and educated in Mexico Academy. At the age of sixteen he commenced teaching dis- trict schools with a view of getting means to study medicine. Teachers' salaries being higher in Ohio at that time than here, he went to the southern part of that State, where he taught about three years. His experience savored strongly of the ' Hoosier Schoolmaster." When nineteen years of age he began the study of medi- cine at Haverhill, O., afterward attending the Ohio Medical College in Cincinnati, and the medical department of Harvard University in Boston, and was graduated from the old Castleton Medical College, Vermont, in 1861, with the last class sent out from that institution. The same year he began practice in Parish, N. Y., where he remained one year, when he moved to Salem, Ind., and practiced there until Aug., 1864, when he became acting assistant surgeon in the army. While residing at Salem, the rebel Gen. John Morgan, with an army of 3,900 mounted infantry and cavalry made his famous raid through there, burning the railroad depot and levying $1,000 each on all valuable blocks and factories, under penalty of burning them, sacking all stores and shops, stripping the country three miles wide of all horses of any value The rebels took two horses from Dr. Taylor, all he had, the loss of which was keenly felt. He served as acting assistant surgeon at Louisville in Clay Hospital, Branch A, Holston Hospital at Knoxville, Tenn., where, in addi- tion to his duties in the hospital, he had charge of 600 men of the 10th Mich. Cav., doing duty near there, and when Holston Hospital was abandoned, he, with the other surgeons, was transferred to Asylum Hospital. While on duty there he was taken sick, and as soon as sufficiently convalescent to be moved, he was ordered to Louisville, where after a few weeks, as he did not recover so as to be able to resume his duties, he was discharged. Returning to Parish, N. Y., his health being such that he was unable to practice medicine, he opened a drug store, which he supervised for two years, at the end of which time his health being improved he resumed medi- cal practice, and secured competent help to manage the drug business, and since has always retained an interest in one or more such concerns, at present having an in- terest in one here, and one in Denver, Col. He served as supervisor of Parish two terms, 1876 and 1877. In 1878 he moved to Syracuse, where he has since resided, devoting his attention to medical practice when his health would permit. On account of ill health he spent one summer at Manitou Springs, Col., also one summer at Denver, and about six months traveling in California and New Mexico. He was a member of the Washington County, Indiana, and Oswego County (N. Y.) Medical

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Societies, and belongs to the Syracuse Medical Society. In 1862 he married Sarah W. Himes of Oswego, who died March 16, 1889. Their children were Fred Reid, Kate Mae, Max Merdo, Lillian Brady, and Helen Josephine, of whom the two latter are the only ones living.

Tracy, William G., Syracuse, was born April 7, 1843, in Syracuse, where his father, James G. Tracy, settled in 1840, and died in 1850, having been during that period the agent of the Syracuse Co., which owned a large tract of land inside the city limits. He was graduated from the Syracuse High School in 1858, and imme- diately upon the breaking out of the war he enlisted, in April, 1861, in Co. D, 3d N. Y. Vols., Butler's Zouaves, as a private soldier. In Aug., 1861, he was made first lieutenant in the 12th N. Y. Vols., and in Feb., 1862, he was mustered out as a supernumerary officer, upon the consolidation of that regiment with another. Going west he enlisted again in the 10th Ind. Vols., a regiment which had been recently en- gaged in the battle of Mill Spring, Ky., from which he was discharged Oct. 1, 1862, to accept a commission in a New York regiment. Soon afterward he was commis- sioned second lieutenant in the 122d N. Y. Vols., and Major-General Slocum, com- manding the 12th Army Corps, appointed him as one of his aides-de-camp, in which capacity he remained until his final discharge in Oct., 1865. On May 2, 1863, he was wounded at Chancellorsville, a few days later was promoted captain, and subse- quently was brevetted major. He afterwards received a Medal of Honor, presented by the president in the name of Congress, for gallantry in action at the battle of Chancellorsville. Returning from the army he studied law with Sedgwick, Andrews & Kennedy, and was graduated from the Albany Law School in 1867, and admitted to the bar in that city. He began the practice of his profession in Syracuse, and in 1870 became a member of the firm of Sedgwick, Kennedy & Tracy, followed by Kennedy & Tracy, Forbes, Brown & Tracy, Tracy, McLennan & Ayling, and Kennedy, Tracy, Mills & Ayling. He is a director in the Merchants' National Bank and a member of Root Post, G. A. R. His father, James G. Tracy, married Sarah Osgood, one of the early residents of Syracuse, and a sister of Mrs. Hiram Putnam.

Vernon, Leroy, M., D.D., Syracuse, dean of the College of Fine Arts of Syracuse University, was born near Crawfordsville, Ind., in April, 1838, and moved with his parents in the fall of 1852 to Iowa, settling at Mt. Pleasant. He was graduated from the Iowa Wesleyan University in 1860. Early in his college life he was led into the Christian life under the preaching of Rev. Dr. Lucian W. Berry. Some years later he decided to enter the ministry and pursued his studies in the theological de- partment of that institution. In Sept., 1860, with his brother he joined the Iowa Conference of the Methodist Episcopal church, and a little later in the same year married Miss Fannie B., daughter of Dr. Charles Elliott, then president of the Iowa Wesleyan University. In the spring of 1862 he was transferred to the then Missouri and Arkansas Conference, and was made pastor of Trinity M. E. church in St. Louis. The next year he was invited to take the chair of Greek in Mckendree College of Illinois, but declined, and later was appointed presiding elder of the Springfield dis- trict. Late in 1866 he was elected president of St. Charles College at St. Charles, Mo., and in 1868 was a delegate to the General Conference of the M. E. Church at Chicago, being appointed one of the book committee of the church for the ensuing four years. Immediately afterward he went to Europe, and upon his return was

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offered the chair of the Latin language and literature in the State University of Missouri, of which he had been curator, but declined. Deciding to resume the work of the ministry he was appointed pastor of a church in Sedalia, Mo., where his wife died. That year the University of Missouri conferred upon him the degree of D.D. He was then asked to go to Italy. He accepted the call, and in 1871 was appointed by Bishop Ames "Missionary and superintendent of the missionary work of the Methodist Episcopal church in Italy." Before departing, however, he married Emily F. Barker of New York city. In Italy he soon mastered the Italian language, selected Rome as his headquarters, successfully conducted the great work of the church throughout the country, and was instrumental in organizing the Italian Con- ference in the ancient city, which he represented in the General Conference in 1884 and 1888, being chairman of the Committee on Missions in the first of these. He was also delegate to the Ecumencial Methodist Conference in London in 1881. In 1888 he left Rome with his wife and five children, all Roman born, and arriving in New York accepted the pastorate of the First M. E. church of Syracuse, which he held until Jan., 1893, when he was elected dean of the College of Fine Arts of Syracuse University, a position he has since filled with rare ability and distinction. Dr. Vernon has acquired a high reputation as a clergyman, as a lecturer, and as an educator. Eminently qualified by artistic attainments, and possessing the accom- plishments of a thorough scholar, he has successfully filled each with the ability which characterizes a true master.

Woodworth, Andrew J., Syracuse, son of Hiram A. and Emeline Joslin, was born Aug. 12, 1836, at Rome, N. Y. His father was a son of John R., born at Bemis Heights, Saratoga Co., N. Y., April 14, 1789, died April 30, 1859, and Amanda Andrews, born at the same place Oct. 10, 1790, died Oct. 2, 1880. John R. was a son of Ephraim, born in April, 1755, died March 5, 1838, and Anne Moore, born Feb. 2, 1781, died July 18, 1843, at Syracuse, N. Y. Ephraim was a son of Ephraim, born in 1732, died in 1825, and Delight Rowley. In April, 1865, Mr. Woodworth came to Syracuse and formed the firm of Stryker & Woodworth, general insurance agents and special agents of the Equitable Life Insurance Co. In 1874 Mr. Woodworth be- came associated with the Germania Fire Insurance Co. as general agent. Two years later he removed to New York, the home office of the company, in order to better transact his general agency business. He continued in charge of the Germania's business until 1892, when he resigned and traveled some time. In 1894 he returned to Syracuse and formed his present firm of A. J. Woodworth & Co., general agents for the Merchants' Insurance Co. of Newark, N. J., and locally representing a num- ber of companies. Mr. Woodworth is a life member of the St. Nicholas Society of New York city, the Central City Lodge No. 305, F. & A. M., Central City Chapter No. 70, R. A. M., the Citizens' Club, and Business Men's Association. In June, 1859, he married Mary E. Bertram, daughter of Samuel and Lydia Wilkins Bertram of Rome, N. Y. Their only child, Newell B. Woodworth, was admitted to the bar in New York in Sept., 1884, and was successively an assistant in the corporation coun- sel's office of New York and a partner of ex-Judge Ernest Hall until his removal to Syracuse in the spring of 1894, since which time he has been an active practitioner in this city, making insurance and corporation law a specialty.

Worst, George J., Syracuse, was adopted when three years old by his maternal

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grandfather, Jacob Worst, whose name he took, and who came from Herkimer Co. to Syracuse in 1869, where he died Dec. 25, 1883. He was born in Oriskany Falls, N. Y., Dec. 1, 1856, began life as a mechanic, and established business as a grocer in 1883. He soon discontinued this, however, followed various employments for a time, and in 1889 started his present real estate and fire insurance business. He was a charter member of Onondaga Lodge No 190, K. of P., and was a member thereof from 1882 to 1894, and is now a member of Syracuse City Lodge No. 215, K. of P. Oct. 6, 1881, he married Martha W. Lange of Syracuse. They have had three chil- dren: Edna C., Mata E., and Ferdinand G. (deceased).

Whedon, George D., M. D., Syracuse, son of Denison and Sarah (Blodgett) Whedon, was born in Fairmount in the town of Camillus, May 11, 1832. His grandfather, William Whedon, originally came from Hebron, Conn., to Washington Co., N. Y., and thence to Camillus prior to 1800, where he died about 1851. He was a farmer, an extensive cooper in an early day, and served at Sackett's Harbor in the war of 1812. His wife was Susanna Starke, who also died in Camillus. Dennis Whedon, their son, a farmer, cooper, and town officer, an early member of the Pioneers' Asso- ciation. the predecessor of the Onondaga County Historical Society, and a captain in the old State militia, was born in that town Sept. 6, 1806, and died there in 1873. His wife, Sarah Blodgett, of English descent, whose family were from Deerfield, Mass., died in Syracuse Jan. 15, 1892, aged 83. Mr. Whedon descended from Scotch ancestry. Their children were Sarah Eliza (Mrs. William A. Whedon), deceased ; Hattie E. (Mrs. Charles Mitchell), deceased; Dr. George D., of Syracuse; Dr. Albert L., who died in Syracuse in 1892, aged 56; and Oscar P. and Dr. James D., of Syracuse. Dr. George D. Whedon was educated at the old Union School at Fair- mount, finishing at the age of seventeen. At the age of eighteen he began the study of medicine with Dr. M. F. Sweeting, then of Cayuga Co., now of South Butler, Wayne Co,, and took his first course of lectures at the Berkshire Medical College in Pittsfield, Mass. He was graduated from the Albany Medical College on May 30, 1853, and immediately afterward began the practice of his profession in Plainville, N. Y., where he remained nearly two years. He then practiced at South Butler and Rose Valley, Wayne Co., until the breaking out of the Rebellion. From Nov., 1861, to Dec., 1862, he was assistant surgeon of the 10th N. Y. Vol. Cav., and during the latter part of his service he was in charge of the brigade hospital at Falmouth, Va., where he remained until stricken with fever, and being obliged to leave was honor- ably discharged there in Dec., 1862. Recovering his health he moved to Onondaga Hill and practiced medicine for five years, or until Dec., 1867, when he came to Syracuse, where he lias since resided. He was brigade surgeon on General Green's staff until the latter's death. Jan. 15, 1872, Dr. Whedon married Ella Marie, daugh- ter of Horace D. and Mary B. Kellogg, of Winfield, N. Y. They have two daugh- ters, Ethel May and Florence Kellogg.

Waters, William B., Syracuse, is a native of Fabius, Onondaga Co., and was born March 5, 1854. Nathaniel C. Waters, his father, came to that town with his parents from Glastonbury, Conn., about 1812, being then about four years old. His father died soon afterward and his widowed mother reared the family of twelve children, of whom Nathaniel C. was the youngest. He died in 1891. He married Mary Hollenbeck, whose death occurred about 1869, at the age of 52. Their children were Mrs. Marcus

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Fosmer, of Fabius; Mrs. James O). Hulbert, of Tully ; and William B., of Syracuse. He was a prominent farmer, long a respected member of the Baptist church of Fabius, and captain of a uniformed company in the old State militia. William B. Waters was educated in Pompey Academy and Cazenovia Seminary, and began his business life as a clerk in a store in Fabius owned by his father and a brother-in-law. This was at the age of sixteen. Two years later they sold out and young Waters came to Syracuse as a clerk in the grocery store of Thomas Rice, with whom he re- mained two years. He then sold fruit trees on the road during the same length of time through New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Long Island, etc., and after- ward was a clerk for five years for Andrews Brothers, who then had but their one store on James street. Mr. Waters opened the Onondaga street store for them and conducted it as general manager for ten years, owning one-half interest during the last five. May 1, 1893, he formed a co-partnership with Jacob Surbeck & Co. and purchased the old Coville & Morris family supply store of G. A. Morris, of which he has since taken the active management. In 1883 Mr. Waters married Miss Millie A., daughter of S. P. Collins, of Apulia.

Yoe, Richard A., Syracuse, the first clerk of the city of Syracuse, was born in Sing Sing, N. Y., Feb. 14, 1813, and was educated in the common schools and Mount Pleasant Academy in that village. At the age of sixteen he went to New York city and was employed in the hardware business, but in 1830 he came to Syracuse, where he entered the employ of Elam Lynds & Son, hardware dealers on the site of the Wieting block. After an experience of six years there he engaged in the same busi- ness for himself under the firm name of Yoe & Bleeker, on East Genesee street, in which he continued for two years, when he sold out. He served as tax collector and later as superintendent of streets and village clerk. In 1841 he was appointed deputy postmaster under Henry Raynor, but resigned at the end of one year, when Tyler became president, on account of having been a strong Clay supporter. After this for two years he was engaged in salt manfacturing. In 1848 he became the first clerk of the city of Syracuse, an office he subsequently resigned to accept the position of canal superintendent, which he held two years. In 1851 he was employed to dredge the outlet of ( nondaga Lake. He was present at the famous Jerry Rescue, and soon afterward went to Chicago, where he engaged in the hardware and leather business by the firm of Gurnee & Yoe. He thence went to Peoria, Ill., and embarked in the same trade under the style of D. Gurnee & Co., and was later appointed by President Lincoln a member of the board of enrollment for the Fifth District of Illi- nois, serving in that capacity until the close of the war. Returning to Syracuse, he he was freight agent of the Syracuse and Oswego Railroad in 1867-78, a position he resigned to take charge of the entire real estate and other business interests of Aus- tin Myers, a post he has ever since faithfully filled, having had sole charge of this estate since the death of the owner. He has made this his principal business since the war closed, and in addition to the Myers property he has successfully adjusted other estates. He has two sons; Edward P., in the Syracuse post-office, and Harry C., who has been in business with his father since 1883.

Soper, William S., Syracuse, son of William S. and Lucy (Addison) Soper, was born in Geneva, N. Y., Oct. 5, 1844, and when two years of of age he came with his parents to Seneca Falls, N. Y., where he was reared and educated. After clerking

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for a short time in a drug store he entered the hardware store of Langworthy & Burt in Seneca Falls, where he remained thirteen years. There he learned the business, including the trade of tinsmith, and served a while as foreman of the tin and repair shop. In 1873 he came to Syracuse and established his present business at 620 South West street, where he has built up a large trade as a dealer in stoves, sheet iron, repairs, etc. Mr. Soper was a charter member of Ossahinta Lodge, No. 153, A. O. U. W., of which he is now receiver, and is also a member of the Royal Arcanum. He is interested in real estate in the the village of Seneca Falls. In 1868 he married Miss Ellen Halsey, daughter of Hildredge Halsey, an early and prominent settler at Nichols Corners, two and one-half miles north of Seneca Falls, and they have three children: Fred W. (in business with his father), Cora E., and Luther H.

Fox, Royal E., Syracuse, chief paymaster of the Solvay Process Company, was born in Rochester, N. Y., May 14, 1843, and when very young moved with his parents to Oswego, where he was educated. He became an office boy with Dewitt Crane in the ship chandler business and later was in the British vice-consul's office; from there he went to New York city, and when the 24th Infantry containing a number of his schoolmates left Oswego in 1861 he joined them at Arlington Heights. Upon the expiration of his term of service in that regiment be re-enlisted as a sergeant in the 24th N. Y. Cavalry and was honorably discharged at the close of the war, and arriv- ing home was brevetted first lieutenant by the governor of the State. Returning to Oswego Mr. Fox was in the custom house for about three years and also in busi- ness for himself a short time. He then came to Syracuse, where he has since resided, and where he was for several years a bookkeeper. Soon after the inception of the Solvay Process Company he became its paymaster, a position he still holds. In the understanding of the Christian religion, Mr. Fox is a Christian Scientist.

Pratt, Henry Otis, Syracuse, son of Otis and Sarah (Fowler) Pratt, was born near Wales, Mass., Nov. 6, 1837, and at an early age learned the trade of shoemaker, which he followed for several years. On May 29, 1860, he married Miss Mary Jones, of Utica, N. Y., and shortly afterward moved to Rome, Oneida county, where his wife died Feb. 21, 1868, leaving two children: Mary Isabella, wife of Dr. James E. Cummings, a prominent dentist in Syracuse, and Henry Eugene, who was born Aug. 23, 1864. In Rome Mr. Pratt engaged in the manufacture of men's boots and shoes, a business he successfully conducted until 1868, when he moved to Syracuse. Here he established a boot and shoe manufactory in the present Washington block, on the corner of South Salina and East Jefferson streets, where he remained three years, when he removed to the new block, old Nos. 5 and ? East Jefferson street. While there James R. Barrett became his partner under the firm name of H. O. Pratt & Barrett. Mr. Pratt sold his interest to Mr. Barrett in the winter of 1875 and imme- diately established himself at what is now 220 West Washington street, where he continued until his death, which occurred Feb. 28, 1893. Mr. Pratt at one time was one of the leading boot and shoe manufacturers in Syracuse. He employed a large number of hands and carried on an extensive wholesale trade throughout the eastern States. He was for twenty-one years a prominent member of Salt Springs Lodge, No. 520, F. & A. M., and for seventeen years held office in that body, ten of which he served it as treasurer. Feb. 24, 1875, he married, second, Miss Alice M. Parker,

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of Verona, Oneida Co., who, with two daughters, Alice Olivia and Edith Lolisa, survives him and resides in Syracuse.

Alden, S. H., Baldwinsville, was born in Verona, Oneida Co., Aug. 1, 1813, son of Samuel, who was born in Connecticut, and a descendant of the John Alden family of the old Puritan stock. Samuel Alden settled in Oneida in 1810 and married Betsey, daughter of Moses Brown. He enlisted in the war of 1812 and went to Sackett's Harbor and remained until the elose of the war. He then entered into contract with the U. S. government to finish a war vessel, the New Orleans, and while there he died in 1815, aged 35 years. S. H. Alden was educated in the com- mon schools. He married Eleeta J. Cary, who died in 1877. In 1878 he married Mrs. Sarah M. Pierce. Mr. Alden is one of the'representative men of the town, tak- ing an active interest in church and school work. He was one of the founders of the First National Bank of Baldwinsville and helped build the First Methodist church in 1844; also was one of the trustees of the present Methodist church, which was built in 1866 and cost $3,800. He was also assessor of the town of Lysander for some twenty years.

Abbott, Lewis Bradley, Baldwinsville, was born in Cayuga Co., May 10, 1845. His father, Solomon, came from Albany Co. to Onondaga Co. in 1825, and married Susan, daughter of George White. They had six children, three of whom are now living: Mrs. Mary Pettitt, Mrs. Jane Tucker, and Lewis B. Solomon, after owning several farms, two of which were in Cayuga Co., purchased the Goodoneer prop- erty and continued farming. He was also a local preacher in the M. E. church. Ile died in 1872, aged 61 years. Lewis B. was educated in the common schools and fin- ished at Falley Seminary, after which he returned to his father's farm. He married Augusta E. Howlett, who died in 1879. In 1882 he married Helen S., daughter of Jesse Frazee, and is the father of four children: J. J. Hollis, Mrs. Nettie Meach, Mrs. Jennie Kelley, Mrs. Elsie Reinhardt. On the death of his father he inherited the estate. He is one of the representative men of his town. He has been superinten- dent of the Sabbath school of the M. E. church or Whiter Chapel, Cold Spring, for nearly thirty years; he is also steward. He has been chorister for thirty-three years.

Adsit, Theodore, Baldwinsville, was born in the town of Lysander, July 25, 1847, son of Franklin Adsit, a native of Saratoga Co. The family were of English descent and came to Onondaga Co. in 1834. Theodore was educated in the common schools. He married Jennie A., daughter of Moses Morey, by whom he had two children : Eva and Ora. He is a prominent farmer of the town and owns a fine farm of ninety acres, making a specialty of tobacco.

Bigelow, Col. Payn, Baldwinsville, was born at Fort Miller, Washington Co., Oct. 6, 1814, and came to Baldwinsville when an infant with his father, Judge Otis Bigelow, who became a leading man in the town. Payn was educated at the Homer Academy, after leaving which he went into business with his father, the firm being (). Bigelow & Son, doing a general business for many years, where the Upson block now stands. He married Hannah, daughter of Judge David Munro, of Camillus, and they have eleven children, five of whom are now living. At the death of his father Payn moved from his farm into the village of Baldwinsville, and in 1875 or- ganized the State Bank of Baldwinsville, of which he was president at the time of

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Onondaga's centennial. Gleanings of a century, Vol. II, Part 60

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