Onondaga's centennial. Gleanings of a century, Vol. II, Part 76

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 76

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).

Griffin, John E., Marcellus, was born in Montezuma, Cayuga Co., April 2, 1865, a son of Stores M., and Lucy (Ebbon) Griffin. Mrs. Lucy (Ebbon) Griffin died in Marcellus May 9, 1891. Stores M. Griffin still resides in the village. John E. Grif- fin came to Marcellus with his parents, at the age of three years, where he was edu- cated, and later began work in the woolen mills, serving as apprentice five years. He has since been employed by the Crown Mills, and has worked his way up in the woolen business until he now has charge of the wool sorting department in the Crown Mills. He takes a prominent part in politics, and ran for trustee of the vil- lage on a ticket pledged for general improvements, sidewalks, streets, etc. How well Mr. Griffin discharged his trust is shown by the fact that the sidewalks of Mar- cellus are superior to those found in any other place of equal size in the county. After serving four years as trustee, Mr. Griffin was elected in 1894 president of the village.

Hooper, Samuel C., Marcellus, is the son of Charles and Esther Hooper, of Stroud, Gloucestershire, England, and was born Jan. 23, 1819. He was educated in Eng- land and learned cabinetmaking. In 1848 Mr. Hooper came to this country and direct to Marcellus, where he has since resided, conducting during this period cabinetmak- ing and the manufacture of coffins and caskets. He has seen many changes in the

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business, in the early days he made all his goods himself, but now much of it is pur- chased from large factories. His business has taken in Marcellus, and the bordering towns. There is only one man living in the corporation now who was an adult at the time Mr. Hooper came here. Our subject married Clara Gallup, by whom he had four children: Charles, James, Henry, who died aged eight, and one who died in infancy. Charles is a cabinetmaker in Norfolk, Va., and James is a carpenter and joiner, also raises fruit, being located in San Diego, Cal. Our subject married second, Adelphi Balcombe, a native of the town of Onondaga.

Kennedy, John C., Marcellus, was born in Syracuse March 5, 1846, a son of John and Catherine Kennedy. The family moved to Marcellus in 1861, when our subject began work in the woolen mills. He has been engaged in farming, railroading, and teaming, in addition to his experience in the woolen business. He is now foreman in the finishing room of the lower mills of the Crown plant. Mr. Kennedy married Catherine Conry, by whom he has five children: Charles J., Mary E., Catherine J., William F. and George H.

May, Richard B., Marcellus, was born in Marcellus, July 11, 1849, a son of Sayles R. and Louisa May. The former was born in Cazenovia, Feb. 4, 1805, where he fol- lowed farming; he afterwards moved to Marcellus and died Oct. 2, 1876. Richard B. May was educated in Marcellus and Onondaga Valley, then engaged in farming, at which he has worked ever since. The homestead has been in the family for three generations and is in a good state of cultivation. Mr. May is prominent in local politics and takes great interest in the events of the day. He married Susan Ed- wards of Marcellus, by whom he has two children, Lucina, aged 16, and Sayles R., aged 15.

Mills, George C., Marcellus, is a son of Timothy and Polly (Wilsie) Mills and was born in Marcellus, where he has always lived, April 9, 1843. Timothy, son of Isaac Mills, was a native of Saratoga Co., N. Y., and came to Marcellus with his parents when a mere child. He died here Dec. 4, 1888; his wife's death occurred in Feb., 1892. Isaac Mills was a soldier in the war of 1812. All were farmers and repre- sentative men of their time. George C. Mills married Eliza J. Finch and had born to him three children: Frank B., whose portrait and biography appears elsewhere in this volume; William E., who is now postmaster at Rose Hill; and George, who died in infancy. Mr. Mills is a substantial farmer at Rose Hill in the southern part of the town of Marcellus.

Merrill, Andrew J., Marcellus, born Sept. 11, 1864, in Marcellus, son of Jason and Lovina Merrill. Jason Merrill was born in Otisco, Aug. 20, 1828, and died July 29, 1891. He was a resident of Marcellus forty-one years. He was always interested in church work, was ordained deacon in the Presbyterian church in 1873, and held that office until his death in 1891, and was also Sunday school superintendent or teacher during his entire residence in Marcellus. He was justice of the peace and noted as a sheep raiser in addition to conducting a large farm, raising the Spanish merino, full blood, registered. These sheep were a very valuable grade and Mr. Merrill was known throughout the State for the value of his product. Andrew J. Merrill was educated in Marcellus and Canandaigua and finished in Munro Collegiate Institute in Elbridge. He now conducts the farm which his father made noted for fine sheep.

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He is also raising some good cows in full blood Jersey stock. Mr. Merrill married Maud F. Armstrong, of Syracuse, by whom he has two children: Ethel Mand and Henry Jason.

Mogg, L. N., Marcellus, was born in Clay, Aug. 10, 1849, a son of Cornelius and Lovina (Andrews) Mogg. Cornelius operated a steam saw mill and conducted a farm at Euclid. He was born in Clay, Dec. 20, 1820, and is now retired from active business. Our subject was educated in Clay and at Falley Seminary, Fulton, and began teaching in Clay. He next taught in Howlett Hill, then at Brewerton, and then became principal of the school in Marcellus, which position he occupied seven years. Resigning in 1881 he entered the manufacturing business, and the same year engaged with the Crown Mills, as bookkeeper and paymaster. Mr. Mogg had a long experience in this village as an educator, becoming widely and favorably known as such, and has been equally successful in his business life. He married Marie, daughter of John Strong, of Turin, and they have one daughter, Elizabeth Lovina.

Merrill, James Watson, Marcellus, was born in New Hartford, Litchfield Co., Conn., Dec. 21, 1823, son of Andrew Merrill and Amanda Dowd. Andrew was born in New Hartford Co., Conn., where he lived until he was twenty-eight years old, when he removed to Syracuse and was burned out, losing all his effects. He then began selling fanning mills at which he was very successful and also conducted a farm at the same time. He was justice of the peace and also associate judge. He died Feb. 9, 1875, aged 75. James M. Merrill was educated in Onondaga Valley and Homer, and then went to manufacturing fanning mills, at which he continued ten years. He then engaged in farming, purchasing the farm where he now resides. Mr. Mer- rill raises some fine stock in Jersey and Guernsey cows, and his farm is a fine one, all under a good state of cultivation. He married Mary Celestia, daughter of Clark Bentley. Mr. Merrill was married in the village of Fayetteville by President Cleve- land's father. He has three children: Emma, Clark, and May.

Morton, Hugh, Marcellus, was born in Darwell, Scotland, Dec. 5, 1842, and came to Waterloo at the age of about four years. Arriving at maturity he learned the trade of dresser, and worked in Seneca Falls, Skaneateles Falls, Waverly, Skancate- les, and Marcellus. Later he went to Vedersville, Va., where he followed farming for a short time. For the past fifteen years he has worked in the Marcellus Woolen Mills as dresser. He also owns a farm, which he conducts in addition to his busi- ness. Our subject has one son, Adelbert S., aged 21, and one daughter, Gertrude, aged 17.

Northrup, Joel G., of Marcellus, is one of the most prominent mechanics and a highly respectable citizen. He was born Feb. 8, 1807, in Woodbridge, New Haven Co., Conn., and is descended through Benjamin, Job, John, Daniel, to Ester, on the maternal side from Samuel Sherman, who came from England in 1634 and was the ancestor also of the late General Sherman and his brother, United States Senator Sherman. By trade Mr. Northrup was shoemaker, but had a taste for me- chanics also. He came from his native place to Cortland Co., this State, in April, 1828, where he pursued his trade for about sixteen years. In 1844 he removed to Syracuse, and thereafter engaged in mechanical pursuits. In 1851 his attention was

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called to an offer by Mr. Bruce of a prize of $1,000 for the construction of a printing press. Our subject had previously invented a press, while working at his trade in Cortland. He determined to enter the lists, being convinced that he could do so successfully, and the result proved his conviction good. His press more than equaled the conditions of the offer, printing 1,000 copies per hour instead of the 500 specified in the paper, and Mr. Northrup received the certificate, which was signed by many of the leading men of the time, and appeared in full in the New York Tribune, with editorial comments by Horace Greeley. The result of this was, that before our sub- ject could get a company and one press built, he had thirty orders for presses. After continuing the manufacture of this press in Oneida until 1855, he went to Bridgeport, Conn., and began the same manufacture, remaining three years, selling his presses to the most prominent newspaper offices in the country, his trade extending also to Canada. In 1858 Mr. Northrup bought a farm at Marcellus, where he has since lived, and where in 1885 he built his web perfecting press. Mr. Northrup has one daughter, Mrs. James D. Mather. Mr. Northrup's father was Hezekiah, son of Joel, whose father was Joel a captain in the Revolution. This carries the family back to 1691.

Rich, Curtis L., Marcellus, was born in Medina Co., Ohio, Sept. 2, 1838, son of Edward and Lorette A. Rich. Edward came from England when eighteen years of age. Lorette A. Rich was the daughter of Col. Dorastus Lawrence. Edward Rich settled on the town line west of Marcellus and continued to reside in the county till his death. Curtis L., the subject, was educated in Marcellus, and Skaneateles and Jordan Academies, then volunteered in the late Civil war and went to the front with Co. F, 122d Regiment, and served till the close of the war. Mr. Rich was in twenty- four engagements and skirmishes, among others being Antietam, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg and in the Valley under Sheridan, taking in many of the principal bat- tles of the war. Mr. Rich was wounded but once. After the war he engaged in farming. He married Celia, daughter of Joel Dunbar, by whom he has two children, Edward D. and Annie M. Edward is at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute at Troy, and Annie is living at home.

Rhodes, Thomas, Marcellus, was born in Cambridge, Washington Co. Feb. 4, 1807, a son of John and Hester (Jackson) Rhodes. The former was a manufacturer, and conducted a woolen mill in Marcellus. He was born in 1760 and died in 1826. Thomas, our subject, came to this town at the age of nine years, went to Cazenovia to school, and supported himself, paying his own way through school. He first went to work in the woolen factory at Marcellus after completing his studies, and later bought a half interest in a mill at Marcellus Falls. This he conducted four years, sold out, and bought a farm in Jordan. Here he remained twenty eight years, then sold his farm at a profit of $11,000. He has speculated largely in real estate, espe- cially farming lands, and also operated in railroad stock. For the past twenty-five years Mr. Rhodes has been out of active work, though he enjoys fair health and a mind of unimpaired vigor. April 17, 1831, he married Emily, daughter of Andrew and Charity Shepard, by whom he has six children: Thomas W., of Milwaukee; Antoinette, who married Albert Howland; Frances, who married Cyrus Sweet, a former surrogate of Syracuse, since deceased; Theodore F., who is president of the Citizens' Bank of Frankfort, Kan .; Mary, who married Dr. John Coles, of Cam-

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bridge, Neb .; and J. Edson, a Methodist clergyman, of Skaneateles. Ilis father died April 4, 1895, of apoplexy within one hour from the time he was taken. Just before the stroke he had written a business letter and the address on the envelope gave no sign of sudden dissolution, his mind being good till stricken. He was 88 years 2 months old.

Rutherford, William, Marcellus, was born in Galashiels, Selkirkshire, Scotland, in May, 1852, a son of James Rutherford. He learned the trade of dyeing in his native town, celebrated for its woolen manufactures, and passed through the various grades up to that of head dyer. This district of Scotland has supplied to the woolen manu- facture of this country some of its principal artisans. Mr. Rutherford now conducts and has sole charge of the dyeing department of the celebrated Crown Mills of Mar- cellus. He married Mary Ann Grant, and they have six children living: James Charles, Elizabeth, Ann Ethel, Austin Grant, Mabel Scott, and Mary Beatrice.

Slocombe, Sidney, Marcellus, was born in England, Dec. 18, 1856, son of Samuel and Elizabeth Slocombe. Subject came to Marcellus in the spring of 1873, began as an apprentice and spent three and one-half years as an apprentice and journeyman at his trade of tinsmith. He then started in business in Marcellus for himself, and his business has gradually increased every year. He has a large store containing a fine line of stoves, agricultural implements and hardware, also has large store rooms in addition to his large store. Mr. Slocombe's trade is a large one and extends all through the town. He married Urena Nettleton, daughter of Samuel Stafford Net- tleton, of Arnprior province of Ontario, Canada. They have four children: Chester A., Blanche, Frederick S. and Mary E.

Seeley, George T., Marcellus, was born in Skaneateles, Nov. 8, 1832, a son of An- son and Mary (Talbot) Seeley, aunt of Charles Thomas Talbot of Lowell, Mass. An- son Seeley was born in Dutchess Co., then moved to the town of Skaneateles where he always lived, and owned and conducted a farm in that town until the time of his death, May 18, 1856. His wife died April 11, 1881. George T. Seeley was educated in Skaneateles and came to reside in Marcellus in 1864, where he bought the farm on which he has since resided. Mr. Seeley's farm consists of fine land under a high state of cultivation, but it may more properly be called a stock farm, as he raises Percheron horses and also French coach. There is nothing finer in this line than the stock Mr. Seeley raises, of which he sells a considerable number each year. He married Sarah, daughter of John Davey of Skaneateles, and they have had four chil- dren: Edward Anson, a graduate from Harvard College, who was born in Marcellus in 1863 and died March 10, 1891, in South Dakota, aged 28; Ida E., who is living at Rose Hill; Frank Talbot and Hattie M., who are living at home.

Share, I. A., Marcellus, was born in La Fayette, Dec. 13, 1846, son of J. D. Share. The latter is a farmer, residing on a farm one mile west of the village. Our subject began life at farming and then went into the furniture business, and was superin- tendent of Hooper's furniture factory, located first at Marcellus and afterward re- moved to Fort Edward. He married Nellie F. Jones, and has two children, Minnie May and Mabel L. Mrs. Share died in Feb. 1883, and Mr. Share married Nellie Burlington of Marcellus. In 1891 he gave up the furniture business and returned to Marcellus and engaged as machinist in the Crown Mills No. 2.

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Stearns, John N., Marcellus, was born in Sheldon, Franklin Co., Vt. April 13, 1856, son of George H .. who was born in Sheldon in 1826 and died in 1860. John N. Stearns came to Marcellus in 1880 and commenced business in a small drug store. This business has gradually increased, until at the present time Mr. Stearns occupies the two largest stores in Marcellus. He carries a full line of drugs, paints, oils, etc., while adjoining and communicating with this store is another equal in size, where Mr. Stearns carries a full line of dry goods, groceries, hardware, etc. This business, among the largest to be found in any village of Onondaga Co., has been built up by our subject in the comparatively short time of fourteen years. He has been twice elected to the office of town clerk, and is now serving his second term. He is also treasurer of the corporation. He married Emma C., daughter of B. D. Bacon of Essex Co., and has two children Jessie B. and J. Maxwell.

Stuckey, George, Marcellus, was born in Keinton, Somersetshire, England, Sept. 17, 1829, son of William and Mary Stuckey. The family came to Skaneateles in 1842 and engaged in farming. The following year they removed to Onondaga Valley and lived two years, then returned to Skaneateles, where they remained for three years, and then settled in Marcellus where William Stuckey died. Subject was edu- cated in Onondaga Valley and Skaneateles, then went to farming and finally pur- chased his present homestead in 1854. By additional purchases he has increased the size of his farm to over 200 acres, most all under a good state of cultivation. He married Fidelia Royce of Marcellus, who died in Jan. 1892. He has three children : Ida, who married J. F. De Coudres of Syracuse; William W., who is conducting a a farm for his father, and Lewis S., who assists his father on the homestead.

Sarr, Frank L., Marcellus, was born in Marcellus, March 31, 1860, a son of James Sarr, the retired builder, and one of the chief merchants of this town, whose sketch appears elsewhere. Frank L., was educated in Marcellus, then began work at car- pentry. Leaving this line, he engaged in the woolen mill, where he remained ten years. He is foreman of the carding department of the lower mills of the Crown plant. Mr. Sarr married Belle, daughter of James Anderson, one of the veterans of the late war, who participated in many of its principal battles, and a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Sarr have two children: Fred J. and Edna.

Sarr, James, Marcellus, was born in Cayuga Co., May 2, 1831, a son of William and Sarah (Van Waggoner) Sarr. William was born in 1803 in Sullivan Co., went to Skaneateles in 1822, and from there to Otisco, later removing to Marcellus, where he died in 1882. His father, John, was a Revolutionary soldier. Our subject was edu- cated in the public schools and at the age of fifteen came to Marcellus, where he learned the carpenter's trade, at which he worked for several years, then began building. He built the Methodist church at Marcellus, the Episcopal church (since burned), the large grist mills located at the Falls, also the Crown Mills, a fine brick edifice which will rank among the largest in the county, and has also put up many structures in different parts of the county. After building for about twenty-five years he retired and engaged in the sale of general merchandise, which he has fol- lowed far the past sixteen years, having the largest and oldest business in the town of Marcellus. Mr. Sarr has served on the School Board for sixteen years, and also as justice of the peace. He has been deeply interested in education, and it was

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largely through his efforts that the new school building and high school department were established. The structure is a fine one, and the school is graded into eleven departments. Mr. Sarr's efforts in behalf of this school are highly appreciated by his townspeople, and he has been elected president of the Board of Trustees. He married first Alice Carr, and had four children: William H., Robert J., Frank L., and Nellie A. Mrs. Sarr died in 1885 and he married second Mrs. Julia Jackson.

Wiltsie, Frank A., Marcellus, was born in Marcellus Aug. 26, 1845, son of Marsh and Julia S. Wiltsie. John Wiltsie, father of Marsh, was among the first settlers in the county, before there were any roads, when every farmer carried his grain on his back and blazed the trees to mark paths. He cleared the farm on which his son Marsh resided and cultivated to the time of his death. One-half of his farm is now owned and conducted by the grandson of John Wiltsie. Our subject was educated in Skaneateles and Homer Academy, and then engaged in farming. Mr. Wiltsie has a fine farm under excellent cultivation. The family is among the oldest and best known in the county.

Woodford, Justus Monroe, Marcellus, was born in Pompey, July 17, 1890, son of Hervey M. and Candace (Beach) Woodford. Hervey M. was born in Connecticut and moved to Pompey when he was sixteen years of age, where he residrd till his death in 1876, aged 82. Subject was educated in Pompey and removed to Marcellus in 1844, and has always followed farming. Mr. Woodford's farm consists of 193 acres, under a fine state of cultivation. He married Almeda, daughter of Oliver Hovey of Marcellus, by whom he has five children: Henrietta, Josephine, Dwight B., who is in the real estate business in Syracuse; Alice, who married Homer Austin of Onondaga, since deceased; and Hervey M. Mr. Woodford is very active in Re- publican political affairs, and works very hard for the success of his party.

White, William B., Marcellus, was born in Marcellus, April 14, 1826, a son of Jeremiah G. B. and Lois White. The former was a native of Washington Co. and was a hatter and also a farmer in this town. He was born in 1794, came to the town of Marcellus about 1818, and died here Nov. 23, 1873. William B. was educated at Marcellus, and at the academy in Jordan, and started in the stove and tin business in this town in January, 1848, which he has ever since conducted, being the oldest merchant in Marcellus. He married Catherine, daughter of David Bonta, of Syra- cuse, and has three children: Harry B., Fred G., and Howard, all now in school.

Welsh, Robert, Marcellus, was born in Galashiels, Selkirkshire, Scotland, June 22, 1861. He went into the woolen manufacturing business in the world renowned man- ufacturing center of Galashiels, working his way through all the departments of the woolen manufacturing business up to designer, in which he had a large experience in some of the principal manufactories in the south of Scotland. In Sept., 1888, he came to Marcellus and went to work in the Crown mills, as designer and assistant superintendent. He married in the old country Mary Scott, also a native of Scot- land, and has four children, James, Henry, Agnes Helen and Mary Roberta. Mrs. Welsh is a daughter of Henry Scott of The Burn, Lilliesleaf, Selkirkshire, Scotland. Mr. Welsh takes an interest in religious matters, and is superintendent of the Pres- byterian Sunday school in Marcellus.

Abbe, Hart, Onondaga, was born in Solon, Cortland Co., in 1817, and when two

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years old his mother (Nancy Welch) died and he went to live with his grandfather Welch. He settled in this town in 1853, coming to his present farm about 1870. His father was Charles Abbe, a native of Connecticut, who was one of the early settlers of Cortland Co. He was a stone cutter by trade, and died in Canada about 1827. His children were: Phineas, Henry C., Miranda and Hart. Hart married Catharine Fisher, and their children were: Ida, George, Chester, Jennie and Lucius, of whom George is married and the father of three children, Ethel M. (deceased), Eloise and George P .; Ida who married, and died, leaving six children, Myron H., Erwin C., Roy W., Elsie L., Garth A. and Florence C. Sherman; and Jennie has one child, Alfred Fay. Mr. Abbe is the owner of a fine place of 100 acres, devoted to grain raising.

Bowen, Edgar, Onondaga, the owner of a fine farm of 113 acres, was born in Mar- cellus in 1841 and came to this town about 1870. He is a son of Rensselaer Bowen, a native of Marcellus, born in 1812, who died in 1857. He was a son of Col. Elijah Bowen, of Connecticut, who settled in this county early in its history. The father of our subject married Mary J. Rathburn, and their children were: Le Roy, Juliette, Edgar, William K., and Laura. Edgar married Amelia, daughter of Otis and Rosina (Hall) Annable, whose children are: Amelia, Hannah, Ruby Mary, Emma, Ella. Orin and Julius. Mr. and Mrs. Bowen have children as follows: William K., Laura, Jennie, Le Roy, and Ralph. William K. married Anna Belle Smith, by whom he has two children: Pearl and Floyd; Jennie married William Hannam and has one child, Edgar.

Broad, William G., Onondaga, keeper of the Onondaga County Poorhouse, was born in this town. In Nov. 1861, he enlisted in the 3d Missouri Cavalry, serving three years. He received an honorable discharge Nov. 23, 1864, and was appointed to his present position Jan. 1, 1894. He is a son of Robert Broad, a native of Eng- land, who settled in this town about 1835. He married Florence D. Tucker, a daughter of John N. Tucker, who printed the first newspaper ("The Star") published in Syracuse. Gad M. Lawrence, Mrs. Broad's maternal grandfather, a native of Massachusetts, settled in this town in 1809 and helped to build the Genesee Turnpike when he first came here. Mr. and Mrs. Broad have four children : C. Elma, George B., Irving J., and William R. Broad.

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Onondaga's centennial. Gleanings of a century, Vol. II, Part 76

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