USA > New York > Oneida County > Rome > Our city and its people : a descriptive work on the city of Rome, New York > Part 17
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Present Bar of Rome .- The bar of Rome as at present constituted comprises many men of acknowledged ability and high character. Notices of several will be found among the more extended biographies in this volume.
R. C. Briggs was born in Earlville, N. Y., October 24, 1847, and obtained his education in Whitestown Seminary and Hamilton College. He studied law with Johnson & Prescott and was admitted to the bar in 1878. He began practice alone in Rome, but for many years has been associated in partnership with W. B. Bliss. In politics he is a
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Republican, and has been honored by his fellow citizens with election to the office of alderman of the Fifth ward, serving three years, and is now in his second term as special county judge, his second term be- ginning January 1, 1896.
W. B. Bliss, partner with Mr. Briggs, is a native of Rome and was born September 7, 1838 ; he is a son of John Bliss. Educated in the Rome Academy, he studied law with George F. Bicknell, also with Foster, Johnson, Boardman & Lynch, and graduated in the Albany Law School in 1861. He began practice in Lee Center, but towards the close of the war of the Rebellion he joined the army as first lieu- · tenant of Co. L, 15th Engineers, and served to the end of the war. Returning he located in Rome and has continued in active practice since. He has held the office of special county judge two terms and during his second term was elected county judge to fill a vacancy, and at the end of a year was elected for the following term. He has also served one term as surrogate. He is Republican in politics.
Eugene A. Rowland was born in Boonville February 29, 1864; re- ceived his education in the Rome schools and Colgate University, where he graduated in 1884; studied law with Johnson & Prescott, was admitted to the bar in 1887 and was appointed United States commissioner in 1890 and is now in that office. He is Republican in politics.
John D. McMahon, born January 28, 1859, was educated in the Rome Academy, studied law with Johnson & Prescott and was ad- mitted in October, 1882. A Democrat in politics he was appointed city attorney in March, 1883, was made recorder in 1886 and re-elected in 1890; he resigned in 1892 and was appointed deputy attorney- gen- eral of the State, holding the office in 1893-4. He ran for Congress in 1888 and was defeated.
Andrew Delos Kneeland, born in Binghamton May 6, 1863, was ed- ucated in Colgate University and Madison University ; studied law
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with J. I. Sayles and John S. Baker in Rome and was admitted in Jan- uary, 1888. He is a Republican and held the office of city attorney in 1 892-95.
Timothy Curtin, born in Rome October 22, 1857, was educated in the high school at Ravenna, Ohio, studied law with M. D. Barnett in . Rome and was admitted in 1881. He began practice in Rome and a year later formed a partnership with J. D. McMahon, which was dis- solved in 1894. He is a Republican, and held the office of justice of the peace and ran for the office of Recorder in 1882.
John S. Baker was born in Salem, N. J., in 1844, received an aca- demic education in the Charlotteville (N. Y.) Seminary, studied law in the Albany Law School and three years with Pomeroy & Southworth and was admitted to the bar in 1866. He has practiced in Rome ever since. He is a Republican in politics, held the office of alderman 1878 -80, was a member of the Board of Education, 1880-82, was recorder in 1891 (to fill vacancy). He is at present a member of the Water and Sewer Commission.
Edward L. Stevens was born March 10, 1834, graduated from Union College in 1855, and from the Albany Law School. He has been in active practice in Rome since 1857, and has held the offices of president of the village, mayor of the city, etc.
Stoddard M. Stevens was born in Rome February 25, 1863, is a son of E. L. Stevens. He .was educated in the Rome Academy and was graduated from Cornell University in 1885. He studied law with his father in Rome and was admitted in January, 1888. His politics are Democratic.
E. O. Worden was born in Annsville April 17, 1849, was educated in the district schools, and studied law with Nock & Briggs, James P. Olney, and John S. Baker, to June, 1883, when he was admitted to the bar at Buffalo. He has been in active practice in Rome ever since; is a Republican in politics and in 1893 was chosen special county judge.
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Howard C. Wiggins was born in Floyd July 12, 1865, was educated in Whitestown Seminary and in the law department of Union Univer- sity. He was admitted to the bar in May, 1888, beginning practice in Rome. He has since had as partners A. D. Kneeland and James P. Olney, dissolving the latter in 1893. A Democrat in politics, he has held the office of recorder of the city, 1892-94, to fill a vacancy, is one of the Police and Fire Commissioners, a trustee of the Oneida County Savings Bank and a manager of the Rome State Custodial Insti- tution.
J. P. Gubbins was born in New Haven, Conn., June 15, 1864, was educated in the district schools and Rome Academy ; studied law with John S. Baker and was admitted to the bar in November, 1890. He is a Republican and is now in his second term as justice of the peace.
G. R Cornish was born in Lee Center November 29, 1856, he was educated in the Lee schools, studied law with Barnett & Bronner and was admitted in 1885. He has practiced in Rome since 1887, is a Re- publican, and has been city attorney since March, 1896, succeeding A. D. Kneeland. He was appointed canal collector in the Rome office in 1895.
George S. Klock was born in St. Johnsville, Montgomery county, N. Y., January 6, 1859. He received his education in district schools of his native place, at Fort Plain, and in Whitestown Seminary. He studied law with W. E. Scripture in Rome. was admitted to the bar in 1880, and has ever since practiced in Rome. He is a Republican in politics, was elected to the office of district attorney in 1892 and re- elected in 1895.
Harvey S. Bedell was born in. Verona village, July 30, 1839. He was educated in the Vernon Academy, studied law with Conklin & Throop and with Sterling V. Hadley in Waterloo, N. Y., and was ad- mitted in October, 1861. He began practicing in Rome in the follow- ing year and continues to the present time. In 1863 he was elected 27
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special surrogate ; in 1869 school commissioner and has been a mem- ber of the Board of Education and of the Water Commission. His politics are Democratic. He is now acting as attorney for the receiver of the Central Bank.
A. F. Sayles was born in Plymouth, Chenango county, N. Y., No- vember 16, 1858, studied law with J. I. Sayles in Rome and was ad- mitted in March, 1880. He practiced at North Western five years and has since been a partner with J. I. Sayles. He is a Republican in poli- tics ; held the office of postmaster in North Western, and in the spring of 1895 was elected alderman of the First ward of Rome.
D. F. Searle was born in Westmoreland, and received his education in Whitestown Seminary and Hamilton College. He studied law with J. I. Sayles in Rome, and was admitted to the bar in April, 1884. In 1887 he became a partner with J. I. Sayles and A. F. Sayles.
Joseph Porter was born in Springfield, Mass., September 4, 1846. He was educated in Whitestown Seminary, and served three years in Co. E, 2d N. Y. Heavy Artillery. He is a Republican, and has served as clerk of the Board of Supervisors and as assessor.
C. H. Dunning is the son of Richard Dunning, and was born in Rome in 1852. He received his education in the Rome Academy, and was one year in Hamilton College. He studied his profession with E. L. Stevens, and was admitted to the bar in October, 1876. He has taken an active part in Democratic politics, was appointed city attor- ney in 1879; was elected recorder in 1882 for four years, and in 1887 was again chosen city attorney, holding the office until 1891. On De- cember 1, 1893, he was appointed postmaster of the city of Rome.
Charles Carmichael was born in Western, October 29, 1855. He was educated in the public schools and Cazenovia Seminary, studied law with J. S. Baker and W. E. Scripture, and was admitted April 8, 1881. He has always practiced in Rome. A Democrat in politics, he was appointed city attorney in 1881 and again in 1892. He was elected recorder in March, 1894.
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John E. Mason was born in Western, August 31, 1870; was educated in the public schools and Rome Academy. Studied with McMahon & Curtin, and was admitted in 1896. He has held the positions of clerk of the Recorder's Court; clerk of the Excise Board and clerk of the Board of Assessors.
S. E. Spinning was born in Lee, August 6, 1862, graduated from Cazenovia Seminary in 1885, studied law with W. H. Kenyon, Oswego, and was admitted February 13, 1890. He has practiced in both Oswego and Rome. He is a Democrat and was elected justice of the peace in March, 1894.
J. S Schwarz was born in Philadelphia, N. Y., August 19, 1862 ; was educated in Canisius College, Buffalo, studied law with H. F. Bedell, Rome, and was admitted in January, 1885. He has practiced since in Rome, is a Democrat in politics, held the office of special surrogate in 1893, and was justice of the peace eight years from 1888.
M. H. Powers was born in Annsville, Oneida county, June 10, 1851, and is a son of James Powers. He received his education in the dis- trict schools, with a short period in Clinton Liberal Institute, and studied law with H. O. Southworth, Barnett & Sayles, and in Hamilton College Law School, where he finished in 1874. He began practice at West Branch, in this county, continuing there two years, when he located in Florence and remained eight years. The past twelve years he has been in successful practice in Rome. His politics are Demo- cratic.
Isaac J. Evans was born in Oriskany, July 20, 1853. He was edu- cated in Whitestown Seminary, graduating from the classical depart- ment. lle studied law with W. B. Bliss and with Barnett & Sayles, afterwards attending the Albany Law School one year. He was ad- mitted in May, 1876, and has since practiced in Rome. He is a Re- publican in politics and was elected special county judge in 1883 serv- ing one term of three years, at the close of which he was elected county judge.
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H. S. Wilson was born in Lee, Oneida county, August 29, 1834, and educated in Whitestown and Fairfield. He studied law with C. M. Greene at West Branch and Pomeroy & Southworth in Rome, and took a course at the Albany Law School. He has practiced in Flor- ence, in Minnesota ten years, in Santa Rosa, Cal., five years, and then located in Rome.
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THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.
CHAPTER XXI.
THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.
The history of the Oneida County Medical Society is given in Chap- ter XXIII of Volume I, with many other details connected with this profession. The first meeting of that society was held in Rome on July 1, 1806, and among the physicians who attended this meeting are found the names of the few who were practicing hereabouts at that early date. In the proceedings of the society since that time the medical men of Rome city and town have borne an honorable part, as already recorded. Following are brief sketches of many of the leading physicians of the present time :
THE MEDICAL PROFESSION IN ROME.
Edwin Evans was born in Whitestown, March 25, 1845, graduated from the Whitestown Seminary in 1867 ; studied medicine in Utica, . and entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York in 1870. Prior to that time he studied at Ann Arbor, Michigan, and one year in New York city. He also took a course in a post-graduate school in Philadelphia. He is a member and ex-president of the Oneida County Medical Society and a member of the State Medical Society.
Thomas G. Nock was born at Windsor Locks, Conn., August 13, 1860, and received his education in the Rome Academy and Williston Seminary, East Hampton, Mass. He studied medicine in the medical department of Syracuse University, graduating in 1883. He studied also with Dr. M. C. West after graduation. After practicing a few months he was appointed house physician of Rochester City Hospital,
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then spent six months in Brooklyn, going from there to Boston, where he was three months in Murdock Hospital. Henext spent one year in Rome, after which he was house surgeon in a New York Cancer Hospi- tal for seven months, down to 1890, and since that time he has prac- ticed in Rome.
A. A. Gillette was born in Steuben, April 21, 1856, was educated in the Rome schools, Rochester University, and graduated from the medi- cal department of Michigan University in 1881. After practicing ten years in Westernville he located in Rome.
Charles E. Fraser, jr., was born in Delta, Oneida county, July 6, 1850. Was educated in Whitestown Seminary ; the medical depart- ment of Michigan University and Bellevue Medical College, New York, From 1871 to 1882 he practiced in Lee Center, since which time he has been in Rome. He is a member of the Oneida County Medical So- ciety and the American Medical Association, and has been medical superintendent of the county alms house.
J. Harris Oxner was born in Herkimer county in 1842, was educated at Fort Plain, and in the Poughkeepsie Business College. He studied his profession at Ann Harbor, Michigan, graduating in 1880, and has practiced in Rome since.
A. E. Dietrich was born in Rome January 8, 1869, was educated in the Rome Academy, studied medicine in Long Island Hospital, gradu- ating in March, 1893. In the fall of that year he began attendance for one year in the Rome Custodial Asylum, and in January, 1895, began practice in Rome.
J. Middleditch was born in England, November 23, 1854, received his education in the public schools of Binghamton, and the Gilbertsville Academy. He studied medicine with H. II. Wicks at Gilbertsville, and graduated from the medical department of the University in Buffalo in 1881. After practicing for a time at Gilbertsville he settled in Rome
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Richard Eskridge Sutton was born at Great Mills, St. Mary's coun - ty, Md., September 15, 1831. He was educated at Charlotte Hall Acad- emy, Md., graduating in 1847, and had read medicine long before that with his father, who was an eminent physician. He graduated from the University of Maryland, March 10, 1851, before he was twenty years old. From that time until 1856 he practiced in Great Mills, went thence to Russia, Herkimer county, N. Y., for three years, and then to St. Johnsville. From there at the breaking out of the war he went as surgeon of the 115th Regiment, resigned on account of illness, and after recovery became a volunteer surgeon. Since the close of the war lie " has practiced in Rome. Dr. Sutton held the office of city chamberlain about twenty years.
J. R. Post was born in Picton, C. W., in 1849, was educated in Toronto University, graduating in 1872. Beginning practice in Flor- ence, Oneida county, he continued there thirteen years, removed to Rome in 1884, and has continued in active practice ever since.
Thomas P. Scully was born in Greenbush, N. Y., 1860, studied medi - cine in Albany Medical College, graduating in 1885. He practiced five years in Cohoes, and since that time in Rome.
Dr. James H. Whaley was born in Verona, October 18, 1861, and is a son of Dr. James Whaley, and grandson of Dr. Alexander Whaley; one of the pioneer physicians of the county. He was educated in Rome Academy and Cornell University and studied medicine in Bellevue Hospital College, graduating in 1888. He has practiced in Rome.
Homeopathic.
A. B Southwick was born in Sangerfield, June 20, 1840. He grad- uated from Hamilton College with the degree of A. B. in 1863, and three years later was given the degree of A. M. He studied medicine in the Homeopathic School in Waterville with Dr. E. A. Munger, and 'afterwards attended lectures in the Homeopathic Medical College of
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Pennsylvania and in the New York Homeopathic College. He has practiced in Rome ever since, and is a member of the Oneida County Homeopathic Medical Society ; of the New York State Homeopathic Society and the American Institute of Homeopathy.
N. C. Scudder was born in Rome, August 14, 1853, was educated in the Rome Academy and graduated from Hahnemann Medical College in 1879. He practiced one year in Camden and one year in Frederick, Md., since which he has continued in Rome. He is a member of the Oneida County Homeopathic Society, was its president in 1888, and is now its secretary and treasurer. He is a member of the State Medical Society and of the American Institute of Homeopathy and consulting and attending surgeon in the Utica Homeopathic Hospital.
The Gifford Family .-- John Gifford was born in the town of West- port, Bristol county, R. I., March 9, 1800, the youngest child of John and Isabel Gifford, the family tracing its descent far back into English history. Three centuries before the conquest of England by Duke William (in the eleventh century) we find them seated at Honfleur in Normandy. At the battle of Hastings in 1066 Sir Rudolph De Gifford was one of the conquerer's standard bearers and was rewarded by him with lands in Somersetshire and Cheshire, which were created into a Barony, from which his descendants were summoned to Parliament. In the reign of King Henry II Sir Peter Gifford married Alice, daughter and heiress of Sir Grey de Corbuchin, with whom he had the lordship of Chillington in Cheshire which was the seat of the Duke of Bucking- ham of this family.
Sir Stephen Gifford, son of Peter, was one of the barons accompany- ing Richard Coeur de Lion to the Holy Land and was killed in the siege of Jerusalem and his son Stephen was wounded. This family enjoyed great distinction in the English court for several centuries and no less than five peerages existed in it at one time. Baron George ,Gifford, descendant of Stephen, was made Earl of Buckingham by King Henry
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JOHN STRYKER.
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V and afterward by Edward V and created Duke of Buckingham and married Maud Plantagenet, the king's cousin. His son George, Duke of Buckingham, being by the tyrant King Richard III detected in the act of corresponding with the Earl of Richmond (Henry VII) he was attainted of treason and beheaded by Richard's orders; he however left several small children, but as they had been deprived of their lands and titles the mercenary king, Henry VII, found it more convenient not to restore them, and Humphrey Stafford, who married the king's oldest daughter, was created Duke of Buckingham. Through the reign of King Henry VII, Queen Mary, and Elizabeth the Giffords ineffectually put their claims before the English Parliament. Still later Ambrose Gifford, in the reign of James I, claimed before the house of peers to be Duke of Buckingham. Walter Gifford, son of Sir Ambrose, emigrated from England to Massachusetts Bay in 1630 and was the original of the American branch of this ancient family.
Recompense Gifford, son of Walter and grandfather of the late John Gifford, was born in the early part of the 17th century and followed the occupation of a farmer at Tiverton, R. I. His son John, father of John, first named in this sketch, was born in Rhode Island in 1774. His mother, whose maiden name was Isabel Milk, was born in 1753, the former living to the age of seventy-seven while the latter lived to be ninety- three years. They were both religious people, the former a Baptist and following the occupation of a farmer, and filling the pulpit on the Sabbath ; the latter belonged to a society of Friends. They were the parents of twelve children, all living to the years of maturity, some of them filling responsible positions ; all have passed away. John Gifford (first above named) attended the village school until he was fifteen years of age. At this age his desire to see more of the world than could be seen in the little village of Westport induced him to leave his parental home. He followed the ocean five years, visiting many ports of the old world. Not satisfied with the life of a sailor, he next 28
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OUR CITY AND ITS PEOPLE.
learned the trade of painting and chair-making. Hearing promising accounts of the Black River country in York State, he next turned westward, traveling the entire distance on foot.
He arrived in Watertown late in the summer of 1822; here he com- menced to erect a shop in September of that year. In his business he was very successful for nearly five years. This shop was consumed by fire in August, 1827, leaving him penniless. With assistance, he, in September of the same year, commenced to erect a new shop which is the present Hitchcock lamp factory. In this shop he continued in busi- ness until 1836.
He married the only daughter of Col. John Gotham, July 26, 1827, with whom he lived nearly forty- nine years In 1837 he turned his attention to farming. He removed his family, consisting of wife and six children, to Lewis county and on a farm comparatively new he commenced his new occupation, in which he showed much energy and ability ; but the struggle was against fearful odds. He returned to Watertown in 1841 where, after leasing a farm for three years, he lo- cated in 1844 on the one which he occupied up to the time of his death, which took place September 10, 1880. He reared a large family, nine of whom survive him, respectively representing the varied positions of their ancestry. Among them we find men of the learned professions, the mechanic and the farmer. Mr. Gifford's theology was a belief in the universal salvation of mankind. In his politics he was strictly Democratic, never sacrificing principle to party. Radical in his plans, discreet in the application of modern scientific improvements; he was in the main executive in all he undertook ; he made farming pay. His devotion to business continued to the end of his life, he was large hearted, had a retentive memory and easy communication. He was a kind neighbor, a true friend, and most loving father, and in the home circle and community in which he lived he was greatly missed.
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THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.
Dr. Alden Gifford, son of John, was born in Watertown in No- vember, 1831. He received his education in his native town and in the commercial college at Poughkeepsie, and in Chicago. He is a graduate of the old Hahnemann Medical College of Chicago, and be- gan practicing in Rome in 1879, and has thus continued ever since. He is a member of the Homeopathic Medical Society of Oneida County and has been a member of the State Society.
The oldest dentist in Rome is S. F. Tremain, who was born in Vienna and received his education in Cazenovia Seminary. He then entered the office of Dr. Perkins in Rome, where he remained sev. " eral years and began practice in Vernon. A few years later he re- turned to Rome, bought out Dr. Perkins and practiced almost thirty- five years in the rooms where he learned his profession. W. F. Tre- main is his son and studied with his father and graduated from the Philadelphia Dental College in 1889. Five years ago they occupied their present commodious offices on West Dominick street.
G. H. Lloyd was born in Utica, March 7, 1854. He graduated from the Philadelphia Dental College, practiced in Rome three years, followed by seven years' practice in New York city, since which time he has done a large business in Rome.
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OUR CITY AND ITS PEOPLE.
CHAPTER XXII.
MANUFACTURES.
In the early years of its history and down to about the last quarter of a century, Rome had little to boast of in the line of manufactures. Nearly destitute of water power and without other natural resources that could be made available in this direction, it is not strange that ex- tensive manufacturing industries were not established here. There were the usual village shops where hats, boots and shoes, wagons, tin- ware, etc., were made, many of which with the names of the proprie- tors have been described in foregoing pages; but within the past twenty-five years a number of large industries have been founded in Rome that have been of great importance in adding to her population and wealth.
Among these is what is now known as the Rome Brass and Copper Company, the large product of which embraces brass, copper, and German silver in sheets, wire, rods, tubes and plates, and various novel- ties in these metals made from blanks and shells. This company orig- inated in what was called the Rome Iron Works, which were estab- lished in 1866 for mining, smelting and manufacturing iron and steel, re-rolling rails and bars and the mining and sale of coal. In 1878 the manufacture of brass was added and in 1887 the working of copper was begun. On October 20, 1891, the name of the company was changed to its present title, with S. O. Scudder, president; William R. Hunt- ington, vice-president ; J. S. Haselton, secretary and treasurer. Mr. Scudder was one of the original stockholders and was chosen president in 1884. At his death Mr. Huntington was made president, and W. J. P. Kingsley vice-president. Mr. Huntington succeeded B. W. Will-
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