Onondaga's centennial. Gleanings of a century, Vol. II, Part 93

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 93

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department in clerical work. In the latter part of 1861 he assumed charge of the D., L. & W. coal business, shipping yards at Geddes, which he conducted until the spring of 1863. Mr. Beecher has always been a stalwart Democrat in politics, and in recognition of his party fealty, and his clerical ability and well-known integrity, he was elected city clerk in 1863. At the close of his term he engaged as bookkeeper for the Onondaga Salt Company for two years, after which he was assistant secre- tary of the company under the late John W. Baker until 1872. He associated him- self with Henry M. Bancroft in general insurance business, in which he continued about three years exclusively, and a few years longer in connection with other busi- ness interests. In 1881 he took charge of the office business of Pierce, Butler & Pierce, continuing it until his appointment as cashier in the internal revenue office under William A. Beach in 1886. He remained nine months with Mr. Beach's suc- cessor, after which he was idle for a time, and later took charge of the office of C. A. Wheeler & Co., and remained there until his appointment as chief deputy in the in- ternal revenue office under William A. Beach, Sept. 15, 1894. For the arduous and responsible duties of this position no man could be better equipped than Mr. Beecher, and in all the various capacities here briefly mentioned he has shown sterling busi- ness qualifications, unswerving integrity, and unflagging fealty to the interests com- mitted to his care. He made a brilliant though unsuccessful run for county clerk in 1872, and another for assessor seven years later, his defeat following necessarily through the usual Republican majorities. He was the organizer and captain of the first Flambeau club in Central New York-the Mcclellan Redcoats. He has many times served as a member of ward and city committees, and once as secretary of the County Committee. He was conspicuous in the conduct of the local Cleveland-Hen- dricks campaign in 1885. He was honored in 1885 with election as supervisor of the Seventh ward, when he received 185 votes over a popular Republican candidate in a ward that was usually 170 Republican. In that office he was made chairman of the committee of judge's and surrogate's accounts, and member of the committees on highways and roads, and equalization and jurisprudence. Mr. Beecher is one of the original members of the old Syracuse Citizens' Corps, served fifteen years in the National Guard, and had the rank of major on Gen. D. H. Bruce's staff. On March 16, 1863, Mr. Beecher married Malvina E. Park Cuddeback (adopted daughter of the late Joshua C. Cuddeback, her uncle), daughter of Thomas Park, now of Michigan. She was born Aug. 4, 1832. and through her grandmother on her mother's side, Jane Coleman, is descended from De Witt Clinton. In the best of social circles of Syra- cuse Mr. and Mrs Beecher have long been warmly welcomed. They have had five

children : Eva L., born March 8, 1854, married George W. Baxter, jr., and has two children: Robert A. and Caroline N. ; William N., born Sept. 13, 1857, died March 14, 1878; Philip M., born July 8, 1861, married Nellie Hfoyt, and has four children ; Frank Carroll, born Jan. 14, 1864, married Ellen Crabtree; and George W., born Jan. 28, 1866, died Aug. 28, 1866.

Morse, Harvey, Manlius, was born in New Haven Co., Connecticut, June 15, 1824. Street H., his father, was a native of Connecticut and came to this State when Harvey was a child, locating in Chenango Co. He afterwards moved to Madison Co., where he died. He was a farmer. Harvey, the tenth of a family of eleven children, was educated in the common schools and Weathersfield Academy. After leaving school he followed various employments until 1839, when he came to this

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county and after a short time spent in a hotel, he engaged as foreman on public works in the State of Maine. He remained there four years, then was a contractor on the Binghamton Railroad for three years. He then engaged in the manufacture of wagons for one year, then spent a year furnishing wood for the N. Y. C. R. R. Co. In 1855 he bought a farm of 10 acres in the town of Manlius, which he has by his good management increased to 20 acres. All the buildings on the farm are of his erection. He pays special attention to the cultivation of fruit and tobacco. In 1854 Mr. Morse married Sarah M. Crandall, of Manlius, by whom has one child: Nettie L., a graduate of Fayetteville Academy.

Munroe, George W., Manlius, was born in Kirkville, Jan. 5, 1856. William H., his father, was a native of the town of Sullivan, son of a farmer, George Munroe. William H. was given a good common school education and was for a number of years clerk and bookkeeper in a store at Kirkville. At the age of thirty he took up the trade of blacksmith, which he followed up to the time of his death, which occur- red Feb. 27, 1867. He was for a number of years constable of the town. He was four times married and George W. was a son of his third wife, whose maiden name was Irene Rose. After her death, which occurred in March, 1860, he married Sarah M. Steele, widow of James, who died June 1894, aged 73 years. George W. was given a good common school and business education, then entered the store of James A. Brown as clerk, with whom he remained until 17 years old. He was then for one year at Chittenango Station and was also with Stephen Headson for one season. After one year with I. H. Leyden, clothier, of Syracuse, in company with James C. Otman, he bought the Kirkville Hotel, which was then called the Munroe House. They conducted the hotel until April 1, 1892, when they sold out to Charles A. Plop- per. After selling the hotel, Mr. Munroe was for seven months a conductor on the People's Line in Syracuse, but since that time has devoted himself to the care of his property. He was appointed census enumerator in 1892. He is clerk of the Univer- salist church, also clerk of the district.

Lansing, H. H., Manlius, was born in Greene, Chenango Co., and came to Fay- etteville in 1884. His father, Peter Lansing, came to the town in 1883. Mrs. Lansing was a daughter of Asel Wilcox and at the settling of the estate, she took the mill and plaster bed as her portion of the property. The mill is located in the town of Dewitt, capacity about 7,000 tons per year, and employs twenty men when running. The plaster bed has an area of about 24 acres, opening on both sides of the hill. The mill is about one mile and one-half from the bed. They also furnish other mills with the rock for grinding. Mrs. Lansing supplies all of John Behan's, part of Bangs & Gaynor, and other mills. Mr. Lansing was for nve years engaged in the mercantile business in Chicago.

Leach, Mortimer W., Manlius, was born in the town of Manlius, April 17, 1847. George Leach, his father, was a native of Poughkeepsie and came to this town early in the forties, where he followed the shoemaker's trade. Mortimer W., the second of a family of four children, began for himself at the age of fifteen, working in a nursery for eight years. He then bought a farm containing 115 acres, the greater portion of which was devoted to the cultivation of nursery stock. He made his home on this farm up the time of his death, which occurred Aug. 16, 1892. Mr. Leach was at the time of his death warden of the Trinity church, He held many

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offices of trust and honor, was for two years road commissioner, and one term collector of the town. Sept. 11, 1879, Mr. Leach married Lena A., daughter of Lucius Hub- bard, a farmer, now a resident of Fayetteville.

Loomis, Luther M., Manlius, was born Aug. 10, 1797. April 27, 1824, he married Emeline Steadman. He followed farming and made his home at Oran until after the close of the war. He then moved to Erie, where he remained for a few years, and then moved to Buffalo, where he died in Feb., 1875. His wife died March 12, 1887. Mr. and Mrs. Loomis had five daughters, all of whom are living: Diantha M., wife of Elijah E. Smith, of Manlius; Lydia S., widow of Julius Candee; Elizabeth E., widow of Benjamin S. Benedict, of New York; Maria J., widow of William Cum- mings, of Buffalo; and Julia A., widow of Dr. John A. Frey, of Buffalo.

Collin David, Manlius. One of the early pioneers of Onondaga Co., was David Collin, of Hillsdale, Colum- bia Co., N. Y., who in 1817 brought his bride, Anna Smith, into the western for- est and settled upon a mili- tary tract purchased by his father, David Collin, in 1797. Of Huguenot descent, a man of indomitable will and per- severance, untiring industry and acute foresight, he soon became the possessor of thousands of acres in this and other States, and not unmindful of the public wel- fare assisted in many busi- ness and manufacturing enterprises, being also one of the few to build the first church in Fayetteville. He was the father of six chil- dren: Caroline, wife of Syl- vester Gardner, of Manlius: Lucy B., wife of Porter Tre- DAVID COLLIN. main of Columbia Co .; David, the subject of this sketch; Harriet, wife of Nathan Seward, of Oneida Co .; Miriam, wife of Ethan Armstrong, of Vermont; and Anna S., wife of Samuel J. Welles, of Orleans Co. David Collin, 3d, subject of this sketch, was born on the old homestead in Manlius, in 1822, was graduated from Troy Rensselaer Institute in 1843, and has followed to some extent the career of his father. Pursuing his course with unflagging zeal, holding since his majority positions of trust, with enthusiastic interest furthering every public good, a man of strict integrity and uprightness, and

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of firm, moral courage, he is one whose impress upon the community cannot be erased by the shifting sands of time. In 1845 Mr. Collin married Clara Park, of Otsego Co., who died in 1881. Of nine children born to them, seven attained majority and fill spheres of usefulness: Edward, a manufacturer of Fayetteville; Clara Park, wife of Niles H. Hand, of Kansas City, Mo. ; Roswell Park, a physician, who died in New York in 1891 at the age of thirty-nine, having already attained a position of prominence; Charles Lee, a lumber dealer and land owner of Fayette- ville; Miriam, at home; William Taylor, a fruit grower and farmer; and David Francis, a manufacturer, of Kansas City, Mo. Mr. Collin still resides in the old homestead built by his father in 1824-endeared to him by a lifetime of memories and associations.

Morgan, Henry B., of South Onondaga, is a veteran of the war of the Rebellion, having enlisted in Co. F, 122d N. Y. Vols., and served till his discharge at the close of the war. He was born in the town of Skaneateles in 1839, and settled in this town about 1851. He married Rosa A., daughter of William Newman, of Amber. Mr. and Mrs. Morgan have three children living: James, Harvey, and Fred, having lost one daughter, Eva, who died June 11, 1894, aged 21. William Newman was born in this county and was a son of Ezekiel, a native of Connecticut.

Lees, James, Onondaga, was born in the north of Ireland, came to America, and settled in this town in 1869. He has served in various offices of public trust, being now a member of the Board of Education, and is also a member and present commander of the Lodge S. F. I. Mr. Lees is also trustee of the Presbyterian church of Onondaga Valley. His father was John D. Lees, who was a son of James Lees, a native of Edinburgh, Scotland. John D. married Mary Jane -- , by whom he had these children: Eliza, William, John D., Anna, James, Joseph, and Thomas. James married Nancy Maxwell, by whom he has two children, Fred S. and William. Mrs. Lees is the daughter of Christopher C. and Mary (Smith) Maxwell, who had these children: Thomas, James, David C., Nancy, Margaret A., Hannahette, William A., Mary J., Fenton M., and Maxwell.

Lawrence, Col, Porter D., Onondaga, was born on the farm where he now resides, a son of Usebius and Orpha (Averill) Lawrence, who came from Vermont. The grandfather was Joab and the great-grandfather Col. Bigelow Lawrence, a soldier of the war of 1812. Usebius Lawrence had six children, as follows: Wells E., Porter D., Mrs. Mary Woodford, Frances, Robert, and Cynthia Fellows. Porter D. married Harriet M. Morse, and they have one child, Frank. Mrs. Lawrence is a daughter of Amasa Morse, a native of Massachusetts. Frank, son of Porter D., married Lillian Hayes, and they have two sons, Grove E. and Howard L. Our subject was colonel of the 147th New York Militia, his father having been colonel of the same regiment.

Lord, John E., of South Onondaga, was born on his present farm in 1845, a son of Lorenzo Lord, a native of Connecticut, who came here with his parents at the age of seven years. He was a son of Theodore Lord, who, with his family, was the first settler of this farm about 1813, all improvements having been made by the three generations of the family who have occupied it. Theodore had three children : Brazil, Attaresta, and Lorenzo. The children of Lorenzo and Polly Lord were Ralph E., Theodore, Antoinette E., John R. and Elizabeth B. John R. and Lois Lord

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have these children: Lena G., Pearl L., Hazel K., Artie L., and Isa. Mrs. Lord is a daughter of John T. Nichols.

Lansing, Col. William, Fabius, was born in Truxton, Sept. 14, 1824, a son of Alex- ander and Fanny (Wood) Lansing, natives respectively of Albany and Vermont, the former having served in the war of 1812. He died in 1862 in his 86th year. Our sub- ject was educated in the common schools, and learned the cooper's trade, and later wagonmaking, having a shop in Truxton. In 1872 he engaged in the railway mail service which he continued 14 years. In 1847 he married Mrs. Nancy M. Jeffers, a native of Truxton, by whom he had five children, three now living: H. J. Lansing, a postal clerk on the route from New York to Chicago, which position he has filled 22 years, and resides at Onondaga Valley; Flora, wife of William Clark, train dis- patcher on the E., C. & N. R. R., with headquarters at Cortland; and Emma, wife of Stephen Turtelott, manager of the Wayne Building and Loan Association, who resides in Syracuse. Mr. Turtelott is a graduate of Amherst College. Our subject organized Co. G, 76th N. Y. Vols., at Cortland, and went to Washington with his regiment, where he was discharged on account of disability, on a surgeon's certifi- cate, in April, 1862. In August, 1863, he was authorized to raise a regiment of in- fantry in Cortland Co. of National Guards of the State of New York, was commis- sioned colonel, and remained commander until the rank and file of the regiment was mustered out in 1868. Col. Lansing went from Truxton to Syracuse in 1873 where he resided eight years, then came to Apulia and bought 27 acres known as the Squire Miles property, where he and wife have since lived.

Loveless, Robert, Van Buren, was born on the Loveless homestead, April 10, 1844. His father, Daniel, was one of the first settlers in Onondaga Co. He learned the carpenter's trade and built the larger part of the houses and barns in his neighbor- hood He married Anna, daughter of David Parish. He died at the age of 67 years. Robert Loveless was educated in the common schools. In 1869 he married Clara, daughter of Abram Hiller, by whom he had five children: Lester, Burt, George, Belle, and May. Burt is now a student in the Philadelphia Medical College. Mr. Loveless is one of the most prominent and successful farmers of his town.

Lockard, Charles A., Van Buren, manager of the Empire Portland Cement Co., Warners, N. Y., was born in Salem, O., July 5, 1864. His father, L. B. Lockard, a native of Ohio, and one of the representatives of his State, is now superintendent of the Producers' Consolidated Land & Petrolenm Co., with headquarters at Bradford, Pa. He is also Supreme Protector of the Knights and Ladies of Honor. Charles A. was educated in the public schools of Franklin, Pa. After leaving school he entered the employ of the Galena Oil Co. at Franklin, where he remained until 1890. In the same year he came to Warners and assumed charge of the cement works, one of the largest plants of its kind in America. In 1887 he married Mary E., daughter of Col. L. D. Rogers, of Franklin, Pa. They have two sons, John C. and Charles A., jr.

Lake, O. F., Tully, was born in Brownsville, Neb., Oct. 10, 1861, one of two cluil- dred of Oscar F. and Emily A. (Wood) Lake, natives of Tully and Chenango Co., respectively. The father of Oscar F. was Wilmott Lake, a son of Daniel, born in 1873 in Connecticut, who came to Tully in 1811 and settled on the farmi now owned by his grandson, Seth J. Here Daniel died Aug. 10, 1848, and his wife, Marinda

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Wheaton, died Aug. 30, 1834. Wilmott Lake was born in Connecticut in 1802 and came to Tully at the age of nine, living here all his life. His death occurred Jan. 25, 1879. His wife, Maria Beers, died here July 9, 1873. They had four children. The father of our subject followed various occupations, and in his youth went west, where he engaged in speculating. He died in 1862, aged 28 years, and his wife and family returned to Tully, where they have since lived. Our subject was reared on the farm he now owns, of 85 acres, and was educated in the common and Cortland Normal schools, entering the latter at the age of 16, and graduating from Meads's Business College of Syracuse in 1871. He followed farming till 1892, since which he has trav- eled for Williams & Bowers, dealers in granite, marble and statuary, and located in Dryden. Mr. Lake is a member of the Masonic fraternity, K. of P., etc. He mar- ried, May 25, 1872, Alice J., daughter of Lewis and Ellen Willis, and they have had five children: Mabel A., Lewis E., William H., Orville H. (deceased), and Blanche.

Mabee, Ambrose S., Manli- us, was born in the town of Palatine, Montgomery Co., N. Y., June 3, 1821. Cornelius Mabee, his father, was a native of Schenectady Co. and a mer- chant in Albany, and was after- ward engaged in business at Palatine Bridge and St. Johns- ville. He died Dec. 6, 1869. aged 77 years. He was a prominent member of the Democratic party, a member of the State Legislature in 1832, and a candidate for mem- ber of Congress in 1848. His political influence brought him in personal friendship with Van Buren, Marcy and Sey- montr. He officiated as Post- inaster of Palatine for twenty- three years, served in the war of 1812, and was the oldest and wealthiest merchant west - of Albany on the Mohawk river. His wife, Elizabeth Fox, the eldest daughter of a AMBROSE S. MABEE. large owner of Mohawk river lands, whereon, it is histori- cally said, is located the site of the home in which Washington stopped and dined in his passage up the valley, was a native of Montgomery Co., and they had two sons and four daughters: Dr. Jerome Mabee, of Newburg, who successfully practiced his profession in Dutchess and Orange counties, and, moreover, in his student days, was an honored contributor to the literature of his time, as shown by letters from Willis,

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Poe, and Prentice; Ambrose S., of Manlius; Mrs. Amelia Loomis, of Palatine Church; Ann Margaret; Mrs. Christina L. Ayres, wife of Judge Ayres, of Kansas (deceased); and Emily, second wife of Judge Ayres. Mrs. Cornelius Mabee died Nov. 15, 1837, and Mr. Mabee then married Maria, daughter of Lawrence Cross, a merchant. They had two children: Albert, a commission and loan broker, of New York, and one who died in infancy. She died Jan. 4, 1880. Ambrose S. Mabee was educated in the common schools, at a select school in New Berlin, Chenango Co., and under the tutelage of Prof. Charles A. Smith. After leaving school he was engaged in the mercantile business with his father until 1848. He was elected a major in the State Militia in 1843 and still holds that title. Mr. Mabee has represented the Demo- cratic party in numerous State and county conventions. He came to Manlius in 1848, engaged in farming, and is one of the largest landholders in this section, owning over 600 acres of land conducted as a dairy and grain farm. The Mabee House, of Mycenae, formerly known as Hartsville, is also his property. Oct. 18, 1848, Mr. Mabee married Sarah A., daughter of Elisha Mabee, a farmer near Hartsville. They have had five children: Annie, at home; Emily G., wife of Allen Avery, of Jer- sey City, N. J .; Amelia M., wife of S. E. Avery, of Syracuse; Florence N., wife of C. L. Tremper, of Brooklyn; and Margaret B., who died in 1880, aged 12 years.

Mengel, Jacob D., Dewitt, was born on the place he has always resided on, and is a son of Philip and Elizabeth (Newman) Mengel, natives of Germany, who were married in Dewitt. The mother still resides with Jacob D. on the homestead. The paternal grandfather lived and died on the same place. The father died in 1872. Mr. Mengel is one of a family of five children: Philip, a resident of Dewitt; John (deceased); Mary, wife of John Muth; Jacob D. ; and Charles L., a resident of Syr- · acuse.

Myers, Mrs. Mary C., Dewitt, was born in Manlius in 1837. The parents, John and Mary (Bockenstraus), were natives of France. They located in Manlius in 1830, and in 1837 on Mrs. Myers's present farm of 30 acres. They died in 1886, aged 94, and in 1879, aged 78, respectively. Mrs. Myers was married in 1856 to John Myers, a native of Germany, who died in 1882, aged 58. Mrs. Myers has four children : Mary C., wife of Horace Stetson; Charles; Florence, wife of Fred Wilson; and William.

Lewis, Sidney, Dewitt, was born in Renssaeler Co. in 1826, and came to Dewitt in 1849, locating on his present farmi of 96 acres. He also owns 24 acres in another tract. In 1855 he married Martha Wilcox, after which they spent three years in Steuben Co., and then returned and purchased the farm he at first worked. He was one of the original members and directors of the Onondaga Co. Milk Association. He was commissioner of highways for four terms, assessor for three terms, and over- seer of the poor five terms. When Mr. Lewis was young his parents moved to Monroe Co. His father was a blacksmith by trade, and resided consecutively in the counties of Monroe, Oneida, Lewis and Steuben, where he died in 1861, aged 62. The mother died in 1871, aged 65.

Luddington, Lucien, Dewitt, was born in Dewitt in 1848, son of Jared and Mary (Gates) Luddington, natives of Manlius and Vermont. The father was super- visor two terms and justice of the peace four terms in the town of Dewitt. He died

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in 1877 at the age of 67. Mr. Luddington was raised on a farm, but in connection with his farming is interested in the salt business. In 1871 he married Elizabeth Sweeney, who died in 1891, leaving one daughter, Katie.

Leahy, Thomas, Salina, owner and proprietor of the Sub Rosa Hotel, was born in Ireland in 1852. He came to America in 1857 and located in the town of Clay with his parents, Thomas and Bridget Leahy. In 1875 he located where he now is and in 1881 opened the Sub Rosa. He is also engaged in growing small fruits and gar- dening. He has held the offices of exeise commissioner and road commissioner. In 1880 he married Mary Sphore, of Salina.

Morris, Edwin, La Fayette, was born in Kent, England, Nov. 10, 1816, a son of George and Merey (Turk) Morris of that country. They came to Syracuse in 1828, and later to Onondaga Valley, where they resided until the death of the wife in 1846, when he went to Syraeuse and followed gardening for Philip Rust, A. C. Powell, and Charles H. Sedgwick. He died in Syracuse. The grandfather was Thomas Morris, of England, where he died. Edwin was educated in the public schools, and came to Syracuse in 1828, going with his parents later to Onondaga Valley, where he re- mained until 1853, lived at Onondaga Reservation until 1861, when he eame to the farm he now owns, which he bought in 1860, comprising 62 aeres. Mr. Morris served as assessor three years. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and established a lodge at Onondaga Valley, in 1849. He has been twice married, first in 1841 to Mar- garet A. Laird of Onondaga, by whom he had five children: Henry N., Mary E., Helen L. (deceased), William C. (deceased), and Louisa J. Mrs. Morris died in 1863 and he married second Phoebe D. Houghtaling of La Fayette.

Morton, Johnson E., La Fayette, was born in Onondaga, May 13, 1854, a son of John L. and Arelimena J. Johnson, whose father was Ambrose, born in Massachu- setts, and one of the early settlers of the town of La Fayette, who came to the farm now owned by Johnson E., and there died. The latter was educated in the schools of Cicero, and took up farming for a livlihood, owning about 53 aeres. In 1876 he married Minnie P. A. Bull, a native of Onondaga, by whom he has had six children: Jessie E., Jennie E., Effie L., Sarah L., Grace E., and Jewell B.

McArthur, George A., Salina, was born in Salina in 1844, son of Robert and Marian (Russell) MeArthur, natives of Scotland. The father was a graduate in medicine and surgery from Edinburgh College. He came to America and located in Constan- tia, and from there he moved to Liverpool. George A. hasalways been a farmer. In 1876 he married Susan Miller, and located on his present place of thirteen and one-half acres in 1888, where he follows dairying. In 1862 he enlisted in the 122d N. Y. Vols., Co. H, and served three years. He was with the Army of the Potomae in its principal engagements and in the Shenandoah Valley campaign.

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Onondaga's centennial. Gleanings of a century, Vol. II, Part 93

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