USA > New York > Madison County > Our county and its people : a descriptive and biographical record of Madison County, New York > Part 31
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In addition to the above described lighting facilities is the Oneida
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Electric Light and Power Company's plant. This company was incor- porated in 1897 and in that year made a five year contract with the cor- poration to light the village streets for $6,000 per annum, for seventy- two arc lamps, twenty-five of which were burned all night and the remainder until 1 a. m. The officers of the company are: W. Judson Smith, president; Henry S. Newton, chief engineer; C. W. Koiner, general manager; Howard N. Babcock, secretary and treasurer; C. H. Coley, counsel.
The first brick paving laid in Oneida was that on Madison Square, which was followed by the paving of Main street in 1887 with brick and of Madison and Phelps streets in 1888. Previous to that date some of the main streets were roughly paved with cobble stones. But an improvement destined to be of far greater benefit to the community was the establishment of the sewer system, the construction of which is now well advanced. After considerable agitation the question of sewers in the village was apparently settled in 1891, when a sewer com- mission was appointed consisting of Manford J. Dewey, Lawrence Kenna, Hiram L. Rockwell, Jason T. Wallace and Alfred L. Goodrich. This commission met on June 1 and elected Mr. Dewey president, and E. L. Hunt, clerk. Walter F. Randall was employed as engineer and B. A. Ransom as legal counsel. The engineer was sent to several other places to inspect systems and gain desired information. Specifi- cations were submitted to the board on June 22, after which a Roches- ter consulting engineer was called in and the plans perfected. In October, 1891, Engineer Randall was directed to proceed with the necessary survey. The work progressed through that summer and on September 13 at a board meeting it was moved that " we submit a proposition to build a general system of sewerage covering the thickly settled portion of the village of Oneida, to be paid for by general assessment for the necessary amount." When this proposition was brought before the people for a vote it was lost by a majority of nearly four to one, and for a time nothing further was accomplished.
The matter was again taken up in 1896 with renewed zeal. William W. Baker was then president of the village and was heartily in favor of the construction of sewers. The Board of Sewer Commissioners was somewhat changed and consisted of M. J. Dewey, president, C. Her- man Philipp, Burt Van Horn, Charles House, and Charles H. Parsons. Dr. E. R. Boden was elected clerk. Without attempting to follow the details of the work thus far accomplished on the system, it may be
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stated that trunk sewers have been completed on both sides of the junc- tion of Main street and Lenox avenue, while the one on the north side extends through Almond street to James across the feeder. These trunk sewers, having an approximate length of two miles, were con- structed by the village corporation, after proper action had been taken, and cost about $16,000, which was paid in annual installments of $5,000 each, the last being paid in 1898. The remainder of the system con- sists of lateral sewers, a number of which have been completed. These are constructed upon properly presented petitions, and the cost paid by the property owners benefited thereby. Between four and five miles of these lateral sewers were constructed in 1896 and about the same length since The system contemplates from fourteen to sixteen miles in all. The present Board of Commissioners consists of Jason T. Wal- lace, president, Doliver E. House, Albert E. Loomis, Thomas O'Brien, and Hiram L. Rockwell.
The Oneida Railway Company was organized in 1885, for the pur- pose of constructing street railways in and through the village. W. J. Hickox was the first president of the company, which had a capital of $15,000, the same as at the present time. The road from the Central railroad station to the station of the West Shore road near Oneida Cas- tle, was built in three months and cars began running in April, 1885. In 1888 W. E. Northrup was chosen president of the company and still holds the office; H. C. Stone, secretary and treasurer.
There are no records of the village of Oneida in existence previous to 1865. The presidents and clerks from that date have been as follows:
Presidents-1865, Horace Devereaux; 1866, G. P. Soper; 1867-68, D. W. C. Stephens; 1869, George Berry; 1870, James A. Bennett; 1 1871, D. W. C. Stephens; 1872, I. N. Messinger; 1873, Francis C. Miller; 1874, C. A. Walrath; 1875, Thomas I. Randall; 1876-78, B. E. Chase; 1879, P. D. Cheney; 1880, D. W. C. Stephens; 1881, Charles F. Polley ; 1882, H. W. Carpenter; 1883-84, Charles F. Polley; 1885, Elisha G. Gay; 1886, Charles F. Polley; 1887, James N. Bates; 1888, E. C. Stark: 1889, C. E. Remick; 1890, E. G. Coon; 1891-92, F. B. Cheney; 1893, Frank C. Duke; 1894-96, William M. Baker; 1897, Charles House; 1898-99, Barney Ratnour.
Clerks-1865-69, Ervin Saltsman; 1870-71, A. J. Luce; 1872, S. C. Waterman; 1873, John Ackerman ; 2 1874-76, Ben D. French; $ 1877-
1 Prior to 1870 presidents were chosen from the Board of Trustees.
2 Resigned and R. J. Fish appointed.
* Died in office and F. H. Foote appointed.
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79, John Kelly; 1880, E J. Girvin; 1881, W. Hector Gale; 1882, Joseph Mclaughlin ; 1883-84, John A. Ferguson; 1885-86,1 Edward B. French; 1887, J. A. Ferguson; 1888, J. C. Ayers; 1889, E. L. Hunt; 1890-93, W. F. Leete; 1894, E. L. Hunt; 1895, J. E. Brewer ; 1896, E. R. Boden; 1897-99, H. L. Bonney.
Down to the date of its incorporation Oneida was popularly known by the title, Oneida Depot, The population in 1840 was only 800 and probably was not more than 1,000 in 1848, in which year the incorpora- tion was effected. The first village election took place on July 15 of that year and resulted as follows: Erasmus Stone, president; I. C. Sloan, clerk; James Williams, Joseph Fish, James McFarland, and Simon Cobb, trustees. A code of ordinances was prepared in form similar to those governing all small villages and adopted in August of that year. These were changed in some respects as the growth of the place seemed to demand.
The charter adopted in 1894 provides for the election of a president, a board of six trustees, clerk, treasurer, collector, three assessors, a street commissioner, a police justice, four police and fire commission- ers, a chief of police and chief engineer. The term of office of the president was made one year; of the trustees, two years; of the asses- sors, three years, and of the police and fire commissioners, four years. Besides the Boards of Education and of Health, a Board of Audit was provided for, to audit all claims against the corporation, and more direct responsibility fixed upon all officials. A special election was held in June, 1894, to elect a police justice to serve until the April charter election of 1895. A police court room was fitted up on the sec- ond floor of the village public building, and apartments for the police force on the ground floor.
The first school house in Oneida village was built in 1841. That was only two years after the opening of the railroad when there were very few children on what now constitutes the village site. Previous to that date the school at Oneida Castle had sufficed for the families in the vicinity. The old school house remained until recent years and was degraded to the purposes of an ice house in rear of the Allen House. The trustees in 1841 were Thomas Barlow, Colon Brooks, and John A. Seeber. Peter J. Shalcraft was made clerk, and Henry Marshall, col- lector.
The village was originally comprised in one district, No. 25, but prior
1 Beginning in 1886 the clerks have been appointed by the board.
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to 1850 it was divided into two, with numbers 25 and 26, No. 25 being south of the railroad and the other district north of the railroad. In the district first named a school house was built in 1850 on the site of the present old Cherry street building. By frequent enlargements and improvements the structure was adapted to the increasing needs of the district.
The school building long in use on Elm street in district No. 26 (now district No. 5) was erected in its original form in 1851. The old struc- ture is almost lost sight of in the many enlargements and improve- ments that have since been made.
A second school building was erected on Cherry street in 1898 with modern improvements and adapted to the requirements of the district. This was in use only a short time, when on February 9, 1899, it was burned and is now in progress of rebuilding.
The district division before mentioned remained in force, with a few minor changes in boundaries, until the division of the town of Lenox in 1896, when the two districts of the village received the numbers 4 and 5, and they so remain.
The question of establishing a Union school district was discussed by the inhabitants of district No. 25 on May 31, 1882. W. E. Northrup was president of the meeting and Ambrose W. Hill, secretary. A reso lution providing for a Union school was offered by Hiram L. Rockwell. After considerable discussion the meeting adjourned until June 7, when it was determined to vote upon the question on the 9th of that month. This purpose was carried out, the result showing 404 votes, of which 224 were in favor. A Board of Education consisting of nine members was chosen as follows: Sidney B. Breese, Samuel A. Maxon, Watson A. Stone, for one year; Johu F. Tuttle, R. B. Downing, Eugene E. Coon, for two years; T. F. Hand, jr., Hiram L. Rockwell, and A. J. French, for three years.
In the following year (1883,) after much opposition, a site was pur- chased on the corner of Elizabeth and Cemetery streets at a cost of $1,700 for a site for a new school building. A building was there erected costing about $12,000.
An academic department, which subsequently became the high school, was instituted in 1884, and has since been efficiently maintained, under a corps of excellent teachers, at the head of which has been for seventeen years past Prof. F. W. Jennings. He resigned in 1899 and is succeeded by Prof. Avery W. Skinner. At the present time the
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principal is assisted by four teachers in the academic department; the grammar school has three teachers; the junior department four and the primary, seven. The first standing committee of the academic depart- ment consisted of Hiram L. Rockwell, S. A. Maxon, and John F. Tuttle.
The new village charter provides for a Board of Education consisting of nine members. The board for 1899 is as follows: Joseph Beal, H. D. Fearon, Charles House, William E. Douglass, Julius M. Goldstein, George F. Paine, Clark A. Frost, George W. Miles, W. E. Northrup. Trustees of district No. 5-President, James Taber; Joseph Veling, Conrad Lochner. Clerk, Robert Calway. The present principal is Daniel C. Keating.
An effort was made many years ago to improve the educational facil- ities of Oneida by the establishment of a seminary A few progressive persons took the matter in hand and in July, 1857, the Oneida Semin- ary was incorporated. A school was opened in September of the same year and soon a commodious building was erected. For many years the institution enjoyed high repute and accomplished much good in the advance of education under such principals as Rev. G. H. Whitney, Rev. E. Rollo, Charles E. Swett, and Rev. J. D. Houghton, who re- signed in 1872. With the improvement of union and high schools, academies and seminaries declined and this one was no exception. Financial difficulties arose and the institution was closed. A propo- sition was made to sell the building to the village in 1895, but it was not entertained. Finally it was purchased by J. Will Chappell, who demolished it and devoted the grounds to the uses of a private park.
The old town of Lenox formerly contained thirty school districts. The new town of Oneida contains seven, with school houses, the value of buildings and sites being about $34,000. With Lincoln, Lenox, Fen- ner, Cazenovia, Smithfield, Stockbridge, and Sullivan it comprises the Second School Commissioner district of the county.
In the Oneida Castle and Sherrill school district Alexander S. Gal- braith is president; George Johnston, clerk; Theodore Nye, collector.
The first banking facilities in Oneida were supplied by the Oneida Valley Bank, which was incorporated in 1851, with a capital of $105,- 000 and the following officers: Niles Higinbotham, president; Samuel Breese, vice-president; T. F. Hand, cashier. The institution passed into the national system in 1865, the title becoming the Oneida Valley National Bank of Oneida. Mr. Higinbotham was succeeded in the
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presidency by D. G. Dorrance, who was followed by T. F. Hand and he by the present official, Herbert H. Douglass. The present directors are W. S. Leete (vice-president), T. F. Hand, jr. (cashier), S. H. Goodwin, S. B. Breese, C. Carskaddan, John M. Kennedy, Robert Stewart, R. M, Baker, R. B. Downing. The capital of the bank has al- ways remained the same. The bank building was erected in 1851 and in 1864 was added to in its present form.
The First National Bank of Oneida was organized and incorporated October 1, 1865, with a capital of $125,000. The first board of direc- tors were Horace Devereaux, James J. Stewart, Samuel J. Fox, Frank- lin M. Whitman, James A. Barnett, Ambrose Hill, Simeon B. Armour, Stillman Spooner, Alvin Strong, Zadoc T. Bentley, and C. A. Walrath. Horace Devereaux was made president; James J. Stewart, vice-pres- ident; Virgil Bull, cashier. The bank was very successful and went into voluntary liquidation in January 1, 1874, paying the stockholders $1.20 per cent. At the same time it took the name of the State Bank of Oneida, which was changed to the National State Bank of Oneida in November, 1878. The capital has always been $60,000. The first pres- ident of the present institution was the late Samuel H. Fox, who was suc- ceeded by the late S. H. Farnam, and he by Andrew J. French, the in- cumbent. Austin B. French was the first cashier and still holds the office. William W. Warr is vice-president; William G. Hill, teller; G. E. Kirkpatrick, bookkeeper, and Fred B. French collection clerk.
The Farmers and Merchants State Bank was organized June 3, 1892, with a capital of $50,000 and the following officers: Loring Munroe, pres- ident; C.W. Dexter, vice-president ; E. Emmons Coe, cashier ; T. H. Jur- den, teller. The directors were E. E. Coon, Francis Stafford, S. C. Water. man, Coman Rich (who was succeeded by George L. Menzie), C. W. Dexter, A. S. Whitman, H. W. Coley, George Potter, Loring Munroe, Ira L. Snell, W. E. Witter, A. B. Munroe, and E. E. Coe. Several of. these men are residents of other towns in the county.
The Oneida Savings Bank, a staunch and successful institution, was iucorporated February 19, 1866, and began business on April 1, of that year. The officers were as follows: Daniel G. Dorrance, president ; George H. Sanford and Goodwin P. Soper, vice-presidents; Edward Loomis, secretary and treasurer; I. N. Messinger, attorney. The Board of Trustees was composed of the following gentlemen: John Barnett, Peterboro; Ralph H. Avery, Canastota; John J. Foote, Hamilton ; Jona- than M. Wilson, Stockbridge; T. E. Barnes, Durhamville; Daniel G.
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Dorrance, Oneida Castle; George H. Sanford, Verona; Samuel Breese, I. N. Messinger, James A. Bennett, Theodore F. Hand, E. C. Sanders, George Berry, Goodwin P. Soper, T. G. Seeley, Ambrose Hill, Milton Barnett. Its handsome building was erected in 1889 at a cost of $29,- 000. The number of depositors is 4,264. The present officers and directors are as follows: C. Will Chappell, president; Roswell B. Downing, 1st vice-president; Eugene E. Coon, 2d vice-president; Am- brose W. Hill, treasurer; Howard L. Baldwin, secretary; C. Will Chap- pell, Roswell B. Downing, Eugene E. Coon, Theodore F. Hand, jr., E. Emmons Coe, Henry S. Klock, Charles E. Stevens, Allen S. Whit- man, Hazelius Loucks, Francis Stafford, William E. Douglass, Ira L. Snell, directors.
The Central Bank of Oneida is a private financial institution which was established in 1870, with a capital of $15,000. William E. North- rup has been president since the organization, and R. A. Hill is cashier.
A powerful factor in the development of Oneida in quite recent years, and one which has brought its population up to about 10,000, is the number and extent of its manufactures. With favorable shipping facilities, low-priced land for sites, enterprising men have found here a field for their best endeavors. In this connection a brief description of the leading industries of the place will prove of interest.
The works of the National Casket Company in Oneida are the out- growth of a business founded in 1873 in Rochester by John Maxwell. In 1881 he effected a consolidation with a similar industry then in opera- tion in Oneida by Chappell, Tuttle & Co., forming the firm of Chap- pell, Chase & Maxwell. The plants in Rochester and Oneida were kept in operation until 1890, when they were united with others to form the National Casket Company, which includes several of the largest concerns in the country in the manufacture of burial caskets. Mr. Maxwell has the management of the Oneida factory, and with him is associated C. Will Chappell, who is vice-president of the company and manager of the New York store. The Oneida factory comprises three principal buildings and the industry is one of the most important in central New York. (See biography of C. W. Chappell).
The Oneida Iron Works, another very successful industry, was founded in 1875 by W. S. Leete, C. F. Polley, A. E. Loomis, T. E. Mayne and D. Carpenter, who were former employees of the engine manufacturing firm of Wood, Taber & Morse, of Eaton, this county. They began building steam engines and doing general machine work,
ĐẠO HỘ HE HETAM SONS. NOCYCTTE
Office Chappell
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meeting with flattering success. Gradually the plant has been extend- ed to meet the requirements of their increasing product. Engines, boilers, bridge work, etc., are turned out by a large force of skilled workmen. The works are now owned by W. S. Leete and A. E. Loomis, both of whom are enterprising citizens and active in public affairs.
The Oneida Carriage Works is an incorporated stock company of which W. E. Northrup is president; M. J. Dewey, vice-president ; John Maxwell, secretary and treasurer. This industry was projected in 1883 with the same title as at present, but the incorporation did not take place until 1888. It was one of the most complete carriage manufac- turing plants in central New York and turned out fine work. The business was wound up in 1898 and a committee appointed to sell the property.
The firm of Upton & Holden is quite extensively engaged in the manufacture of carriages. The business was established more than thirty years ago by Miles Upson, the present head of the firm, and three years later the firm was formed by the admission of Henry T. Holden. Both were practical workmen and the business prospered from the first.
The firm of Dapson & Wolf (Thomas Dapson, John W. Wolf), estab- lished October, 1898, also manufactures wagons extensively, occupying the buildings formerly used for a knitting mill. F. J. Aubeuf has built up a large trade in the Monitor hand cart which he manufactures under his own patents.
J. Barrett's Sons (Theodore A. and F. Eugene) are engaged in car- riage making, in which business they succeeded their father who started here in a small way nearly fifty years ago. They make only high grade work and the reputation of their vehicles is high.
Wilson, Eells & Mott began business as dealers in carriage supplies in 1885; Mr. Wilson withdrew in 1888 and the business is still con- tinued by Eells & Mott.
Oneida has become quite widely known in the line of manufactures through the extended reputation of the Westcott lathe chuck, made by the Westcott Chuck Company. This business was begun in 1872 by the Oneida Steam Engine and Foundry Company, which for several years were extensive builders of engines in addition to the making of chucks. The Westcott chuck is the invention of the late John H. West- cott, formerly foreman for the Steam Engine and Foundry Company.
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In 1885 the Westcott Chuck Company was incorporated with a capital stock of $50,000, which was subsequently increased to $150,000. James H. Westcott, son of John H., is now superintendent of the works. A large variety of chucks is made by this company and all have the repu- tation among machinists of excellence and efficiency. The present officers of the company are S. H. Goodwin, president and manager; T. F. Hand, jr., secretary and treasurer; James H. Westcott, superin- tendent.
The Oneida National Chuck Company, organized in 1897, succeeded the National Chuck Company of New York, and the chuck business of the Oneida Manufacturing Chuck Company. About twenty-five hands are employed in the making of a general line of lathe and drill chucks. The present officers of the company are: L. J. Myers, president; R. B. Ruby, vice-president; H. M. Reynolds, secretary, treasurer and man- ager.
The before-mentioned Oneida Manufacturing Chuck Company made chucks during seven years prior to 1897 in connection with wagon gears. The gear business passed to Schubert Brothers Gear Company in 1897, and the chuck business to the National Company, as above stated.
One of the oldest manufactures of Oneida is the business which is the legitimate successor of the saw mill built in 1840 by Samuel Breese. About 1868 the property passed to Thompson & Bennett, and in 1886 the firm became Bennett & Klock (Willard H. Bennett and Henry S. Klock). The business now includes a saw mill, an immense lumber yard and large ice houses; the power is derived from Skenandoah Creek. In this connection should be mentioned the sash, door and blind factory of the O. W. Sage Manufacturing Company, which was founded by the late O. W. Sage in 1887. In 1890 the company was incorporated and a very large business was carried on a few years. The buildings and site are now used for canning business by Olney Brothers, noticed fur- ther on.
The manufacture of woven wire mattresses by the Hard Brothers Manufacturing Company was for a number of years an important in- dustry. The business was established in 1876 by Hard Brothers & Company and after the change about 1890 a large part of J. W. Warner's industrial building was occupied. The firm removed to Buffalo a few years since, and the business was purchased by the Comstock Manufac- turing Co. and removed to Utica.
The original Oneida Mill was a grist mill built in 1840 by Sands Hig-
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inbotham. The property passed through several proprietorships, and the mill was operated a number of years by G. C. Parker. The mills were burned prior to 1887 and the site was covered with ruins for some time when it was purchased by J. W. Warner, who rebuilt the mill and equipped it with modern machinery for flouring. He operated it about a year, when he sold it to L. V. Rathbun of Rochester, and A. E. Saw- yer, who formed the present Rathbun & Sawyer Company. They re- fitted and improved the mill, which now has eighteen pairs of rolls and other adequate machinery for the daily production of nearly 100 barrels of flour, bearing several well known brands. Mr. Rathbun is president of the company; Mr. Sawyer, vice-president and treasurer, and A. S. Rathbun, secretary. This is the only flouring establishment in the village.
In 1886 Farrell & Lewis established a knitting mill in Oneida for the manufacture of men's woolen underwear and hosiery. The firm was later changed to Farrell & Son, and in 1891 was incorporated as the Central Mills Manufacturing Company. A large plant was put in op- eration, with Michael Farrell, president; James P. Malloy, treasurer, and R. J. Fish, secretary. A few years later the business was closed and removed to Utica.
The canning industry, which has in recent years become so impor- tant in this country, is represented in Oneida by the large establishment of Olney Brothers (James D. and Burt), which was started up in 1898, the property having been leased from Bennett & Klock, who had car- ried on the same business a few years. Extensive additions have re- cently been made to the large brick structure which was formerly the O. W. Sage sash and blind factory. There is also a large canning fac- tory at Kenwood and another at Lenox.
One of the most successful industries of Oneida is the Oneida Silver Ware Manufacturing Company, organized in 1894 through the efforts of Sidney W. Moore. The original capital was $20,000, which has since been increased to $50,000. The first officers were Sidney W. Moore, president; T. D. Wilkin, vice-president; C. A. Stringer, secre- tary and treasurer. The president remains the same, with W. M. Swayze, vice-president, and S. A. Campbell, secretary and treasurer. A large building was erected for the works and about seventy five hands are employed in the production of a complete line of hollow ware.
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