Our county and its people; a descriptive work on Oneida county, New York;, Part 104

Author: Wager, Daniel Elbridge, 1823-1896
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: [Boston] : The Boston history co.
Number of Pages: 1612

USA > New York > Oneida County > Our county and its people; a descriptive work on Oneida county, New York; > Part 104

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

Macomber, Jay, was born in Western, March 25, 1848, son of Theophilus W. and Sa ah A. (Bugbee) Macomber, both natives of Oneida county. His paternal grand- father, Abner Macomber, formerly of Dutchess county, N. Y., was among the pio- neers of Western, settling on Quaker Hill, where he cleared and improved a farm. In later life he removed to Tug Hill, Lewis county, where he died. Theophilus Ma- comber, father of Jay, was born in Western, August 12, 1815. He is a cooper by trade, and has also worked as a sawyer and carpenter, but has lived a retired life since 1890. His children were Calista (Mrs. Martin Van Buskirk), Nelson, Jay, Dick, and Sarah C. (Mrs. Horace Gillett). Jay Macomber was reared in Western, where, with the exception of ten years that he spent in Lee, he has always resided. For nineteen years he was engaged in cheesemaking, was manager of factories in Lee, Western, and Steuben, and since 1893 has been engaged in farming. In 1880 he married Elma, daughter of Jerome V. and Clarissa (Keech) Gue, of Western, by whom he has two children: Fred J. and Clara B. Mr. Macomber is a member of Baron Steuben Lodge, F. & A. M., No. 264, Fort Stanwix Chapter, No. 153, R. A. M., Lee Center Council, No. 1225, R. A. In politics he is a Democrat.

Ferris, Timothy Harvey, one of the most energetic of the younger members of the bar of the city of Utica, was born in the town of Russia, Herkimer county, N. Y., September 4, 1871, son of Charles S. and Gertrude (Terry) Ferris. He was edu- cated at the district school in Russia and at Prospect village school, but at the age of fourteen he was compelled to give up his studies on account of ill healtli, and worked on his father's farm for a time. During the winer of 1888-89 he took a course in banking and bookkeeping at the Utica Business College. He taught the district school at Russia for two terms in 1889. In January, 1890, he commenced the study law in the office of Charles G. Irish, where he remained for a year and a half, during a portion of which time he acted as assistant secretary of the Merchants' & Manufac- turers' Exchange. He afterward pursued his legal studies with Dunmore & Sholes, and was admitted as an attorney and counselor in February, 1893. The following March Mr. Ferris was taken in as partner, and the firm became Dunmore, Sholes & Ferris. September 1, 1895, he organized the N. E. White Company, of Utica, N. Y., wholesale grocers, feed, grain, and produce dealers, with a capital stock of $25,000, and was made its president which position he still occupies. His father having died he also manages the home farm at Russia. Mr. Ferris takes a keen interest in politics, and was a member of the Democratie County Committee of 1894. In 1895 he ran for State Senator in the Utica district as an Independent Democrat. He is unmarried.

Cunningham, John Howard, editor-in-chief of the Utica Herald, wields a facile pen. His leaders are always dignified in tone; the language is forcefully used, and the point aimed at is sharply defined. Under his management the Herald remains as before the leading organ of the Republican party in Central New York. Mr. Cunningham was born in Ithaca, Tompkins county, N. Y., November 29, 1843. His parents, American born, were of Scotch descent. Mr. Cunningham was educated at Ithaca Academy and Hamilton College. From the latter he was graduated in the class of 1866. After leaving college he taught, as vice-principal, in the Waverly In- stitute, at Waverly, N. Y., and afterward was principal of Chester Academy at Chester, Orange county, N. Y. In 1868 he joined the editorial staff of the Herald,

FAMILY SKETCHES.

as news editor, and has remained on that paper since, excepting the years 1871-72. He became its chief editor when, in 1891, the paper was transferred to The Utica Herald Publishing Company. May 27, 1869, Mr. Cunningham married Annie, daughter of Edward German (deceased), of Utica, by whom he had two children: Carl German, and Frederick Haines. Mr. Cunningham is a member of the Fort Schuyler and the Arcanum social clubs, of Utica. He has been a member of the Masonic fraternity since 1865.

Constable, James, the architect, is a son of the late John Constable and was born at Constableville, Lewis county, N. Y. He was educated in a military school in Connecticut and also three years in Europe; he studied civil engineering at Cam- bridge, Mass. In 1868 he became assistant engineer in building the Newark (N. J.) aqueduct, and later was assistant engineer on the construction of the Orbisonia Iron Works at Orbisonia, Pa., and afterward he was engaged in engineering in the South and West. He was afterward assistant superintendent of the Glendon (Pa.) Iron Works for nearly eight years, during which period he devoted himself almost wholly to the building and construction of extensive works and the construction of many buildings. About 1888 he removed to Utica, N. Y., and has since devoted himself exclusively to architecture. Some of the buildings designed by him and constructed under his supervision in Utica are the Second National Bank, the Church of the Holy Cross, T. R. Proctor's stables and the remodeling of the Butterfield House.

Baker, Thomas F .- The Utica Saturday Globe is one of the phenomenal journal- istic enterprises of the country. It was founded in May, 1881, by the business as- sociation of the brothers, William T. and Thomas F. Baker. Its success pecuniarily and its growth in circulation as well have been so remarkable as to approach the marvelous. Copies of the paper are weekly sold on the Pacific slope, as far south as Florida, and in Northern Ontario. It is a true monument to the spirit, sagacity and force of the men who founded it and enjoy the fruits of their labors. Thomas F. Baker was born in Hartford, Conn., April 5, 1847. In 1850 his parents removed with with their family to Utica. There, when old enough to go to school, Thomas at- tended the Assumption Academy. While yet a lad he worked for a few months in the Washington Mills factory, and began his newspaper career by selling 'The Utica Observer on the streets. At, the age of sixteen he entered the composing room of the Observer, as an apprentice, and in 1867 he was admitted to the rank of journey- man printer. But young Baker was ambitious and anxious to branch out for him- self, and in October, 1870, he, with others, established the Utica Daily Bee. It was a brave struggle upward for a time, but the hill was steep and the way rough. The paper was transferred to other parties in 1872, and soon disappeared from the field. Mr. Baker went back to his case, this time in the composing room of the Utica Her- ald, and in 1877, in partnership with Dennis T. Kelly, he started the Utica Sunday Tribune, which soon secured and retained a place among the papers of that city. In 1879 he retired to make way for Patrick E. Kelly. In that year he formed the business association with his brother, William T., and founded the Sunday Tribune at Binghamton, N. Y., which they continued for two years, when they returned to Utica and started the Globe. The first issue of the latter paper was published May 21, 1881, from the third story of the Thomas Block, later the Lux building. Illus- trations have from the first been one of the features of the paper, the first number

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

containing a rather rude wood-cut of Horatio Seymour. Of that issne only 2,000 copies were struck off and only 700 were sold. The supply of advertising was very meagre, but its publishers, like brave mariners, clung close to the course they had marked out before they launched their craft, and finally found the track to summer seas. In 1882 the Globe had removed its quarters to the Kinney Block, on the west side of Charlotte street, and in 1886 it was removed to its present well equipped and imposing edifice on Whitesboro street.

Beardsley, Hon. Samuel A., comes of a race of long lived and vigorous minded men. His father, Arthur M. Beardsley, has been in active practice as a lawyer for more than fifty years. His grandfather, Samuel Beardsley, for whom he was named, was one of the prominent statesmen and jurists of his time. He was appointed United States district attorney for the northern district of New York by President Andrew Jackson in 1823, an office he held to 1830, when he was elected member of congress from the Utica district, re-elected in 1832 and 1834, and again in 1842. He was also attorney-general of the State of New York, associate judge and chief justice of the Supreme Court of the State. In 1834 Governor Marcy tendered Mr. Beardsley an appointment to the bench of the Supreme Court. President Jack- son, in the presence of his cabinet, requested the congressman to decline the proffered place on account of the valuable services he could render the country and his party in Congress, and Mr. Beardsley yielded to the president's importunities. Samuel A. Beardsley was born in the city of Utica, N. Y., December 1, 1856, and was educated in the Utica public schools and Williston Seminary at East Hampton, Mass. He studied law in his father's office, the firm being Beardsley, Cookingham & Burdick, and was admitted to the bar in 1879, at which time he became a member of this firm. In 1884 this partnership was dissolved, and father and son united forces under the firm title of Beardsley & Beardsley. Mr. Beardsley was elected special city judge of Utica in 1886, and city judge in 1888, which he resigned four years later to accept the appointment of State railroad commissioner which was ten- dered him by Governor Flower. Mr. Beardsley was chairman of the Democratic County Committee in 1886-87-88, and was also State committeeman from his con- gressional district and secretary of the Democratic State Committee from 1889 to 1893. Mr. Beardsley married Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Hopper, of Utica, by whom he had three children. He is a Mason.

Richards, Edward, was born in Deerfield, N. Y., April 2, 1836, son of Richard D. and Mary (Jones) Richards, natives of Wales. David Richards came from Wales to Deerfield about 1820, where he engaged in farming, and here lived and died. About one year later Richard D. Richards came to Deerfield and built a saw mill in partnership with a John Davis; they continued in partnership until said Davis's death which was caused by the falling of a tree which struck him. Then Richard D. Richards rebuilt the mill and continued in the business till his death. He was a Whig, and was for several years assessor of the town. He died in 1854 and his wife in 1888. Edward Richards was reared on the farm, and has always been en- gaged in farming, excepting three years at the carpenter trade. Ile has a farm of 128 acres, and keeps about seventeen cows. In 1892 he married Elizabeth, daughter of Even and Ann (Roberts) Jones, natives of Wales. Mrs. Jones's father, Even Roberts, was about the first settler at Turin, Lewis county. He first bought land at

FAMILY SKETCHES.

Whitesboro, whence he removed to Turin, and engaged in farming, milling and mercantile business, being an active, energetic man. Mr. Jones's father, Jacob Jones, died in Wales. Mr. Jones was a miller at Turin, but spent his last days in Pennsylvania.

Roser, Charles, was born in Lewis, Lewis county, N. Y., July 10, 1861. His father, Henry Roser, was a native of Germany and came to America in 1849, settling in Ava, where he engaged in farming. He married Catherine Schwaub, who came to America in 1852, daughter of George and Louise Schwaub, who lived and died in Germany. Charles Roser was educated at West Leyden, and has since followed farming, now owning a farm of 125 acres, on which he keeps about twenty-five cows. In 1885 he married Amelia, daughter of Frederick and Barbara (Ruby) Gerwig, of New London, both natives of Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Roser have two children : Winifred, born September 12, 1886; and Emerson, born September 2, 1890.

Morgan, William A., was born in Connecticut May 16, 1824, son of Israel F. and Lucy (Stoddard) Morgan, who settled in Trenton about 1828. Their children were Clarissa S., Austin A., Israel F., Lucy A., William A., and Jane Elizabeth. Colonel Morgan, as he was usually called, was born December 11, 1792, and in his early life was engaged in farming. Living in Connecticut at the time of the war between England and the United States in 1812, and belonging to a military organization, he was called out to prevent the landing of British troops at New London. In 1840 he purchased the grist and saw mills, store and farm at Trenton Falls of Gardener Sherman, which he managed in company with his oldest and youngest sons until his death October 14, 1842. He was at one time supervisor of the town of Trenton and took an active part in the organization of the Trenton Falls school district. His sec- ond son, Col. Israel F., jr., remained on the farm in South Trenton where he first settled until his death, October 30, 1861. His granddaughter, Mrs. L. G. Wanful still lives on the same farm. William E. married S. Marie, daughter of Col. Timothy H. Ferris, of Herkimer county, N. Y., by whom he had six children: William C., Harvey Ferris, Elizabeth B., Bela Brewster, Israel F. (deceased), and Austin A. (deceased). Mr. Morgan was one of the builders of the present school house at Trenton Falls, also with the help of his sons, young boys at the time, built the dam across the West Canada Creek, which has stood the annual freshets for which that stream is noted for more than twenty years and furnished power to operate the mills. It is in the management of these mills since the death of his father and brother that he is best known. Mr. Morgan arrived at manhood at the period when all young men were re- quired by law to do military duty, and was commissioned first by Gov. William L. Marcy as paymaster, then adjutant, and by Gov. Silas Wright as major, all of which he still has in his possession.

Wilmarth, Mrs. Margaret .- The late Isaac Wilmarth was born in Deerfield, August 2, 1830, son of Scott M. and Marcy Wilmarth. Scott M. Wilmarth was born on the farm now owned by Mrs. Margaret Wilmarth, September 22, 1793, and died April 14, 1879. Mrs. Marcy Wilmarth died February 10, 1857. The grandparents, Isaac and Rhoda (Mason) Wilmarth, were natives of Rhode Island, born January 10, 1768, and April 10, 1772, respectively ; and they came from Rhode Island and settled on the farm now owned by Mrs. Wilmarth in 1792. The father of Mrs. Rhoda Wil-

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

marth, Philip Mason, was a native of England and came to America. Isaac Wilmarth, only brother of Scott M., was a graduate of Hamilton College, and was the first Bap- tist missionary from the United States to France. Isaac Wilmarth, our subject, was a graduate of Whitestown Seminary. He engaged in farming, market gardening, and also beekeeping, making a specialty of the latter. He was justice for eighteen years. September 22, 1852, he married Margaret, daughter of Roland and Margaret Davis, a pioneer of 1817, by whom he had five children: Josephine, wife of Rev. E. D. Mason, a Baptist minister of Cottage City, Mass. ; Roland S., who died at one year of age; Robert, a physician in South America; Isaac Judson, living at home ; and Evan- geline, wife of Alfred Coram, of Utica. Since Mr. Wilmarth's death, his wife has conducted the farm of about 120 acres.

Hayes, Charles R., was born in West Turin, Lewis county, N. Y., in 1868, son of Matthew Hayes, a native of Germany, born in 1821. Matthew Hayes was a shoe- maker and came to America in 1841, going directly to Lewis county, where he pur- sued his trade for twenty years. He then engaged in farming, where he now re- sides. He has served as justice of the peace for twenty years. He married Cather- ine Haller, a native of Germany, and their children were Henry, who was drowned in Woodhull in 1893; William, and Charles R. Mrs. Hayes died in 1886. At the age of fourteen years, Charles R. began to learn the millwright's trade and has suc- cessfully followed it up to the present time. In October, 1892, he came to Forestport and engaged as manager of the Woodhull Lumber Company, but in 1894 he went into business for himself and erected a turning and planing mill and engaged in the lumber business. In 1890 Mr. Hayes married Caroline, daughter of Michael and Adeline (Croup) Miller, of Leyden, Lewis county, N. Y., by whom he has one child, Harry.

Snow, Arch. B., was born in Boonville, January 30, 1841. His father, S. E. Snow, was also born here January 1, 1809, and is to-day the oldest inhabitant of local birth. Mr. Snow's paternal ancestors were from Massachusetts, and he was an active par- ticipant in not less than twenty battles in the Civil war. He first enlisted in 1861, in Co. I, 97th Regt., was soon promoted to corporal, then to first sergeant, then to lieu- tenant, and in 1865 received commission as captain. He was disabled by a shot in the face at Gettysburg, and was captured while acting as aid-de-camp at Weldon Railroad in 1864, remaining a prisoner of war at Libby, Salisbury, and Danville prisons for six months. Mr. Snow is now a dealer in boots and shoes at Boonville, and in 1881 he married Jennie Muller, by whom he has two children: Archibald and Martha. He was the charter commander of Wheelock Post, No 97, G. A. R .. and is of high rank and degree in the Masonic fraternity. He has had a varied experience beyond the lot of most men of his age. We quote the following from a short bio- graphical sketch in the Grand Army Journal: "For many years, under the stage name of A. A. Armstrong, he acted in the best theatres of the United States, Canada, and the British West Indies, and as a dialect actor, personator of quaint character parts, and high class vocalist, obtained an enviable reputation." During the past three years he has taken a prominent place among monologue entertainers, and as a humorist, sensational reciter, and descriptive vocalist, ranks with the best. His fun is infectious, and the moral tone of his entertainments is high and pure. His " Ran- dom Recollections of the Field and Camp fire," in Grand Army entertainments have

FAMILY SKETCHES.

been a great success, and of late there has been a growing demand for his services at church society entertainments. He also contributes much valuable historical material to the local press, and an occasional war-story from his pen finds ready sale.

Fitzgerald, Edward, was born in St. Johnsville, Montgomery county, N. Y., in June, 1839. His parents were born in Ireland, and came to the United States in 1830 and first settled in Albany, whence they came to Utica, and in 1840 to the town of Florence. Mr. Fitzgerald was a farmer by occupation and cleared a farm of about one hundred acres, where he resided until his death. Edward Fitzgerald is one of five children. He acquired a good education and taught school in the town of Flor- ence for several years and is a farmer by occupation, now owning a farm of ninety acres. He married Hannah, daughter of David Barry of Seneca county, N. Y., and to them have been born ten children: Ella, Maud J., Lulu E., Katie B., Mary A., Margaret T., Agnes L., Grace B., Evangeline, and Edward, jr. Politically Mr. Fitzgerald is a Democrat, and in 1871 was elected supervisor of the town, which office he held for nine years, was collector for two years, and has held the office of justice since 1891, and was re-elected justice March, 1896, for the term of four years; lie has also held the office of inspector of election for several years. He has held some town office every year since he became a voter.

Cruikshank, James M., was born in the town of Deerfield, N. Y., November 29, 1840, being the eldest son of James and Malintha (Reed) Cruikshank. His father, James, sr., was of Scotch-lrish descent, and in 1807, when seven years of age, emi- grated from Ireland with the family, and came to the town of Deerfield where the family located and purchased a farm of seventy-five acres. In 1837 James, sr., was married to Malintha Reed, a native of Deerfield. He purchased his father's farm and engaged in farming, and subsequently increased his farm to 250 acres on which lie resided until his death April 24, 1877. His wife died March 16, 1884. On March 31, 1863, James M. was married to Mary A., daughter of David and Elizabeth Evans, natives of Wales, who came to America and located in Deerfield, where she was born May 8, 1841. Afterward they removed to Newport, Herkimer county, where he purchased a farm, on which they resided until their death. He in February, 1879, aged seventy-eight years. Ilis wife September 18, 1890, aged eighty-seven years. In 1863 James M. settled on the farm where he now resides. They have four chil- dren: Fred J., born May 19, 1864, and was married to Cora E., only daughter of William and Eliza Kane of Newport, N. Y., March 10, 1886, and is at present en- gaged in farming at Newport, N. Y .; Edgar C., born October 9, 1865, was married to May, only daughter of Dr. Seavy of Poland, N. Y., September 17, 1890. He has been in the mercantile business for ten years and is now general agent for "The Poland Union," at Poland, N. Y .; Millard S., born August 1, 1867, graduate of Fairfield Academy, and for seventeen terms has been a teacher in the schools of the county, and is at present in possession of the same farm bought by his grand- father's father ninety years ago; Avis E., born October 10, 1870, wife of Benjamin L. Ford, who is engaged in the mercantile business at Newport, N. Y. In politics Mr. Cruikshank is a Republican. He has occupied various positions of public trust in his town. Both Mr. and Mrs. Cruikshank have been for many years members of the Presbyterian church of North Gage.

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

Flint, James H., was born in Ava, December 6, 1857, son of Peter A., who was born in Montgomery county, N. Y., January 8, 1820, and Catherine (Walradt) Flint, a native of Otsego county. His grandparents, John R. and Lana (Yerdon) Flint, were both natives of Montgomery county ; and his great-grandparents, Robert C. and Mary (Bartlett) Flint, were pioneers of Montgomery county, and they spent their last days on the Flint homestead in Ava. John R. came to Ava in 1841 and bought a farm of 370 acres, and he died in March, 1891, at the age of ninety-four, and his wife died in 1885, at the age of eighty-five. Peter A. Flint was reared on the farm and has made farming his principal occupation; but having united with the Metho- dist Episcopal church in 1851, he was given license to preach in that church, has been local minister since. He sold his farm of 180 acres to his son in 1895 and has retired. He has been supervisor for several years, and assessor for nine years. In 1882 James Flint married Amelia E. Pohl, by whom he has one son, Clarence, who was born September 25, 1883. Mr. Flint commenced farming in Lewis county, and in 1887 he rented the farm of 213 acres of Sarah A. Wood, in Ava, and has a dairy of thirty to thirty-five cows. He also has the homestead farm of 182 acres, where he keeps twenty-two cows. In politics he is a Democrat, and has been excise com- missioner, and is now assessor.

O Mara, Daniel, was born in the town of Florence, November 3, 1855, son of Pat- rick ()'Mara, who was born in Ireland, and came to the United States in 1851, and settled in Florence, where he has worked at his trade. as blacksmith. He married Mary Horrigan, who was born in New York State, and they have been the parents of eight children: Daniel, William, deceased, John, Michael, Joseph, George, Mary, and Kate. He is engaged in the undertaking business in the village of Florence, and is also one of the leading merchants of the town, carrying a full line of gro- ceries, crockery ware, etc. In politics Mr. O'Mara is a Democrat and in 1881 was elected supervisor of the town, which office he held for three terms, was appointed postmaster in 1884, and served through Cleveland's first administration. At the present time he is justice of the peace, having held that office since 1886. He was instrumental in getting the telephone system in the town and village of Florence. He married Ella, daughter of Richard Willis, who was among the first settlers of the town, and their children are John R. and Mollic.

White, Charles M., was born on the farm whore he now resides, November 25, 1817, son of Aaron and Rhoda (Bagg) White. Aaron White settled in the town of Marcy about 1810, and was followed by his father, Samuel, from Middletown, Conn. Samuel's children were Aaron, Nancy Gitteau, Elizabeth Perry, Sophia, Walter, and Laurie Buck. Aaron White had two children: Charles M. and Martha White Fuller. Aaron White followed farming and at one time was the largest distiller of pepper- mint in the United States. He was colonel of the N. Y. State Militia, and was su- pervisor of his town for several years. His (C. M. White's) grandfather was in the Revolutionary war, also his great-grandfather.

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Our county and its people; a descriptive work on Oneida county, New York;, Part 104

Author: Wager, Daniel Elbridge, 1823-1896 Publication date: 1896 Publisher: [Boston] : The Boston history co. Number of Pages: 1612

Author: Wager, Daniel Elbridge, 1823-1896
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: [Boston] : The Boston history co.
Number of Pages: 1612