Onondaga's centennial. Gleanings of a century, Vol. II, Part 98

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 98

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Tillotson, James W., Manlius, was born in the town of Pompey, Onondaga Co., Nov. 26, 1843. Dudley, his father, was a native of Connecticut, and came to this county when a young man, about 1810. He was a farmer, and lived in Pompey but a short time, then moved to Otselic, Chenango Co., where he died in 1853. His wife, Charlotte Keith, was also a native of Connecticut, and was only twelve years of age when she came to this section in 1815. She died in Feb., 1891. Two children were born of this union: Walter C. of Cazenovia, and James W. The latter was educated in the common schools, Manlius Academy and the Ames Business College of Syra- cuse. He then followed farming in Madison Co. until 25 years of age, at which time he moved to Fayetteville and established a meat market, which after five years merged into a general store. The present commodious store was erected in 1888, and it is one of the finest in the town. Mr. Tillotson has served on the Board of Education, also on the Village Board. He is a member of Limestone Creek Lodge, No. 145 I. O. O. F. March 21, 1866, he married H. Adell, daughter of Hiram Hop- kins of Manlius. They have one daughter, Jessie H. Tillotson.

Richman, Franklin W., Manlius, was born in Manlius, March 23, 1834. Jacob Richman, his father, was born in Camden, N. J., Jan. 3, 1792. He learned the tailor's trade while a young man in Philadelphia, leaving that city in 1813 and com- ing to Manlius previous to 1820. He met a Mr. Peck in Albany, a merchant tailor of Manlius, who induced him to come to Manlius and enter his employ. March 26, 1820, he married Esther Clark of Manlius. Jacob Richman was an officer of the State militia and Franklin W. holds his commission of brigadier-general, dated July 5, 1833, and afterwards commissioned major-general. He also served as deputy sheriff. He conducted a tailor shop at Manlius until 1834, when he bought a farm at Dry Hill, where he lived until 1838. He then returned to Manlius for two years, and also spent one year in Pompey. In 1841 he bought a farm of 55 acres near Manlius Center, where he died July 6, 1842. He was the father of eleven children, seven of

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whom are now living: Thomas I., retired farmer of Palmyra; Charles L., a farmer of Manlius; Jacob, retired, of Chicago; Henry C., in the real estate business in Chi- cago; Esther, who lives with Franklin ; Nathaniel P., a live stock commission mer- chant, of Chicago, and Franklin W. The latter was educated in the common schools of his native town. He then took up farming, and has always resided on the home- stead. Mr. Franklin W. Richman joined the Masonic lodge in 1864, and served as junior deacon of the Fayetteville lodge for two years. In 1882 he was elected town assessor and in 1886 was re-elected. In 1888 he was elected justice of the peace, and in 1889 re-elected for a full term of four years. In 1894 Mr. Richman was again elected town assessor.

Ransier, James M., Manlius, was born in the town of Manlius, Dec. 26, 1820. The first to come to Manlius was George Ransier, grandfather of James M. He was born in New York city, Dec. 21, 1756, and was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, serving as acting quartermaster. After the war he settled at Frey's Bush, Herkimer Co., where George Ransier, father of James M., was born. They made their home here until 1804, when they removed to Onondaga Co. In 1802 George, sr., bought a farm of 80 acres, and during the two years he erected the house where James M. was born, George Ransier, jr., followed the father in possession of this farm, where he made his home during the balance of his life, dying in 1873, aged 88 years. His wife, Catherine Bender, was a native of Madison Co. She died Sept. 15, 1886, aged 90 years. Nine children were born of this union, five of whom are now living. James M. was educated in the common schools of the day until a little over 17 years old. He made his home on the old farm until .26 years of age. He then started in for himself by renting two years, but in 1848 he bought a small place of two acres. In 1852 he bought a farm of 45 acres, which is now owned by John Wilcox, where he made his home until 1862. In that year Mr. Ransier moved to Manlius, but 1863 he passed in traveling through many States of the Union. He spent some time in Herki- mer Co. in 1864, and was engaged in carpenter and cabinet work at various times until 1869. That year he bought a stock of furniture and undertaking goods, which business he conducted for 18 years, but in 1887 he retired from active business. Mr. Ransier has been a member of the Masonic lodge since 1864. Jan. 1, 1846, he mar- ried Mary C., daughter of William Stilwell, a farmer, who died in April, 1863, leav- ing two sons: Julius M., an undertaker of Ottumwa, Iowa, and J. Elmer, a painter of the same town. Feb. 19, 1869, Mr. Ransier married Albina L., daughter of Almon Fox of Fabius. The war record of this family is as follows: Grandfather in the Revolutionary war, father in the war of 1812, two brothers, brother-in-law and a son, Julius M., in the Rebellion. The old homestead is now occupied by the fifth gener- ation.

Upson, Linus P., Baldwinsville, was born in Lysander, April 6, 1846, son of B. C. Upson, a native of Connecticut. The family are of English descent, and came to the United States in 1750. B. C. Upson came to Onondaga Co. in 1814 with his father, Miles, who purchased a tract of land in Lysander. B. C. Upson married Amanda, daughter of Joseph Paul, and they had seven children, two of whom are now living. Mr. Upson was a farmer and dealer in live stock. Linus P. was educated in the common schools and finished at the Munro Collegiate Institute of Elbridge, after which he returned to his father's farm. He married Nancy J., daughter of James

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Pickard of Pennsylvania, and they have three children: B. C. Upson, Jennie and Lucy. Mr. Upson is one of the representative farmers of the town, making a spe- cialty of tobacco. He is a man of sterling character, and he takes an intelligent inter- est in school and religious work.

Tator, James M., Baldwinsville, was born in Lysander, Dec. 16, 1824, son of Fred I., who came from Dutchess Co. in 1815. Fred I. married Polly, daughter of John Geary, by whom he had eight children. He was a prominent farmer up to the time of his death in 1838, at the age of fifty years. James M. was educated in the com- mon schools. He married Jane A., daughter of Alfred Wilson, and they have one daughter: Mrs. Erwin Schuck. In 1846 he purchased a farm of 230 acres, raising large amounts of hay, grain, and tobacco. He is one of the representative farmers of the town.

Van Bergen, A. H., Tully, was born in Tully, June 4, 1839, one of six children of Henry and Charlotte Van Bergen, natives of Greene Co., who came to Tully in 1823, where they died in 1856 and 1883 respectively. Our subject was reared on a farm and educated in the Fort Plain Seminary. He has followed farming and is the owner of 55 acres of fine land. In'1872 he married Isabelle Van Hoesen of Preble, by whom he has one son, Harold M., who was admitted to the bar Sept. 13, 1894, and practices his profession in Syracuse in the office of Wandell & McGee. The mother of our subject was Charlotte McCarty, whose brother, Francis McCarty, held the first Sunday school in Tully.

Virgil, William, Fabius, was born in Fabius, Oct. 9, 1865, a son of Stephen and Ann (Palmer) Virgil, he a native of Fabius, and she of Pompey. The grandfather, James, spent his life in Fabius, and the maternal grandfather, Noah Palmer, was one of the earliest settlers of Pompey, where he died. Stephen Virgil died Sept. 22, 1891, and his wife died in 1874. Our subject was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools, and has chosen farming for a vocation, now owning a fine place of 30 acres, and having a quarter interest in the 70 acres of homestead farm, which he works.

Thomas, Edgar, was born in Pompey June 25, 1834, a son of Elam and Nancy (Avery) Thomas, he a native of Pompey born in 1801, and she born in 1809. The grandfather, Daniel Thomas, was a native of Vermont and was one of the first set- tlers of Pompey, where he died about 1844. He married Phoebe Peck, also of Ver- mont, who died in Pompey about the time of her husband. Elam Thomas died in Orleans Co. in 1882 and his wife in 1880. Edgar Thomas followed farming until the age of 29 years, also taught school about eleven terms. He engaged in mercantile business in Warner's Station in 1863, and remained ten years. He then removed to Jordan where he engaged in the same business for four years, then removed to Syra- cuse, and later to Fabius, soon after taking up the mercantile business again, which he has since continued successfully. He was justice of the peace at Warner's Station three years. He is a member of Allen Post No. 54, G. A. R. In 1863 he married Louisa C. White of Camillus, and they had three children : Clarence E., a jeweler by trade, who assists his father in the store; William H., of Syracuse, secretary of the Straight Line Engine Company; and Arthur W., a student of the Syracuse Medical College, class of '95. Mrs. Thomas died in 1878, and he married second in 1879

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Helen White, a sister of his first wife. In 1864 he enlisted in Co. F, 15th N. Y. Engi- neers, serving till the close of the war.

Van Alstine, Duane, Van Buren, was born in the town of Camillus, Sept. 29, 1848. Chauncey Van Alstine, his father, was a native of the same town and resides on the homestead which was taken up by Jacob Van Alstine, who came from the Mohawk Valley in 1800. Duane was educated in the common schools and finished at the academy at Jordan. In 1878 he married Carrie, daughter of Alvin French, of Brighton, Monroe Co., N. Y., and they have one daughter, Ella M. Mr. Van Alstine was appointed postmaster at Warners in 1883, and elected justice of the peace in 1889. He is now engaged in the lumber, coal, and insurance business

Talmage, Lewis, Van Buren, was born in Van Buren, Sept. 16, 1823. Enos, his father, was a native of Saratoga Co. and came to Onondaga Co. in 1815 and pur- chased a farm. He soon became a leading man of the town. He married Polly Barber, by whom he had nine children, three of whom are now living: Lewis, Har- riet, and Mrs. Naomi Freeman. He died Dec. 16, 1863, aged 83 years. Lewis Tal- mage was educated in the common schools. In 1850 he married Emily K., daughter of Cyrus H. Kingsley. In 1849 he bought part of his father's estate and has since bought adjoining property, and is one of the leading farmers of the town.

Young, Dr. J. R., Salina, was born in Phoenix, Oswego Co., in 1841, son of Fred- erick and Sarah (Hawthorne) Young, natives of Germany and Scotland, who were married in Utica and in 1831 located near Phoenix. In 1866 they moved to Iowa, where the father died in 1875, aged 77, and the mother in 1879, aged 75. Dr. Young was attending Falley Seminary when the war began, and on April 17, 1861, he en- listed in Co. H, 24th N. Y. Vols. He was severely wounded in the second battle of Bull Run, and was discharged June 28, 1863. He was in the drug trade in Iowa for several years, then graduated from the Hahnemann Medical College and also the Hahnemann Medical Institute. He came to Liverpool in 1873. In 1864 he married Sophia E. Umbeck, of Phoenix. Their children are Dr. D. F. Young, of Phoenix, and Frank E., an attorney at Liverpool.

Zinsmaster, Christian, yard dispatcher in East Syracuse, was born in Germany in 1849. He came to America in 1866, locating at Syracuse. He was in the shoe trade a few years, and has been continuously in the employ of the N. Y. C. R. R. Co. since 1877. He owns 35 acres of well improved land, where he lives. In 1875 he married Louise Thomas, a native of Germany, by whom he has three children.

Rice, Smith, Dewitt, was born in Washington Co. in 1847, son of James and Har- riet (Smith) Rice, natives of the same county. When Smith was five years old the parents moved to Oswego Co., where the father died in 1876; the mother resides in Monroe Co. Mr. Rice was educated in Falley Seminary, and came to East Syracuse in 1876. He at first engaged in the grocery trade for about five years, and then in the livery business about the same length of time. He was justice of the peace twelve years, supervisor and superintendent of the poor. In 1873 he married Addie Moore, of Fulton, by whom he has one child, Roy.

Rockefeller, Abram, Dewitt, was born in Columbia Co. in 1833, son of David and jane (Kells) Rockefeller, of the same county. The parents moved to Cortland Co,

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about 1840 and to Onondaga Co. about 1867. The father died in 1890, aged 82, and the mother in 1894, aged 83. Mr. Rockefeller moved to Onondaga Valley in 1865, and one year later to his present farm of 36 acres, adjoining Syracuse. In 1857 he married Sophia Wilcox, a native of Cortland Co.

Rice, J. J., Dewitt, dealer in dry goods and notions, gent's furnishing goods, boots and shoes, etc., was born in Oswego Co. in 1863, son of O. A. Rice, a resident of Albion, Oswego Co. In 1884 he came to East Syracuse and was with Mr. Burnham eight years, and in Dec., 1892, established his present business. In 1890 he married Lulu Fargo, a native of Fayetteville.

RUFUS HOUSE.

House Rufus, Manlius, was born in the town of Cicero, Onondaga Co., Oct. 29, 1831. Rufus House, his father, son of a Revolution- ary soldier, was born in Hartford, Conn., Feb. 14, 1792, and at the age of nine- teen started for what was then the far West. He came in company with Silas Bell and Seabury Brown, walk- ing all the way from Con- necticut. They remained to- gether the first winter; then Brown went to Fabius, Bell to the town of Manlius, and Rufus House to Cicero, where he took up 100 acres of land and built a log hut roofed with bark. Mr. House cleared and cultivated this land and remained on it for forty-seven years. He then bought a farm of thirty- seven acres in the town of Manlius, where he spent the remainder of his life. He

died March 3, 1869. His wife, whose maiden name was Almira Fox, a native of Connecticut, died Oct. 19, 1872. Ten children were born of this union, four of whom are now living. Rufus House, jr., the fourth son, was crippled in his left arm and never had other advantages of education than in the hard school of experience. He is emphatically a self-made man. He engaged in farming in early life and now has a farm of 135 acres, and has never paid only $14 interest during his entire career. He erected new outbuildings in 1874 and in 1878 built a beautiful modern house. For the last twenty-eight years he has conducted, in connection with his farm, an insur- ance agency for T. C. Clough, of Syracuse, and has been very successful in the busi-

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ness. Mr. House has held the office of trustee of the district school. Dec. 1, 1853, he married Elizabeth, daughter of Allan Hoag, of Manlius, by whom he had twelve children, six of whom are now living: De Witt, an engineer on the Coast Line Rail- road in South Carolina; Charles, a farmer of this town; Myra, wife of George Tomp- kins, a farmer of Cicero; and William D. and George W., both living on the old homestead.

Rogers, Charles R., Cicero, was born in the town of Clay, Oct. 6, 1848, youngest of six sons of Zenas and Almira Rogers, who came from Saratoga Co. to Clay among the early settlers to the place known as the Rogers Settlement, where they cleared and settled on a farm. There were also two daughters in the family. Charles R. entered the district schools of Clay, and later he entered the academy at Onondaga Valley. After this he taught school for a while, then entered the employ of R. W. & O. R. R. Co. as station master at Clay, where he remained for one year. Since 1873 he has been station master at Brewerton. He married Eliza, daughter of Hiram Duffany, of Clay, by whom he has one son, Wilford C., now employed as operator in the station at Brewerton. Mr. Rogers is at present justice of the peace, he has also filled several minor offices. He has been a member of Fort Brewerton Lodge of Masons for 24 years. He is a thorough business man and a respected citizen.

Smith, Maynard, Baldwinsville, was born in Van Buren in Dec., 1828. His father, Augustus Smith, was a native of New Hartford, Conn., and came to Onondaga Co. in 1810 with his father, Dow Smith, who received a pension from the United States govern- ment for service in the Revolutionary war, and who lived to be nearly 104 years of age. Augustus Smith married Martha, daughter of Levi Howe, of Westford, N. Y. Augustus was a prominent farmer of his town. He died at the age of 78 years. Maynard Smith was educated in the common schools. He married Ellen J., daugh- ter of Truman Shumway, who died in 1860. In 1863 he married Adeline B. Woydger. In 1872 he bought the Culver place and in 1860 he bought the Barber property, con- sisting of the saw mill and twenty adjoining acres. At his father's death in 1880 Mr. Smith purchased his estate of 110 acres. In 1890 he moved to the village of Baldwinsville. He has been in the ice business for 30 years, and is one of the lead- ing men of the town.

Sotherden, James, Clay, was born in England Nov. 11, 1815, came to the United States in 1839 with his wife and one child, Charlie, and settled near North Syracuse. He worked at different occupations for three years and then bought four acres, which he cleared and built a house. He has kept on adding to this until he now has a farm of 45 acres all under cultivation. His children are James H., John, Margaret, Thomas C. and George. Mrs. Sotherden was born Nov. 2, 1815, and is still living.

Stalker, Peter, Marcellus, was born in Tillicoultry, Clakmannanshire, Scotland, and served his apprenticeship in the J. D. Paton Woolen Mills at Tillicoultry. He then came to Canada, where he remained seven years in a woolen mill at Ottawa, at the expiration of which time he came to Marcellus and entered the employ of the Crown Mills. Here our subject has charge of the spinning department of the upper mills of the Crown plant.

Selleck, James L., Baldwinsville, was born in New Canaan, Fairfield Co., Conn., son of Isaac Selleck. The family were of German descent and settled there at an

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early date. Isaac Selleck married Lucy, daughter of James Brown. He was a well known farmer and builder of his town, and died at the age of 92 years. James L. was educated in the common schools, after which he engaged in farming. In 1849 he went to California by the way of Cape Horn, returning in 1851. The same year he settled in Lysander, where he now resides. He married Gertrude, daughter of Lewis Wright, by whom he has two sons, Henry W. and Charles L. Mr. Selleck is one of the representative farmers of the town.

Shrubb, John, Baldwinsville, was born in Ira, Cayuga Co., Feb. 11, 1836, son of John Shrubb, who came from Sussex, England, in 1835, and settled in the town of Ira. John, the father, married Ruth, daughter of George Forward, and they had three children, two of whom are now living. He followed farming up to the time of his death in Aug., 1887, at the age of 79 years. John Shrubb, jr., married Elizabeth Keyes, and they have two children: Ralph E. and Mrs. Sarah L. Somers. In 1861 Mr. Shrubb purchased the Sullwin property, where he now resides, raising large amounts of hay, grain, and stock. He is a man of sterling character, taking an in- telligent interest in school and religious work.

Smith, Edwin M., Baldwinsville, was born in Lysander, Aug. 5, 1845, son of Isaac, one of the first settlers in the town of Lysander, coming from Bridgefield, Conn., in 1820. The family are of English descent, and can trace their ancestry back eight generations. Isaac Smith married Maria Van Dorn, by whom he had ten children, four of whom are now living. He died Feb. 20, 1860, aged 60 years. He was one of the prominent men of the town, filling various offices. Edwin M. was educated in the common schools and finished at Falley Seminary. He married Flora, daughter of T. K. Pervine, by whom he has three children: Isaac, George E. and Mary E. Mr. Smith is one of the representative farmers of the town, making a specialty of pure bred Guernsey cattle and French coach horses. He lives on the homestead, which has been in the family for 75 years.

Stevens, Richard F., Baldwinsville, was born in Pompey, Oct. 19, 1818, son of' Hezekiah W., a native of Killingworth, Conn. The family are descended from two brothers, who settled in America at an early date. Hezekiah W. came to Pompey in 1814. He married Lois Field (a relation of David Dudley and Cyrus W. Field of New York city), by whom he had five children, Richard F. alone surviving. Richard F. was educated at Pompey Academy, and in 1838 he entered the Medical College of Fairfield, Herkimer Co., where he remained for two years. He then entered the Albany Medical College, graduating in 1841. He then practiced in St. Louis, Mo .. for the next five years, and in 1847 he began practice in Syracuse, where he re- mained for 45 years. In 1892 he removed to the village of Lysander. He married Esther Prentiss, who died in 1864. He then married in 1878 Elizabeth Porter of Newport, Herkimer Co. Mr. Stevens is one of the oldest members of his profession in Onondaga Co. He lias been very much interested in school work, having been commissioner for five years, also being among the first to establish graded schools in Syracuse.

Sherwood, L. R., Camillus, was born in Manlius in 1853. Since 1886 he has had charge of the N. Y. C. R. R. ticket and freight business at Camillus, and also of the American Express Co. In 1886 he embarked in the coal trade, and now furnishes annually about 1,500 tons of coal to the citizens.

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Sneller, Jacob, jr., Cicero, was born in the town of Cicero, Nov. 13, 1854, son of Jacob and Rosanna B. Sneller, who were born in Germany and settled in Cicero in 1850. The father followed farming, and Jacob, jr., now owns the homestead. The father is now 73 years old and has retired from active business. The mother died at the age of 66 years. The children were: Jolin, Kate and Jacob, jr. Jacob has spent nearly 25 years of his life teaching school. He now devotes his attention to his two farms of 114 acres. He married Sarah M., daughter of J. M. and Eliza Moulton. The children are Ethel B. and Anna G. Mr. Sneller is at present supervisor of the town.

Soule, C. M., Clay, was born in Clay, March 24, 1849, son of Andrew and Julia Soule. The parents came to the town about 75 years ago, and settled one mile from where the village of Euclid now stands. The mother was a daughter of Henry Crandall, one of the oldest settlers of the town. The father died in 1880, aged 64 years, and Mrs. Soule still lives at the age of 75 years. They had six children : Helen, C. M., Ettie, Manuel, Hattie and Mary. Our subject is a thorough business man, at present owns six farms in the town of Clay, and is a dealer in wagons and many other articles. He works one of the six farms himself in connection with his other line of business. He married Elmira, daughter of N. Pool of Euclid, and their children are: Myrtie, Lillian, Julia, Herman and Andrew. Mr. Soule has filled the office of postmaster at Euclid for three years, and in his younger days was collector of the town.

Soule, Nathan, was born in Clay, on the farm he now manages, June 2, 1853, son of John and Laura (Thompson) Soule, the father born in Herkimer Co., the mother in Vermont. Nathan Soule, the grandfather, was born in Dutchess Co. in 1790, be- came judge, and held many prominent offices. He was a man of strong mind and great executive power. This family, down to the present generation, are noted for their ability as business men. John and Laura Soule had five children: Julius J., Nathan, Carrie S., Lucretia L. and Carrie C. The father died in 1885 at the age of 71. Our subject married Ella M. Smith of Clay, and their children are: Julius N., Edna and Edith.

Sheffel, Ira W., was born in Clay on the farm he now owns, Aug. 5, 1844. The parents, Reuben and Amanda, with Filo, a brother of Reuben Sheffel, came from Deerfield, Madison Co., in 1823 and settled on the farm Ira W. now lives on. The farm extends over 85 acres. The father followed the trade of coopering in his early days and for about 25 years worked at basket making. He first married Mary A. Bliss, of Clay, by whom he had three children, Lucy, Caroline and Charles. He afterward married Amanda Valentine, of Auburn, by whom lie had one child, Ira W., our subject. All his life has been passed upon a farm with the exception of one year, which he spent in Syracuse. He married Caroline, daughter of Lorenzo West, in 1870, by whom he had one child, Jennie.

Shaver, Peter, Clay, born in Clay, Jan. 9, 1855, is the son of Timothy Shaver who came to Clay about 45 years ago, and settled on the farm now owned and worked by our subject. The occupation of the family has been farming. The father worked at his trade of blacksmithing when he first came to the town, but later devoted his entire time to farming. Our subject is one of six children: Mary, Oliver, Benjamin,

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Onondaga's centennial. Gleanings of a century, Vol. II, Part 98

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