USA > New York > Oneida County > Rome > Our city and its people : a descriptive work on the city of Rome, New York > Part 19
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One of the older citizens who has long been in business in Rome is James Elwell, who was born in 1824, learned the harness maker's trade and came to Rome in 1848. In the next spring in company with Charles F. Keith he bought the business of Silas Clark on James street, which was continued eighteen years. In 1866 he went to Colo- rado, but returned and has since been in the loan brokerage busi- ness. He has held the offices of trustee of the village, collector, as- sessor, etc.
The firm of Owens, Jones & Co., dealers in all kinds of coal and wood, began business in 1875. In 1881 Mr. Jones retired from the firm and George W. Day came in. Mr. Owens is an old and respect- able citizen and held the office of county superintendent of the poor six years before 1875. Previous to joining this firm Mr. Day had served as clerk in various Rome stores.
Hartman Thron, coal and ice dealer, began business in 1887. His ice house, with a capacity of 5,000 tons, is situated on the upper pond on Wood Creek. His sons Henry A. and Philip are connected with the business.
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W. H. Tyler, a native of Rome and son of T. H. Tyler, began deal- ing in and shipping hay, which he carried on a few years prior to 1886. In that year he established a milk and cream business and opened his well known creamery on Washington street. Besides milk produced on a farm of his own, he buys from other producers and delivers to his customers.
J. W. Jeal, dealer in wall paper, paints, etc., and practical painter, learned his trade with his brother George and purchased the business of the latter in 1892.
William H. Atkinson was born in Rome in January, 1852, and is a son of William Atkinson, of Shrewsbury, England. They were in the wholesale and retail clothing business in Rome nearly forty years and retired in 1881.
William Evans and his sons, D. G. and Griffith Evans, have long been prominently identified with the meat business. William Evans began in 1865 and the two sons came in in 1872. The senior of the firm is a native of Wales, and the sons were born in Rome.
Charles F. Sturtevant, a native of Lewis county, N. Y., came to Rome when young with his parents. After engaging for a time in fruit trade he went to New York city and served as cashier in a wholesale grocery for thirteen years. During the past fifteen years he has carried on a large real estate and loan business in Rome.
Charles H. Saulpaugh has for some years carried on a large whole- sale liquor trade in Rome, and is connected with various other interests. He was chosen president of the Lee Canning Company when it was organized in :893.
The meat business of William Binks & Son was established by the senior member of the firm many years ago. The son, W. T. Binks, became a member of the firm in 1893. He is a Republican in poli- tics, was appointed assistant chief of police in 1890, resigned March 1, 1893, and was appointed overseer of the poor of Rome, March 1, 1895.
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George Houck, jr., was born in Verona and came to Rome in 1846 with his son. He learned the butcher business and started for him- self in 1874 on James street. He removed to his present location in 1892.
George Scott settled in Rome about 1850 and with the exception of ten years spent in New York city has resided here since. In 1874 he began dealing in real estate and has been identified with that business ever since.
George W. Davis was born in Floyd in January, 1874, and was educated in Whitestown Seminary. During fifteen years of his early life he was engaged in teaching. A Democrat in politics, Mr. Davis was elected justice of the peace of Floyd in 1851 and served twenty years. In 1866-7 he was supervisor of his town and upon the organ- ization of the city of Rome was elected justice of the peace and has held the office ever since. He is a director in the First National Bank.
George W. G. Kinney has carried on a large life and fire insurance and brokerage business in Rome since 1867. Previous to that time he served as clerk in the Fort Stanwix Bank. He is a Republican in politics and served seven years as supervisor of the Fifth ward.
Edward H. Walworth, son of Jesse Walworth, was born in Rome and received a commercial education. Coming to Rome from New . York in 1889 he opened a school in shorthand on the Munson system, which he has since conducted. Since April, 1889, he has also filled the position of bookkeeper in the gas office. A Republican in politics, he was elected alderman of the First ward in 1894.
George D. Little came to Rome from Vienna in 1871 and served first as clerk in the dry goods store of Williams, Edwards & Co. A year later he accepted a position as bookkeeper in the Rome Merchant Iron Mills, continuing to 1875. From that time until 1881 he was teller in the Farmers' National Bank. Since that time he has occu -
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pied his present position of bookkeeper in the New York Locomotive Works.
Calvin Petrie, son of Glen Petrie, is a native of Rome and received his education here. . For many years he has been connected with the banking institutions of Rome, first as assistant teller in the Fort Stan- wix Bank and from 1880 to 1888 as teller. From that time until 1894 he was cashier of the First National Bank, and from there returned to the Fort Stanwix as teller, which position he held until the failure of that institution.
J. M. Brainard learned photographing with J. S. Hovey, beginning in 1870. In 1876 he acquired an interest in the business of his employer, and in 1881 purchased the establishment. No more beautiful examples of this art are made anywhere than come from this studio. Mr. Brain- ard is a Republican, served as alderman of the First ward three years, and was appointed by Governor Flower a manager of the Custodial Asylum and was reappointed by Governor Morton.
J. C. Chapman was born in New York city, January 6, 1835. He received his education in Waterford, Conn., and joined the merchant service as a sailor. Early in the war of the Rebellion he enlisted as an officer in the United States Navy and served from August 15, 1861, to November 27, 1865. December 1, 1866, he entered the employ of the New York Central Railroad and has ever since remained with that company, filling responsible positions.
CONTRACTORS AND BUILDERS.
W. J. Cramond, a practical stone cutter and mason of long experi- ence, began contracting and building in 1871. He has been very successful and has had charge of the erection of many prominent buildings in Rome and elsewhere. Among them may be mentioned the residence of Hon. Jim Stevens, the city hall, two brick blocks for J. B. Williams, the Rome jail, etc.
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William H Davies settled in Rome in 1853 and worked at the car - penter's trade for two years. He then went to Canada as draftsman in the engineer's office of the Great Western Railroad. Returning to Rome in 1859 he became largely employed as contractor, architect and builder. Among the prominent structures erected by him are St. Mary's St. Peter's and St. Joseph's churches, the Glesmann block and the Kingsley block. Mr. Davies has now substantially retired from business.
H. C. Baldwin, contractor and builder, learned his trade with his father, Asher Baldwin, who located in Rome about 1836. He erected many buildings and died in 1869. Mr. Baldwin has been engaged in the construction of many buildings in Rome, especially residences, of which he has erected hundreds.
Albert Bruce, a native of Chenango county, learned the carpenter's trade in Cortland county and located in Rome in 1868. He was em- ployed fifteen years by the Rome Iron Works as a specialist in the erection of furnaces and other structures. He then went to Kansas, where members of the same company built iron works, of which he had charge. Returning to Rome he was employed on the construction of the present brass and copper mills.
R. A. Putnam, builder and contractor, came to Rome in 1861 and has carried on his business here since. Among the many buildings erected by him may be mentioned the residences of Charles Rathbun, Burt Olney, the Father Murphy parochial residence, the woodwork on the Bingham block and many others. Mr. Putnam has also been largely engaged in building in other localities outside of Rome.
I. A. Martin was born in Floyd and moved into the town of Rome in 1869 and to the city in 1872. He is now a member of the build- ing and contracting firm of Hilts & Martin, his partner being Ezra Hilts. Some of the buildings erected by them are the Smith - Corcoran block, the Oster block, the residence connected with the Deaf Mute
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Institution, and those of James Ethridge, T. S. Mowry, A. W. Orton, George B. Selden, W. J. Doyle and others.
The contracting firm of Thomas & Gerwig (J. R. Thomas and J. W. Gerwig) was formed in 1886. Mr. Gerwig learned his trade with his father, Frederick Gerwig, deceased. Mr. Thomas is also a practical workman and both were formerly in the employ of William H. Davis. The firm has had contracts for building many prominent structures in Rome and vicinity.
HOTELS.
The reader has already learned of the building and proprietorship of many of the early hotels of Rome. The old Stanwix Hall has a long and interesting record, and its name is familiar throughout the State. It is now kept by Samuel Cox, who took it in July, 1895, succeeding Levis & Warner.
The Commercial Hotel was built by D. B. Prince for Thompson & Rowe, who kept it some years, under the name of the Thompson House. S. G. Cackett took the house in May, 1896, succeeding P. McLaughlin.
The Arlington Hotel block, one of the finest business structures in Rome, was built by D. P. Mc.Harg in 1876. He kept it several years as a hotel and after various changes in proprietorship it was taken by S. Hodge in November, 1893.
The Mansion House was built by A. J. Sink many years ago and is now the property of Mrs. Harriett S. Farr, whose late husband kept the house fifteen or more years. It is now managed by George Bing- ham.
The Empire House, now kept by George W. Baynes, was built for a dwelling and rebuilt in its present shape in 1880, by Anthony Bane.
The Temperance Hotel was built in 1885 by Samuel Thalman on
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the site of a block that was burned. Mr. Thalman is the proprietor of the house.
Besides these there are several smaller hotels in the city, and the Willett House, which is the property of Dr. Kingsley, but is not kept strictly as a hotel.
M. CALVIN WEST, M. D.
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CHAPTER XXIV.
THE MASONIC ORDER IN ROME.'
Roman Lodge of Free and accepted Masons, of Rome, was founded in 1799. The county of Oneida was formed the year preceding. The charter of Roman Lodge bears date February 13, 1799, and was the first issued in the new county. Hon. Robert R. Livingston, chancellor of the State of New York, was grand master ; Hon. Jacob Morton, dep- uty grand master ; Hon. Dewitt Clinton, senior grand warden ; Hon. Martin Hoffman, junior grand warden ; Hon. John Abrams, grand sec- retary. The charter is in an excellent state of preservation. The sig- natures of the grand officers appear upon the charter, excepting only that of the grand master.
The first officers of the lodge and named in the charter were Hon. Joshua Hathaway, master ; Dr. Stephen White, senior warden ; Chester Gould, junior warden. The lodge number was 82, which was changed in 1819 to 79. On March 7, 1799, the officers were installed by Oliver Collins, pursuant to the dispensation of the grand master. The lodge records from its foundation to 1835 have been lost, so that compara- tively little has been learned with reference to many of the years. There were living in Rome in 1799 a number of Masons who were members of Amicable Lodge of New Hartford. They doubtless connected them- selves with the new lodge, but the fact is not known. Joshua Hatha- way was master in 1800; Dr. Thomas Hartwell in 1802 ; Isaac Lee in 1812; Numa Leonard in 1814-17 ; Daniel Green and Walter Colburn between 1817 and 1823 ; G. W. Gurnley in 1823.
For many years prior to 1824 the lodge room was located on the top
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OUR CITY AND ITS PEOPLE.
floor of the Coffee House, a wooden structure located on the site of the building which has been for many years known as the Tibbits or Mitchell block, and now occupied by Jonas W. Armstrong and Smith & Hammann. In 1824 a subscription paper was circulated for the pur- pose of purchasing a site and erecting a Masonic hall. The subscription paper is in existence and contains twenty-six names. The largest con- tributor was Numa Leonard-" $30 in materials and work." The ag- gregate of the subscriptions was $240.50. All but $20 of this was paid in materials and work, and was given in lumber, lime, iron ware, pro- duce, painting, shoemaking and goods.
As a result of the subscription a lot was purchased of Henry Hunt- ington, the title being taken in the name of Numa Leonard, who gave a declaration of trust to the lodge. Thereupon the building now stand- ing upon the southwest corner of North Washington and Liberty streets was erected on that site. The upper floor was used as a lodge room, and called first La Fayette Hall and later Masonic Hall. Here lodge and chapter met until 1832. The lower floor of the building was occu- pied by Zion church until the year last mentioned, when the church acquired the title to the premises ; subsequently the Universalist Society purchased the property. Numa Leonard was again master of the lodge from 1823 to 1826"; Benjamin P. Johnson, 1827; Joseph B. Read, 1828 and 1829.
In 1830 public feeling against Masonry had become so intense be- cause of the alleged abduction of one Morgan, that a large number of the members dropped their connection with the lodge, which became non- selfsustaining. For several years meetings were held, the places being kept secret. The store of Alvah Mudge-he being a mem- ber-was one of the gathering places. In 1835 the few remaining members abandoned the idea of reviving the institution, and the charter was declared forfeited by the Grand Lodge.
Hon. Joshua Hathaway, the first master, was a graduate of Yale
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College, class of 1787. He served in the Revolution and participated in the battle of Bennington. He also served in the war of 1812 with the rank of major, and was in command at Sackett's Harbor for a brief period. He was for many years judge of the Court of Common Pleas surrogate and postmaster.
Among the members of the lodge were Hon Samuel Beardsley. He married Judge Hathaway's daughter, became attorney-general, mem- ber of congress for several terms, being elected once by a large majority over the anti Masonic candidate. He was also a member of the State Senate, United States district attorney, and chief justice of the Supreme Court. Hon. Chester Hayden was a partner of Judge H. A. Foster ; he was surrogate of Oswego county, judge of the Oneida Common Pleas, and author of a treatise on Practice and Pleading. Col. John Westcott commanded the Rome regiment at Sackett's Harbor. Dr. HI. H. Pope, Hon. Samuel B. Stevens, Hon. Benjamin P. Johnson, rep- resented this county in the Assembly for several years ; Senator Wager, Gen. Jesse Armstrong, and many others. who were prominent in the town and county.
In 1851 Masonry had revived to a considerable extent. Hon. Sam- uel B. Stevens, Gen. Jesse Armstrong, Joseph D. Gage, James Halbert and one or two others who were members prior to 1835, together with Hon. A. D. Barbour, Hon. I. S. Parker, James Tillinghast-the latter for many years general passenger agent of the R., W. & O. Railroad and now living in Buffalo, N. Y .- applied for a charter for Roman Lodge, which was granted and numbered 223. The charter was issued under the administration of R. Hyde Walworth, chancellor of the State of New York, the then grand master. The first officers were Selden A Emerson, W. M .; Samuel B. Stevens, S. W .; Solomon Purdy, J. W .; William Brockway, S. D .; Justin J. Wells, J. D .; James Tillinghast, secretary ; Justus L. Grant, treasurer ; James Halbert, tyler.
The following were masters from 1853 to the present time: Robin-
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son E. Smiley, 1853-54 ; Justus L. Grant, 1855-56; Sandford Adams, 1857-59; R. E. Smiley, 1860; William II. Doxtater, 1861-62; G. W. Baldwin, 1863 ; George F. Bicknell, 1864-65; Edward L. Stevens, 1866; Henry W. Pell, 1867-68; George J. Leach, 1869; Fred E. Mitchell, 1870-72 ; Jerome Dillenbeck, 1873-75 ; Charles H. Nichol- son, 1876-77 ; Dr. J. J. Barbour, 1878 ; W. N. Trumpour, 1879; Dr. Edwin Evans, 1880-81 ; Edward Jones, 1882-83 ; Fred E. Mitchell, 1884-85 ; James A. Owens, 1886-90; Albert H. Golley, 1891-92 ; Arthur L. Dale, 1893-94; Charles H. Nicholson, 1895; A. Delos Kneeland, 1896.
The first lodge room was located in the Armstrong block, on the southwest corner of South James street and the Erie Canal. Novem- ber 5, 1853, the room was destroyed by fire. June 24, 1856, the lodge moved into and dedicated a new hall upon the top floor of the building so long occupied by the Fort Stanwix Bank and J. H. Searles, esq., on the east side of South James street just below Dom- inick street.
June 24, 1857, was Saint John's Day, and was celebrated on a large scale. Hon. J. L. Lewis, grand master, delivered an address in the Baptist church. A banquet was afterwards given at the American Hotel, at which speeches were made by the grand master, and Broth- ers D. M. K. Johnson, Stephen Van Dresar, D. A. Ogden, Finlay M. King and D. E. Wager. ,
On February 14, 1871, the lodge changed its home, removing to the commodious quarters in the building on the southwest corner of Stone alley and North James street, owned by Hon. Samuel B. Stevens.
February 11, 1880, the lodge occupied for the first time the rooms in the Glessman- Hower block, now known as Masonic Hall. In Octo- ber, 1892, Roman Lodge was duly incorporated under the laws of the State.
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On October 4, 1894, by invitation of the mayor and common coun- cil, the Grand Lodge of the State of New York laid the corner stone of the City Hall with Masonic ceremonies, the following officers partici- pating : John Hodge, garnd master; Roderick Campbell, deputy grand master, pt .; Charles E. Ide, grand junior warden ; A. D. Kneeland, grand senior deacon, pt .; H. C. Wiggins, grand junior deacon, pt. ; Charles W. Cushman, grand marshal ; Fred E. Mitchell, grand sword bearer, pt .; J. R. Chamberlain, grand steward; O. P. Backus, grand steward, pt .; D. F. Searle, grand standard bearer, pt. ; J. C. Skinner, grand tiler ; E. L. Stevens, grand secretary, pt. ; A. J. Wilkinson, grand ~ treasurer ; Rev. J. H. Egar, grand chaplain, pt.
Before the ceremonies a large parade occurred, nearly six hundred Masons being in line. Rome Commandery No. 45 Knights Templar acted as an escort to the Grand Lodge. The grand master delivered an address, and was followed by Hon. D. E. Wager, a former member of Roman Lodge, who delivered a highly interesting and instructive historical discourse.
Rome Chapter No. 102 R. A. M., Fort Stanwix Chapter No. 153 R. A. M .- February 5, 1825, Rome Chapter No. 102 of Royal Arch Masons received a charter from the Grand Chapter, in which were ap- pointed Benjamin P. Johnson, high priest ; Daniel Green, king ; Ben- jamin Rudd, scribe.
February 21, 1825, a procession was formed and proceeded to the Presbyterian church, where an address was delivered by Companion Rev. David Morris, pastor of the Baptist church, and the chapter dedi- cated in due and ancient form by the Most Excellent (Rev.) Ezra S. Crozier, grand scribe of the Grand Chapter.
July 26, 1826, Hon. Benjamin P. Johnson, the M. E. high priest, offered the following preamble and resolution :
Whereas, Intelligence has been received of the decease of those illustrious patri- ots, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, who, in "the times that tried men's souls,"
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dared to pledge their "lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor," rather than submit to a foreign yoke; therefore.
Resolved, As a testimony of our respect for the memory, the virtues and services of these distinguished patriotic individuals, the members of this chapter will wear crape on the left arm for one month.
September 13, 1826, the corner stone of the Baptist church on Stan- wix street was laid with Masonic ceremonies. Masons assembled from the surrounding country, resulting in a very large procession. Hon. Benjamin P. Johnson acted as grand master ; E. Companion Silas Cor- nish as deputy grand master. An address was delivered by Rev. David Morris.
The chapter was very vigorous for several years, but finally succumbed to the prejudices of the community about 1832.
The following were the high priests of the chapter: Benjamin P. Johnson, 1825-27-30 ; Silas Cornish, 1828-29; Numa Leonard, 1831.
October 20, 1855, J. D. Gage and I. S. Parker, old members of Rome Chapter No. 102, with Sanford Adams, esq., Hon. A. D. Bar- bour, C H. White, Rev. H. C. Vogell, J. L. Grant, and A. C. Brower, petitioned the Grand Chapter for the issuance of a charter to a new body, to be known as Fort Stanwix Royal Arch Chapter. A dispen- sation was granted on November 19, 1855, and a charter issued Febu- ary 6, 1856.
Robinson E. Smiley was the first high priest, 1855-58; Sanford Adams, 1859; George F. Bicknell, 1860-62; D. M. K. Johnson, 1863 ; D. L. Boardman, 1863 ; Orrin Root, 1865-67 ; H. S. Bedell, 1868-72 ; F. E. Mitchell, 1873-81, 1887-89; Martin W. Smith, 1882.83; William Thom, 1884-86; W. J. Cramond, 1890; James A. Owens, 1891-92 ; John Jones, 1893-94 ; Dr. W. F. Tremain, 1895-96.
Rome Commandery No. 45, Knights Templar .- January 26, 1869, a dispensation was granted to organize Rome Commandery, and October 6th of that year, a charter was issued to it by the Grand Commandery.
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The following have been E. commanders since its organization : Sir Henry W. Pell, Sir Jerome Graves, Sir George J. Leach, Sir Fred E. Mitchell, Sir Edward L. Stevens, Sir Edwin Evans, Sir James A. Owens, Sir Albert H. Golley.
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
DANIEL WARDWELL.
THE Wardwell family in America descends from a name prominent in the early days of the Massachusetts colony and in Revolutionary times, and numbers among its members many representatives who have been conspicuous in State and Nation. William Wardwell, who was born in England in 1604, immigrated to this country with the Pilgrims and became a member of the first Congregational church of Bos- ton, which was organized in 1633. His son Urial, born in February, 1639, settled in the town of Bristol, R. I., in 1681, and married Grace Giddings, by whom he had a son John, who married Phebe, daughter of Samuel Howland, on October 11, 1741. Samuel Howland was born in Bristol, R. I., May 24, 1686, and on May 6, 1708, was married by Rev. Mr. Sparhawk to Abigail Cary. Mr. Howland's father, Jabez, born in 1649, was a very active and enterprising officer under Captain Church in King Philip's war, and in 1681, after the conquest of Mount Hope, settled in Bristol. He was a son of John Howland, who married Elizabeth, daughter of John Carver, the first governor of Massachusetts. John Howland and Governor Carver were both members of the immortal band of Pilgrims who came over in the good ship Mayflower and landed on Plymouth Rock on December 22, 1620. The children of John and Phebe (Howland) Wardwell were John, born in June, 1742, married Sally Swan ; Nathaniel, born March 29, 1744; Joseph, born March 21, 1747, married Betsey May; Phebe, born January 23, 1749, married James Smith; Susannah, born January 15, 1751, married Daniel Gladding; Mary (Mrs. Sanford Munroe and afterwards Mrs. Jonah Smith) and Elizabeth, twins, born January 6, 1753; Samuel, born April 25, 1755; Tabitha, born November 25, 1757, married Samuel Bosworth; Daniel, born March 29, 1760, died at sea; Allen Cary, born June 5, 1752; and Allen, born March 1, 1765, married Abigail Smith. Of this large family Joseph, the third, served in the General Assembly of Rhode Island in 1803. An ardent patriot during the Revolu- tion his name appears in a list of subscribers to a fund raised by the people of Bristol, R. I., for the relief of the sufferers in Boston caused by the enforcement of the Bos- ton port bill. Samuel, the eighth, was a member of the Rhode Island Assembly in 1791-93, 1793-97, 1809, and 1810, or nine years in all. Subsequent assemblymen bearing the name were Nathaniel in 1821-23, Hezekiah C. in 1849-51, and William T. C. in 1870-71 and 1875. The latter was State senator in 1872.
Samuel Wardwell, above mentioned, father of Judge Daniel Wardwell, enlisted at the age of twenty in the Rhode Island militia and served two years in the Revolu- tionary war, being taken prisoner by the British and confined in a prison ship in
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