Our county and its people : a descriptive and biographical record of Madison County, New York, Part 69

Author: Smith, John E., 1843- ed
Publication date: 1899
Publisher: [Boston, Mass.] : Boston History Company
Number of Pages: 960

USA > New York > Madison County > Our county and its people : a descriptive and biographical record of Madison County, New York > Part 69

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Chapin, Samuel, jr., who has been in the jewelry trade in Oneida nearly fifty years, was born in Vernon, Oneida county, N. Y., May 18, 1831, the oldest son of Samuel and Fannie (Sage) Chapin. His education was limited to the common schools, and at an early age he entered his father's jewelry store in Vernon to learn the trade, which he has always followed. His father had previously been a wagon maker, but gradu- ally took up the jewelry business, at which he finally became expert, having learned the trade from the various watchmakers he had employed. He came to Oneida in December, 1848, and started the first jewelry store in the village, still continuing his store in Vernon. In 1850 he disposed of this business and brought his family to Oneida, where he is still living at the advanced age of ninety-three years. The sub- ject of this notice purchased his father's business in company with Ephraim Beck, forming the firm of Chapin & Beck. Mr. Beck retired after one year and Mr. Cha- pin continued alone. His father had meantime decided to engage in business and for a time they were in friendly competition, later combining their stocks and form- ing the present well-known firm of S. Chapin & Son. Mr. Chapin is a well-known and valued citizen of Oneida. He has never sought nor held public office of any kind. He married in 1891 Miss Carrie De Pledge of Oneida and one son has been born to them, Stewart Lyle Chapin.

Coe, E. Emmons, cashier of the Farmers' and Merchants' State Bank of Oneida, was born in the town of Smithfield, this county, April 24, 1845, a son of E. E. and Susan (Matthewson) Coe. His grandfather, David Coe, a native of Connecticut, was one of the earliest settlers of the town of Smithfield, coming when there was but one frame house between the villages of Peterboro and Vernon. He built the first saw mill of the town, cleared his own farm, and was named as the wealthiest man in town, with the exception of Peter Smith (father of Gerrit Smith). He was a man of

PERSONAL REFERENCES.

the hardy pioneer type, industrious, and of rugged honesty. He gained the respect and confidence of all his fellow citizens and died honored and respected by all who had known him. E. Emmons Coe was educated in the district schools in the vicinity of his home, and at Clinton Liberal Institute at Clinton, N. Y. Before he was eight- een years old he taught school in winter and worked on his father's farm in the sum- mer months. He was engaged in farming until he was twenty-four years of age. In 1869 he came to Oneida, and in company with Charles O. Loomis established a wholesale leather business under the firm name of Loomis & Coe. Mr. Loomis re- tired after four years, and Mr. Coe conducted the business with good success until 1888 when he sold out. Mr. Coe organized the Farmers' and Merchants' State Bank in 1892 with a capital stock of $50,000, and a surplus now of $15,000; he has served as cashier of the bank since the organization. Mr. Coe has shown no lack of zeal in supporting public enterprises, and has represented the old town of Lenox as super- visor; he is a trustee of the Oneida Savings Bank; and a member and past grand of Eumenia Lodge of Odd Fellows, which he joined over thirty years ago. He married in 1864, Eliza M. Kerr, a daughter of Dr. Robert Kerr of Oneida county. Of this union is one daughter, Mrs. F. M. Hamlin of Rome, N. Y.

Cavana, Martin, a physician and surgeon of more than local reputation, and a practitioner in Oneida village since 1875, was born at Marcy, N. Y., February 24, 1849, a son of M. P. and Mary (Hughes) Cavana, and grandson of Martin Cavana. He was educated at Whitestown Seminary, and the University of Michigan, and began the study of medicine at Holland Patent, N. Y., under Norton Wolcott, M. D. Later he attended two regular courses and one preliminary course of lectures at Ann Arbor, Michigan, and at Bellevue Hospital Medical College of New York city, where he was graduated M. D. in February, 1872. In the winter of 1892-93 he took a post graduate course in operative gynecology at the New York Post Graduate College. Dr. Cavana commenced practice at Oneida Castle in May, 1872, and three years later removed to Oneida where he has practiced nearly a quarter of a century. He is a member of the New York State Medical Association, and an ex-member of its council; New York State Association of Railway Surgeons, its secretary in 1892 and 1893, and its president in 1894; National Association of Railway Surgeons; American Academy of Railway Surgeons; Medico-Legal Society of New York; ex-member of United States Board of Pension Surgeons; and Surgeon of the New York, Ontario & Western Railroad, northern division. He has served as captain of the Oneida Bat- tery, Light Artillery, for several years; as chairman of the Madison County Repub- lican Committee, and on the village board of Police and Fire Commissioners. He is a member of the Republican Club of the City of New York; the Oneida Chamber of Commerce, and a thirty-second degree Mason. In 1890 Dr. Cavana established the Oneida Private Hospital at Oneida, and the Oneida Sanitarium at Sylvan Beach, of both institutions of which he is proprietor and manager. He has gained a wide rep- utation in the medical world as an expert in gynecological surgery. He married, June 5, 1872, Miss Sarah J. Robinson of Holland Patent, N. Y. Their only child, Martin Cavana, jr., aged seventeen years, died in 1894.

Cramer, Norman L., was born in the town of Fenner, this county, October 15,

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

1844, a son of Andrew F., and Caroline (Button) Cramer. He was educated at Caz- enovia Seminary, and at the Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn., from which he was graduated with the class of 1873. Mr. Cramer was engaged in the profession of teaching for a period of twelve years, his first position being that of instructor in the Ripley Female College at Poultney, Vt., where he remained one year. For three years he served as principal of the High School at Portland, Conn. ; was principal of the High School at Grand Rapids, Mich., one year; and for seven years was princi- pal of different schools in the State of Connecticut. Following this period he was engaged for three years in the office of the Shaler & Hall Quarry Company at Port- land, Conn. In 1886 he came to Oneida and bought an interest in the leather goods business of E. E. Coe who had started in the early seventies. They continued one year under the firm name of Coe & Cramer, and Mr. Coe was succeeded by W. E. Phillips, forming the firm of Cramer & Phillips. After six years Mr. Phillips with- drew and was succeeded by Nelson G. Stark, forming the present firm of Cramer & Stark. In August, 1864, Mr. Cramer enlisted in Co. M of the Harris Light Cavalry, and served until the close of the war. He is a member of John R. Stewart Post, No. 170, G. A. R., and has served in nearly all the offices of this organization. Mr. Cramer married, in 1878, M. Josephine Cady, a daughter of Rev. William O. Cady, of Port- land, Conn. Of this union is one son, Myron C. Cramer.

Coles, Theodore, son of Amos and Agnes (Troth) Coles, was born in Medford, N. J., October 6, 1845. He was educated at Medford Academy, and until he reached his majority assisted in the conduct of his father's farm, He gained his first business experience at Bordentown, N. J , as a clerk in a shipping office, and after one year took a position in the office of an agricultural implement factory in Philadelphia, where he remained two years. Subsequently he engaged in the real estate business in Chicago, and later in an architectural iron business in San Francisco. From the latter city he came to Durhamville, Oneida county, to take a position as superintend- ent of the Durhamville Glass Works. He resigned this position to become treasurer of the Canastota Knife Co., where he remained until 1896. In that year Mr. Coles established the Oneida Rubber Tire Works which he still continues. In 1898 he pur- chased the plant previously owned by the Oneida Gas Works, and rebuilt the same for the better accommodation of his own business. Mr. Coles has been actively in- terested in and a prominent supporter of the Madison County Historical Society. He married Frances Newton Messinger, daughter of the late I. Newton Messinger of Oneida.

Chapin, Dwight, son of Samuel and Fannie (Sage) Chapin (a sister of Russell Sage), was born in Vernon, Oneida county, N. Y., April 25, 1837. His father was a jeweler, a native of Ballston Spa, Saratoga county, N. Y. He lived in Vernon sev- eral years, and removed to Oneida in 1850 and established the first jewelry store in this village. He is still living in his ninety-third year, and his wife in her ninety- first year. Mr. Chapin's education was limited to the district schools. He was thir- teen years old when the family came to Oneida, and shortly after went in the office of the Oneida Telegraph, established by David Frost. and the first paper in the vil- lage. Mr. Chapin assisted in the preparation of the first issue published. He re-

PERSONAL REFERENCES.

mained in the printing business seven years, three years in Oneida, and later in Utica, Buffalo, Erie, Pa., and Auburn, N. Y. In 1848 he began a small business in Oneida as a dealer in books, stationery and periodicals. This he continued until the outbreak of the civil war, when on August 10, 1861, he enlisted in the Oneida Cav- alry Company (only independent cavalry company in the service). This company was always connected with headquarters and was escort successively to Generals McClellan, Hooker, Meade, and Grant. Mr. Chapin was Quartermaster Sergeant during his entire term of service. He was honorably discharged September 13, 1864, and again took up his business in Oneida which had been continued during his ab- sence by his father and brother. He has ever since conducted this business which has become one of the landmarks of the town. Some years ago he added wall paper and picture frames to his stock. The "Dwight Chapin Book Store " is the oldest es- tablishment of its kind in central New York and one of the oldest in the State. Mr. Chapin married, in 1866 Hannah Dyer, daughter of Benjamin W. Dyer. Three chiì. dren have been born of this union : Mrs. Charles B. Wilbur, of Boston; Mrs. Nelson D. Bonney; and Sam D. Chapin.

Coe, D. R., son of Albert E. and Charlotte (Read) Coe, was born in the town of Smithfield, this county, in 1846. His father was a farmer and subsequently a mei - chant and broker in Oneida, becoming well known throughout this section. He died in 1887. Mr. Coe was educated in the old Oneida Seminary and at Madison Univer- sity, now Colgate University, from which he was graduated with the class of 1872. Soon afterward he was appointed deputy clerk of the United States Circuit Court at Utica, a position which he held for eight years and then, after a short western trip, returned to Oneida to care for his father's extensive interests during the latter's ill- ness. After his father's death Mr. Coe took charge of the estate as administrator. In 1890 he engaged in the hardware business, buying an interest in the firm of H. M. Reynolds & Co., which on his admission became Millspaugh & Coe, and so con- tinued until the spring of 1896 when Mr. Millspaugh retired. In the fall of the same year the present firm of Coe & Timerman was formed by the admission of G. A. Timerman. Mr. Coe married, in 1885, Sarah Allan, daughter of Moses Allan of Utica. Three sons have been born of this union: Allan Read; Stanley Campbell; and David Donald.

Chapin, Frank W., was born in Vernon, Oneida county, N. Y., October 20, 1843, a son of Samuel and Fannie (Sage) Chapin. He received an education limited to the district schools and early learned the trade of painting and paper hanging, which he has followed all his life. In May, 1861, he enlisted in Co. H., 35th N. Y. Vols. and served two years. In January, 1864, he re-enlisted in the 157th N. Y. Vols. ; was transferred in 1865 to the 54th N. Y. Vols., and honorably discharged, April 14, 1866, after a service of four years. He then returned to Oneida, where he has since, with the exception of a few years, followed his trade. In April, 1892, he formed a part- nership with his brother, Fremont Chapin, and under the name of Chapin Brothers established his present wall paper and paint business at No. 36 Madison street. Mr. Chapin is a member of John R. Stewart Post No. 170, G. A. R. He married, in 1876, Ada F. Hitchcock, daughter of J N. Hitchcock of Flat Rock, Michigan.

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

Conniff, Thomas, who has been in the shoe business at one location in Oneida for thirty-two years, was born in Ireland, December 14, 1837, a son of John and Martha (Brennan) Conniff. His father was extensively engaged in shoe manufacturing in the old country and employed several men. He came to this country with his family in 1846 and settled in New York city. In 1852 he removed to Canaseraga, and in the spring of the following year to Oneida. Thomas Conniff was educated in the com- mon schools and learned the trade of boot and shoemaking under his father. In 1865 he engaged in this business in Oneida, and in 1867 built the block on the north side of Madison street, where he has since conducted his business. He formed a partner- ship in 1893 with William F. Toher, which still continues under the firm name of Conniff & Toher. In politics Mr. Conniff has been a consistent Democrat; he has served as overseer of the poor two years, and as village trustee one term. In June, 1867, he married Ellen M. Kelly, and of their union five children were born, four of whom survive: Mrs. Henry M. White, Jennie H., Paul R., and Thomas J. Two children, Jennie H. and Paul R., have taken the orders of the church; the former is a member of the Order of the Sacred Heart, and the latter of the Jesuit Order; both were graduates of the Oneida High School with the class of 1888.

Carl, Peter P., p. o. Chittenango, a highly esteemed and widely known citizen of Chittenango, was born in that village in 1834. His father was Andrew Carl, by trade a blacksmith, who came here from Danbury, Conn., in 1830. Peter Carl learned the wagon making trade at Canastota in 1850 and 1852; during the latter year he estab- lished himself in business in Chittenango. In July, 1862, he enlisted as second ser- geant in the 157th Regiment, N. Y. Volunteers; served as wagon master in Siegel's 11th Corps until September 1, 1862, and was promoted to A. Q. M. S., September 1, 1863, and served until the close of the war. Mr. Carl then resumed his business in Chittenango, where by enterprise and integrity he has built up a large trade in wagons, etc. One son is engaged in the business with him, Randall Carl, now thirty-eight years of age. Mr. Carl's first wife was Louisa S. Plank of Chittenango, who died in 1870, leaving three children. He was married again in 1878 to Lizzie Barnes Mr. Carl has for forty six years been chief engineer of the local fire depart- ment and from 1870 to 1877 was trustee of the village. In 1870 Carl's Opera House was erected, a handsome and commodious structure, still owned and managed by himself. It is the only public hall of consequence in the locality, and capable of accommodating nearly 500 people.

Curtis, Mrs. Elizabeth G., p. o. Madison .- Whiting J. Lewis was one of the pioneers of Madison, and came to the town from Stratford, Conn., about 1796. He was a farmer and a man greatly respected in the locality. His children were Sally, Henry, Judson S., Stiles and Angenette. Henry Lewis was born near Solsville in 1806, and spent the greater portion of his business life in the town. He engaged in farming and speculating and became the most wealthy man in Madison. Moreover, he was generous and public spirited, and much respected wherever known. He died in 1894. His first wife was Susan Root, daughter of pioneer Solomon Root; they had two children: Heber, who lived to about twenty-five years of age; and Irving, who died in childhood. Mr. Lewis's second wife was Mrs. Harriet (Slocum) Drake

PERSONAL REFERENCES.

of Wilkesbarre, Pa. The children by adoption of Henry Lewis were Ella Bailey, who married Henry Schanzlin of Buffalo and Ernest G. (Johnson) Lewis, a native of Madison. The latter married Elizabeth Gifford. He died in November, 1892, and his widow afterward married Louis A. Curtis of Madison.

Coe, Mrs. Mary,-Lewis Elliott Coe, who for more than twenty years was engaged in successful mercantile business in Bouckville, and who was looked upon as one of the self-made men of the village, was born in Hamilton, November 9, 1847, and was the oldest of two children of William Church Coe. His father died when Lewis was eleven years old, upon which the boy went to live with the family of an uncle in Augusta. At the age of twenty-one he came to Bouckville, where he was clerk for Milton Danforth, remaining with him until he failed in business and then succeeding him in the store. Mr. Coe became proprietor January 1, 1875, and was in trade to the time of his death, February 28, 1897. The firm of Coe & Brockett was formed in 1882 and the name is still known to the trade. Mr. Coe was a strong Republican and a generous, public spirited man in all things. From 1874 to 1886 he was post- master at Bouckville. On October 23, 1872, he married Mary, daughter of .Marcius Washburn, by whom he had three children: Dr. Charles M. Coe of Rochester; Edna L., and Lillian A. Mr. Coe was brought up under Universalist influence, but was a liberal supporter of the local M. E. church.

Clark, Ira, was born two and one-half miles west of Morrisville, February 24, 1822, a son of Ira (a native of Connecticut) and Lydia (Dunham) Clark; their children were Orsmus, Edward, Lonson, Joseph P., Ira, Millie, Laurie, Cornelia, Fidelia, and Lydia, all born in Madison county. The first two sons were drowned in Leland Pond about 1825. By occupation Ira Clark, sr., followed hotel keeping and farming. Ira Clark, jr., was educated in the common schools of Madison county. His early life was spent with his parents, and when sixteen years of age he started in life for himself as a farm laborer. In 1843 he married Marsha Elvira, daughter of Caleb Abbott, and they have one son, William I., who married Lucy Blowers; they have four children: Claud, Effie, Irving and Walter. In the fall after Mr. Clark was mar- ried he moved to Michigan, where he purchased a farm and remained eleven years there; he then returned and purchased a farm near Fenner Corners, where he re- mained six years and then removed to a farm near Nelson. Here he remained until 1878, when he purchased land in the village of Nelson and built the house in which he now lives and follows general farming. Mr. Clark is a public spirited man and takes an interest in town affairs. He was assessor one term and is interested in educational work.

Childs, Walter, was born in Woodstock, Conn., November 15, 1776, a son of Thomas Childs. He came to Cazenovia in 1788 and worked for Captain Abbott by the month, clearing thirty acres of ground where the Ledyard residence now stands. Returning to Connecticut, he married February 8, 1801, Rhoda Burleigh, who was born in Union, Conn., August 12, 1780, and in the same year brought his young wife to Cazenovia, locating four miles west of the village on what is now the Cherry Val- ley Turnpike. Six children were born to them, five of whom reached maturity:

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

Esther, born January 16, 1802 (deceased); Aldis, born November 3, 1804, and still living in Cazenovia at the age ninety-five years; Walter B., born July 26, 1807; Samantha, born November 27, 1819; Williard T., born October 27, 1812, and died in infancy; and Thomas, born April 8, 1816 Walter Childs was a man of many esti- mable qualities and a large and successful farmer. He died in Cazenovia, December 14, 1857. His wife died April 1, 1839.

Clements, Prof. Isaac N., was born January 2, 1842, at Somersetshire, England. In 1843 his parents left England and found a new home in Marcellus, N. Y. In 1860 he entered Cazenovia Seminary and in 1862 was graduated in the College Prepara- tory Course. Then came President Lincoln's call for volunteers, and he willingly gave his services to his beloved country as a private in the 122d Regiment, N. Y. S. Volunteers. He participated in the hard-fought battles of Antietam, Fredericks- burg, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. In the battle of the Wilderness he was wounded and taken prisoner, and after five months of suffering was exchanged. In 1866 he entered Wesleyan University and completed his course there in four years, his rank in scholarship giving him an election to the Phi Beta Kappa Fraternity. His first professorship was at Chamberlain Institute, Randolph, N. Y., where he taught successfully for three years. At the end of this time he was elected to the chair of Latin and Greek in Cazenovia Seminary. In 1884 he was elected principal to succeed Prof. J. D. Phelps. Under his management the Seminary had marked prosperity and added several thousand dollars to the permanent endowment. In no year of his administration did the trustees have a deficit to provide for, and at the same time they were able to make additions and improvements to the buildings and grounds. Prof. Clements was married July 10, 1872, to Miss Abbie Smith of East Bridgewater, Mass., who was called from him by death in 1876. In 1881 he married Miss Harriet C. Alvord of Cazenovia. In 1877 he was licensed to preach and in Sep- tember, 1878, he was admitted on trial in the Central New York Annual Conference. His novitiate was duly passed and he was ordained deacon by Bishop Foss. After two years he received elder's orders at the hands of Bishop Peck. In his relation to the Seminary Prof. Clements was distinguished by eminent financial ability. He held the office of principal longer than any of his predecessors. This circumstance testifies to the high appreciation in which he was held by the board of trustees. Professor Clements has served two years as a village trustee, and for three years as president of the village board of education.

Cunningham, Edwin R., was born in Cazenovia on the old homestead farm, near the village of New Woodstock, January 26, 1843, a son of William L. and Sarah (Wales) Cunningham. His father was a native of Massachusetts, born in Shutes- bury, a son of Dr. Hugh Cunningham, who practiced medicine there many years. He moved in early life to this town and first lived on Perkins' Hill, later buying the homestead farm. He died in December, 1892, having reached the advanced age of eighty-four years. Edwin R. Cunningham was the youngest of five children, and during his earlier years worked on the farm and attended the schools of the vicinity. He has been engaged in farming all his life, with the exception of a period of eight years, when he was employed in the village of New Woodstock. Mr. Cunningham

PERSONAL REFERENCES.

is a member of the Pleasant Valley Lodge of Odd Fellows (Delphi) and of the A.O. U.W. In politics he has been a staunch Democrat. He married, in 1861, Maria J. Churchward, a daughter of R. R. Churchward of Cazenovia, and three children have been born to them: William E., who died in infancy; Etta J., wife of Gardner Free- born; and Frank L. of New Woodstock, who was postmaster in that village from 1894 to 1898 and is now deputy in that office. He has a wife, Lena A., and two sons, Wallis C. and Edwin L.

Case, Lester M., son of Joseph and Ursulla (Humphrey) Case, was born in Nelson, August 13, 1817. His father was a farmer and one of the earliest settlers of Nelson township; he was a native of Connecticut. Of his union with Ursulla Humphrey four children were born: Milton, Lucia, Luna and Lester. Joseph Case reached the venerable age of eighty-nine years and died in 1855. Lester M. Case was educated at Homer Academy and all his life followed the occupation of farming. He repre- sented his district in the Legislature one term and was a member of the Constitu- tional Convention in 1868. Mr. Case was a staunch Whig and Republican. He was a man of excellent habits, strict integrity and most kindly disposition. He was a member a few years of the Presbyterian Church. November 25, 1845, he married Huldah Backus, daughter of Judge Talcott Backus of Cazenovia, who survives him. Two children were born of this union, Edward Lester, died at the age of five years; Amelia died in her fourteenth year. Mr. Case died October 8, 1874.

Comstock, Julius C., who died in Cazenovia, April 16, 1884, in the sixty-third year of his age, was one of the most respected citizens of the community. He was born in July, 1820, in the house east of Cazenovia village which was always his home. His father, Zephaniah Comstock, came from Connecticut into this region among the earlier settlers, taking up the home farm, while Samuel Bordwell, who came with him, took up the farm adjoining. Zephaniah Comstock was a fine type of the sturdy, honest and God-fearing pioneer and died in 1877, honored and respected by the entire community. Julius C. Comstock was reared on the farm, receiving the educational advantages afforded by the country schools of those days. All his life he followed the occupation of farming. He served the town as assessor several terms and also as highway commissioner ; in politics he was a consistent Republican. In all his relations. with his fellowmen during his long residence in this community, his character was above reproach. Mr. Comstock married Martha Root, a daughter of Edward Root of Fenner, who survives him.

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Our county and its people : a descriptive and biographical record of Madison County, New York, Part 69

Author: Smith, John E., 1843- ed Publication date: 1899 Publisher: [Boston, Mass.] : Boston History Company Number of Pages: 960

Author: Smith, John E., 1843- ed
Publication date: 1899
Publisher: [Boston, Mass.] : Boston History Company
Number of Pages: 960