Onondaga's centennial. Gleanings of a century, Vol. II, Part 99

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 99

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Julia and Libbie. Mr. Shaver now owns a farm of 55 acres. He was educated in the district schools of Clay, and married Hattie Hall, formerly of Jefferson Co., Jan. 4, 1879. They have four children : Nellie, Hawley, Florence and Bessie. Mr. Shaver is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Centerville Lodge No. 648.

Skiff Brothers, Charles H. and George T., Clay, dairymen and general farmers, on the Brewerton road, are sons of Seymour and Polly J. (Merriam) Skiff. The pa- ternal grandparents, Gibbs and Artematia (Stevens) Skiff, were natives of Massa- chusetts and Connecticut. They located in Onondaga Co. at an early date, and died in Cicero. The father is a resident of Syracuse and has traveled extensively in this country, Central America, and most of the European countries.

Snavely, Oliver, Dewitt, was born in France in 1830, and in 1849 came to America with his parents, Joseph and Maria Snavely, who located in Syracuse for two years, and then moved on to a farm in Manlius. After the war they returned to Syracuse, where they died in 1880, aged 78, and 1890, aged 83, respectively. Mr. Snavely had three brothers in the late war, one being killed at the battle of Peach Tree Creek. In 1856 he married Mrs. Elizabeth (Dice) Ball, now deceased. He afterwards mar- ried Caroltne Uts born Kopp. Mr. Snavely followed farming in Dewitt many years, and still owns one of the best farms near East Syracuse. In 1893 he moved to East Syracuse, where he has also large property interests. He has filled the offices of road commissioner and excise commissioner several terms.

Stewart, James, Dewitt, merchant at Collamer, was born at Pittsfield, Mass., in 1852. In 1874 he came to Syracuse, and the following year to Collamer. He fol- lowed the carpenter's trade for two years, and then established his present business. In 1872 he married Elsie Temple. He was town collector in 1892, and has been post- master since President Arthur's administration, except two years during Cleveland's first term.

Stokes, James, blacksmith at Collamer, was born in England in 1842, and came to America in 1861, locating for four years at Brewerton, since which time he has re- sided in Collamer. In 1865 he married Anna Burnett, a native of Oswego Co. In the spring of 1884 he was elected inspector of election.

Sherwood, Addison B., was born in the town of Dewitt in 1821, where he has al- ways resided. He has always followed farming, but for several years has followed the carpenter's trade in connection with his farming. The father, J. B., and grand- father, Bradford, came from Connecticut, locating in the town of La Fayette, where J. B. learned the tanner's and currier's trade; and about 1817 located in Dewitt and plied his trade until his death in 1839. In 1853 Mr. Sherwood married Mary P. Cobb, of Dewitt, by whom he has two children, Addison L. and Ella. Mr. Sherwood has filled the offices of commissioner of highways and collector.

Stilwell, C. A., was born on his present farm in 1842, son of Charles W. and Mercy S. (Gates) Stilwell, natives of the town of Manlius and Madison Co. The paternal grandfather, Elias, came from Saratoga Co. to Manlius with his parents and died there. The maternal grandfather, Jeremiah, also came from Saratoga Co. and located in Madison Co., where he died. In 1841 Charles W., the father, came to De- witt and died in 1878, aged 72. The mother died in 1854, aged 38. Mr. Stilwell

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and his sister Charlotte, who resides with him, are the only children ; neither is mar- ried. He has the original homestead of 75 acres, to which he has added 48 acres. He follows general farming, and since 1880 has been interested in the manufacture of salt.

Smith, David L., Elbridge, was born in Canastota in 1851, a son of John R. and Martha (Steadman) Smith, the former an Englishman who came to this country when a young man, and the latter a native of Massachusetts. John R. was employed on the Erie Canal all his life, dying in 1885, and his wife in 1880 in Port Byron. There were three children beside our subject; Garret C., of Syracuse, Mrs. D. Had- don and Mrs. De Lancy Caldwell, both of Port Byron, where David L. was reared. He married in 1878 Lottie, daughter of Russell B. Foster, and moved to Syracuse. He was a trainman on the Central road until 1883, when he bought the freight boat "Gillie," and in 1888 he built the " Warner," for traffic between Syracuse and Roch- ester, his business being from the start successful. He moved to Jordan in 1887. He has two sons, George and Frank.

Smith, Loren L., La Fayette, was born May 13, 1821, in Herkimer Co., a son of Thomas and Sarah J. (McCurdy) Smith, both born in Vermont. Loren was educated in Massachusetts in the Wilmington High School, and he had charge of the public works in the State fourteen years, being a mason and stone cutter by trade. He came to La Fayette in 1852 to take charge of bridge building and mason work on the line of the D. L. & W. R. R. In 1857 he bought the farm where he lived and died. Dec. 14, 1853, he married Harriet B., daughter of Jesse Hungerford, and they have had eight children : Adelbert, born April 17, 1855, who married Emily Johnson of Pom- pey, and has two sons, Clarence and Hubert; Calvin, born Dec. 6, 1856, a carpenter by trade, who lives on the homestead; Franklin M., born Aug. 5, 1858, who married Nellie G. Sumner of Manlius in 1893, and lives in La Fayette; Edith L., born Sept. 9, 1860, who married Adelbert Bishop, now resides in Wyoming, and has six chil- dren, Clark, Hattie, Jessie, Clarence, Calvin and Maud; Sarah J., born March 20, 1862, who married George Hiscock in 1883, resides in Pompey, and have had three children: Elmer (deceased), Edna (deceased) and Clara; Hattie R., born July 13, 1865, who married Fred W. Kinney, and died in 1893; Clara, born Jan. 3, 1867, who was a teacher and died Jan. 15, 1895; and Orrin, born Jan. 8, 1869, who married in 1894 Olive Baker.

Shaw, George H., La Fayette, was born in La Fayette, April 24, 1837, a son of Henry and Catherine (Dubois) Shaw, the father born in Saratoga Co. in 1811, and the mother born in 1816. The grandfather was John, who came to La Fayette in an early day, and cleared the farm our subject now owns where he died. Henry Shaw died in this town in 1891, and his widow lives with her daughter Florence. Our sub- ject was educated in the common schools, has followed farming, and now owns 80 acres of land. In 1858 he married Mary, daughter of William and Clarissa (Snow) Wicks, of Kirkville. The father died in 1888, and the mother in 1865. Mr. and Mrs. Shaw had one child, Ida, who married Morris Gates, and had two children, Mertie and Ida. She died Sept. 22, 1893.

Scammell, Harrison O., La Fayette, was born in Tully, April 18, 1839, a son of Rufus, mentioned in this work. After completing his studies our subject engaged

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in farming, and now owns 97 acres, where he is engaged in general farming, dairy- ing, and sheep raising. In 1864 he married Sarah J., daughter of Stephen French, whose father was Andrew French, mentioned in this work. Stephen was born in 1814, and died in Fabius March 16, 1889. His wife was Arvilla M. Gibbs, born in Otisco in 1819 and died in 1875. Mr. and Mrs. Scammell have had three children: Walter H., born Nov. 22, 1866, who lives on the home farm; Mattie L., born Dec. 18, 1868, also at home; and Henry H., born Jan. 1, 1871, who resides with his father.

Shallish, Jerre, Skaneateles, was born in England, Feb. 6, 1831, son of John Shal- lish. Jerre came to Skaneateles in 1837 when six years old. He received a common school education in the town, and then went to work at the tin business, from that he went to the plumbing, gas, and steam-fitting business. He has added to his busi- ness an electrical department and has constructed a machine of his own invention for testing electric door bells. Mr. Shallish does a large and constantly increasing business in his line of trade. He married Mary Balch, of Skaneateles.

Squires, John J., Skaneateles, was born in Vermont, May 6, 1865, son of Alfred Squires, of Vermont, who is still living at the age of 66. J. J. Squires came to Skan- eateles in 1884 and began farming, which occupation he has continued up to the present, being one of the well known farmers of that locality. He married Hattie Barber, of Skaneateles, by whom he has four children, Lawrine R., Everett E., Forest F., and Esther C.

Scammell, Haskell B., Tully, was born in Tully, April 4, 1834, a son of Lyndon and Sylvia (McEvers) Scammel, the former born in 1808. The grandfather, William Scammell, came to Tully about 1830, where he lived and died. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. Lyndon Scammell died in 1857 and his wife Feb. 12, 1889. H. B. Scammell was educated in the common schools of Fabius, and remained in that town until 1866, when he came to Tully and has since resided there. He learned carpen- try and worked at that and farming for a time. In 1866 he came to Tully and en- gaged in the drug and grocery trade in partnership with Messrs. Wright & Son, with whom he remained about four years. He then engaged in buying and pickling eggs, and in 1883 he and his son bought out the firm of J. W. Wright & Son, and have since carried on a very successful business. Mr. Scammell has served as justice of the peace four years and has also acted as president, trustee and treasurer of the village of Tully. In 1853 he married Francis, daughter of J. W. and Rebecca (Woodard) Wright, the former a native of Massachusetts, born in 1808, and they have had one son, Ervin, born Feb. 8, 1855. He was educated in Cazenovia Semi- nary and has always been in business with his father. He married Ada Vail of Tully.

Smith, Sylvester, Tully, was born in Tully, Oct. 29, 1856, the youngest of two sons and two daughters, born to Joshua and Catharine (Shaul) Smith, of Herkimer Co. Joshua Smith came to Tully in 1831, and in 1836 bought the farm where his widow still resides, at the age of 88. The parents of Joshua were Eliphalet and Lovisa (Conet) Smith, who were farmers, and spent their last days in Tully with their children. The parents of Catharine Shaul were Henry and Catharine (Bron- ner) Shaul, Henry having been a soldier in the Revolution. Sylvester Smith was reared on the farm in Tully, where he has always followed farming. After the

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death of his father he and his brother Joshua took charge of the farm, which they conducted in partnership until 1892, when Joshua died. July 4, 1870, Sylvester mar- ried Mary Shaul, daughter of Edmond and Sarah Shaul of Herkimer Co.

Seely, Erwin, Onondaga, the owner of 96 acres of fine farming land, was born on this place Aug. 7, 1865, a son of Joseph Owen Seely, and a grandson of Gideon Seely, who took up a soldier's claim of 640 acres, or a mile square, part of which is the farm where our subject now resides. Gideon was the first settler in this part of the town of Onondaga. His son, Joseph Owen, married Susan Stearns, who died leaving eight children. He married second Louise L. Rowland, daugliter of Isaac Rowland, of the town of La Fayette, by whom he had two children, Erwin L. and Adella C. Erwin L. married Alice M. Hulbert of South Onondaga and their chil- dren are Vivian L. and Mabelle A.

Shepp, Mark, Manlius, was born in the town of Manlius, April 4, 1839. His early education was limited, but was greatly improved upon that which he received in the common schools by his well chosen reading and close observation. At the age of 23 he bought 100 acres on lot 37. In 1871 he purchased 15 acres and in 1874, 30 acres more, making a fine farm of 145 acres, on which he has built a beautiful residence and good out buildings. In 1881 he bought the Chapman farm of 442 acres, which he also conducts. Mr. Shepp was for five years trustee of school No. 4. April 22, . 1861, he married Barbara Suiter, who died Nov. 19, 1883, leaving seven children: Frederick, a railroad man, of East Syracuse; Henry, a farmer of Sullivan ; Frank A., a railroad man; Theodore, lives at home; Edward, lives at home; Caroline, lives with Frederick Shepp, in Manlius; and Emma, widow of John Grimes, of Sullivan. Another daughter, Eunice, died Nov. 8, 1874, aged two years. Jan. 1, 1885, Mr. Shepp married Viola Wright Shepp, by whom he has one child: May Florence, Mrs. Shepp was the widow of his brother, Peter. She has three children: Wilbur, Julia. and Ida, all living at home.

Smith, James Henry, Manlius, was born in Amenia, Dutchess Co., Jan. 15, 1820, and came to Onondaga Co. with his parents in 1829. He was educated in the com- mon schools and the old Fayetteville Academy. He was then for three years teacher in the common schools, then served three years as town superintendent of schools. He then engaged in farming, which he followed until April, 1893, when he removed to Fayetteville and retired from active business. He lived in the town of Dewitt while carrying on his farming. He has held the position of supervisor, also several minor town offices. He has been a member of the Baptist church for 60 years and is now a deacon. Oct. 23, 1845, Mr. Smith married Anna, daughter of Rev. Alexander Smith, of Delaware Co., by whom he had two children: Francis Wayland, clerk of the Supreme Court; and Florence E., wife of John L. Sherwood, glove manufacturer, of Fayetteville.

Salg, Abram, Manlius, was born in Bridgeport, Madison Co., Oct. 2, 1853. Jacob, his father, was a native of Germany. He came to this country in early life and fol- lowed his trade of tanning. He died in 1869, aged 62 years. His wife, Elizabeth Miller, was a native of Montgomery Co., and is still living, aged 66 years. They had four sons and one daughter. Abram was educated in the common schools of Madi- son Co. and Cicero. After leaving school he learned the carpenter's trade. In 1871

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he moved to Fayetteville, where he has since made his home. For ten years he has been engaged with the Furniture Mfg. Co. and now has the contract of putting up extension tables. In 1894 Mr. Salg was elected president of the village. He is a member of Limestone Creek Lodge, I. O. O. F., No. 145, being the noble grand. In 1875 Mr. Salg married Nellie A., daughter of Edward Williams, a farmer of Pom- pey. They have two children : Minnie May and Bertie Nelson, both students in the academy.

Spencer, Orlando P., Manlius, was born in the town of Dewitt, May 8, 1835. Harvey, his father, was born in Vermont in 1796 and located in this county some time in the 30's. He owned a farm in the town of Dewitt until 1873, when he bought a part of the Seth Spencer farm in the town of Manlius where he died in 1876. He was a hatter by trade; he was a soldier in the war of 1812. His wife, Huldah Kilburn, was also a native of Vermont. She died in 1844. Of this union eight children were born, four of whom are now living; Seraph S., of Erieville, Madison Co .; Catherine Ackley, of New Woodstock, Madison Co .; Sarah Mulner, of New Woodstock; and Orlando. The latter was educated in the common schools and Fayetteville Acad- emy. After leaving school he engaged in farming. He made his home in the town of Dewitt until 1869, when he bought a farm of 48 acres in the town of Manlius. He has made many valuable improvements on the place, but has preserved the part of the old Spencer homestead that has been a landmark for nearly a century. Nov. 23, 1859, Mr. Spencer married Susannah, daughter of Robert Sergeant, a farmer of De- witt, who died in March, 1889. They were married by Rev. Marcus Smith in Dewitt. They have had three children: Eva, died May 24, 1865, aged nine months; Addison A., died April 28, 1877, aged three and one-half years; and Ida May, born March 13, 1869. She was educated in the common schools, East Syracuse Academy, and Caze- novia Seminary, and is now a teacher in the public schools. She is organist of the Presbyterian Sunday school, and an artist of more than ordinary ability.

Snook, Clark, Manlius, was born in the town of Manlius, Aug. 9, 1813. John, his father, was a native of Germany, and he located in the town or Manlius in 1800. He and his father were both blacksmiths. He was the father of six children, of whom Clark is the third son. He had very little opportunity to attend school, attending for only two weeks. At the age of 13 he began driving on the canal for $6 per month. At the age of 17 he became a captain and was engaged in boating for six years. He was then engaged in contracting very successfully for 20 years. After this he engaged in farming and now owns between 600 and 700 acres of land. He has owned a plaster and lime mill for 40 years, and in 1884 he bought the knife fac- tory at Fayetteville, which he still owns. Mr. Snook was one of the members of the committee on organization of the congressional district. Mr. Snook is the largest stockholder and director of the Plank Road Co., also a director and vice-president of the Manlius and North Manlius Plank Road Co. Jan. 21, 1836, Mr. Snook married Nancy Balsley, of High Bridge, by whom he had eight children, five of whom are living.

Snyder, Zachariah, Manlius, was born at Sand Lake, Rensselaer Co., May 17, 1817. He was but seven years old when his parents moved to Madison Co., where his father bought a strip of land bordering on Oneida Lake, and died in 1826. The sons as soon as old enough did what they could in a financial way. Zachariah was edu-

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dated in the common schools, then engaged in farming. Ile was also landlord of the Bridgeport Hotel for 11 years. In 1862 he sold his interest in the hotel and re- turned to farming, which he followed until 1883, when he erected a comfortable and modern residence in the village of Manlius Station and Dec. 16 brought his family there to live. He died Dec. 29, 1891. Mrs. Snyder is a descendant of New England ancestors and her parents, Luther and Mary (Sweet) Jones, were natives of Rhode Island. They were for a while residents of Albany Co. and in 1821 moved to Cayuga Co., settling in the town of Cato.

Simon, John, Manlius, was born in Prussia, near Coblentz, June 15, 1831, and came to this country with his father in 1840. Valentine Simon, his father, bought 38 acres of land in Dewitt in 1849 and since that time the family have followed farming. He died on the old homestead Dec. 3, 1894, aged 93 years. His wife, Catherine Blatz, died in the old country. Two other children besides John were born of the same mother, Henry, a farmer of Dewitt, and Margaret, of Euclid. John lived with his father until he was 23 years old, he then was employed in a saw mill at Liverpool for one year. He was then employed on various farms until 1857, when he bought ten acres of land in Dewitt, which he added to until he owned 31 acres. He made this his home until 1871, when he moved on his present farm of 86 acres. Since 1888 he has conducted a steam thresher in connection with his farming. He and his family attend the Presbyterian church at Collamer. He is a member of the North Manlius Grange. Nov. 28, 1854, he married Caroline, daughter of Jacob Bachee, a store mason, born in Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Simon have had eight children: Val- entine P., a farmer, was struck by a train on the N. Y. C. R. R. and is now in the hospital at Syracuse ; John H., a farmer; Catherine M., wife of Charles Mihlbach, a farmer of Cicero; Jacob J., died March 13, 1885, aged 24 years; Carrie F., lives at home; Frederick W., who assists on the homestead; Anna E., died Sept. 22, 1880, aged 14 years; and Charles A., who also lives at home.

Shoemaker, Abram, Manlius, was born at Manlius Station, Nov. 25, 1829. Abra- ham, his father, was born in Herkimer Co., Aug. 25, 1786. For four generations, the family have been residents of this country. They are of Holland Dutch descent, and Rudolph Shoemaker, one of the early settlers of Herkimer Co., was married in 1777 to Mary Rosencrans, whose mother was a sister of General Herkimer. Rudolph was the second or third settler in the town of Manlius, coming here in 1780. Abraham served in the war of 1812. He located at Oswego. Rudolph Shoemaker took up a tract of 100 acres, a part of which is now owned by Abram. He was the father of Abraham, Daniel, Katherine, and Rudolph. Abraham died Aug. 5, 1835. He married Barbara Harter, born in Herkimer Co., May 13, 1786, who died Nov. 18, 1863. Of this union six children were born, two of whom are now living: Robert, a farmer of Manlius; and Abram. Abram was educated in the common schools, then engaged in farming for a while, but in 1847, he entered the employ of the railroad company. In 1848 he went on a locomtive as fireman, and April 8, 1852, he was advanced to engineer, now being the oldest engineer on the line between Syracuse and Albany. In 1854 he married Caroline, daughter of Baldus Bettinger, a native . of Herkimer Co. They had two sons and three daughters, the sons died young ; Estella, wife of Charles Schuyler, chief clerk of the Sault Ste. Marie R. R., living in

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Minneapolis; Cora, wife of Augustus Osborne, a machinist in the employ of the Smith Typewriter Co., of Syracuse; and Blanche, living at home.

Smith, Anson, Manlius, was born in the town of Manlius, Aug. 24, 1830. Orson Smith, his father, was born in Massachusetts in 1800 and came to Onondaga Co. in 1821, where he was engaged in farming. He died Dec. 10, 1886. He married Mar- garet Cranz, of Cicero, by whom he had two children: Harriet, wife of Cortland Cunningham, of Manlius, who died in 1852, aged 24 years, leaving one child : Anson C., of Lyons, Ill. ; and Anson. The latter was educated in the common schools, after leaving school he engaged in farming and became his father's partner in con- ducting the farm. In 1876 Mr. Smith was elected supervisor, which position he held four years. Mr. Smith was twice married, first in Jan. 1855, he married Dolly Terpenning, of North Manlius, who died March 31, 1866, leaving three children: Harlow, died April 10, 1883, aged 26 years; Mrs. Kimball, of Dewitt and Mrs. Brown, of East Syracuse, were twins, born Dec. 17, 1864. Dec. 1 1870, Mr. Smith married Emma, daughter of the late John Haffenden, of Syracuse. They have four children : Harry L., born Sept. 17, 1873, educated in Syracuse schools, now on the farm; Jessie A., born April 19, 1875, now a teacher of the common school of this town; Howard E., born Nov. 29, 1879, lives at home; and Glenn A., born Nov. 10, 1882. Mr. Smith died Jan. 26, 1890.

Weidman, Dr. Charles, Marcellus, was born in Dryden, Tompkins Co., May 28, 1855, a son of John and Catharine Weidman, the former a native of Schoharie Co. and a physician, born in 1824, who practiced in Dryden. His death occurred in 1865. Charles E. was educated in Dryden, also Cortland, and began practice in Borodino, which he continued five years, then came to Marcellus in 1887, where he has remained, and now has the largest practice of any in the town, being highly es- teemed by all. He married Nettie Rust, of Otisco, and they have four children: Georgia, Catharine, Charles Earl, and John Francis. Mrs. Wiedman died in Nov. 1892.

Walsh, Thomas, jr., Marcellus, was born in Marcellus, Feb. 12, 1862, son of Thomas and Hannah Walsh. Thomas Walsh, sr., was born in Ireland and came to Marcellus about 1854, where he settled and where he owns and conducts a farm at the present time. Subject was educated in Marcellus, then engaged in farming and also conducts a wholesale meat business, supplying meat to prominent firms in Syra- cuse. He married Ella Amesbury, by whom he had one child, James L. Mrs. Walsh died in 1889, and he married second Luella, daughter of George Spingler of Elbridge, and has one child, Kesler. Mr. Walsh is a staunch Republican, and takes a great interest in the success of his party,

Wicks, Thomas T., Marcellus, was born in Somersetshire, England, June 20, 1821, son of Job and Sarah Wicks, who came to Skaneateles in June, 1842, then moved to Marcellus in 1845 and went to work at farming. He returned to England for a short period, then came back to Marcellus and after working on shares for six or seven years, bought a farm himself, which he conducted eleven years, till he bought his present farm in 1864. This is a fine farm of 109 acres, under a good state of cultiva- tion. He married Elizabeth Pimen, by whom he has three children living and three deceased: Elmer died aged six, others died in infancy; Charles H., Sarah J. and Mary E., all are living at home.

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Wilcox, Mary L., Camillus, is a native of Farmington, Conn., daughter of Isaiah and Ann (Sherman) Wilcox, natives of Rhode Island and Connecticut. They located in Camillus on Genesee street in 1841. The father died in 1884 aged 79, and the mother in 1882 aged 79. Our subject and a brother George, who died in 1862, aged 23, were the only children. Subject was educated at Chittenango Institute, and has tanght school for many years. Her father was an active worker in the Baptist church, and a deacon for a number of years.

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Onondaga's centennial. Gleanings of a century, Vol. II, Part 99

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