Our county and its people; a descriptive work on Oneida county, New York;, Part 109

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 109

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Canfield, M. T., was born at Pittsford, N. Y., in 1844, son of Lewis Canfield, and later a jeweler, in Binghamton, N. Y. M. T. Canfield spent his boyhood in Fremont, Ohio; at sixteen years of age he was apprenticed to a watchmaker at Jamestown, N. Y., where he served four years. Disliking the trade at that time he traveled for two years for a Cleveland manufacturing company. At the age of twenty-two he resumed his work at Columbus, Ohio, and in 1869 went to Memphis, Tenn .. continuing his trade for four years. He then spent a year at Muskegon, Mich., and two years at St. Louis, Mo., thence to San Francisco for one year, and one year at Los Angeles, where in 1877 he married Susan Dixon, of Utica. After his marriage he returned to San Francisco, where he was engaged in business for four

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years and then came to Utica, where he is at present a prominent jeweler. Mr. Canfield is held in high repute in both business and social circles and is an efficient trustee of the Presbyterian church, and member of Oneida Historical Society.

Adams, Elbridge R., was born in Lowville, N. Y., August 9, 1837, son of Dr. Ira Adams, one of the leading physicians of Lewis county, who was born in Cavendish, Vt., August 25, 1792. Dr. Ira Adams was graduated from the regular school, but later adopted the homœopathic method of treatment, and followed it the re- mainder of his active professional life, being the first doctor of that faith in the county. He married Arzelia A., daughter of Judge William Root, of Carbondale, Pa .. who was born in Utica, N. Y., June 8, 1801, and died in December, 1887. Dr. Adams died at Stow's Square, Lewis county, in 1856. E. R. Adams was educated at Lowville Academy, and entered Union College in 1857, graduating in the class of 1861 with Phi Beta Kappa honors; after which he taught two years in Lowville Academy. He was then school commissioner of the Second School Commissioner district of Lewis county for three years. He subsequently read law three years with Charles D. Adams, of Lowville, and Starbuck & Sawyer, of Watertown, and was admitted to the bar, October 7, 1869. On account of failing eyeysight he abandoned the practice of law, and finally returned to his former occupation of teaching. He was then ten years principal of the Lee Center School, and taught two years in the old Whitestown Seminary, coming from that institution to Vernon in 1885, where he is serving as principal of the Union School. In 1890, through his influence, the school was changed to a graded school. In 1870 he married Anna C. Mealus, who was born in Holland Patent, N. Y., January 9, 1838, by whom he has three children : Fred R., Lillian May, and Bertha A. Mrs. Adams was educated at Turin, and Fairfield Seminary.

Seiter, George, was born March 14, 1845, in France, near the city of Strasburg and the River Rhine, Germany, and came to America in 1847. His father, a carpenter, settled in Utica and engaged at his trade ; but having a desire to own a saw-mill, he bought at Little Black Creek, While quite young George found he inherited his father's desire for a saw mill and machinery. In 1869 his father died, and two years later he came to Boonville where he invested in real estate on the corner of Main and Church streets and built a block of stores and the Globe Hotel, which he still owns. For some twenty years he conducted a grocery store and ran the Globe Hotel for about three years; while in business he often found himself called upon to draft plans and build so in 1890 he bought the tannery site of Samuel Johnson, a fine water power about a stone's throw from the depot, where he built a saw mill and a rustic home, where he enjoys life with his wife and children, of which he has seven: Mary Anna, John Mathias, Rose Helen, Julia Barbara, George, jr., Joseph Aloysius, and Norbert Milton. In 1895 he added steam to the mill, which gives ample power at all times, and he expects to manufacture lumber, shingles, lath, etc., also to do planing, turning and scroll sawing.

Sturdevant, Oliver W., was born in Augusta, Oneida county, N. Y., December 27, 1835. His education was received in the public schools and Cazenovia Seminary. For several years he was engaged in teaching the district schools and in Onondaga

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Academy, which position he left in the spring of 1862 to enter Hamilton College. About this time there came an urgent call for volunteers, and he enlisted as a private in Co. E., 44th N. Y. Vols. He participated with his regiment in the first battle of Fredericksburg, the battles of Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, besides some less important engagements. At Gettysburg he was in the brigade which held the " Round Top " against Longstreet's charge on the 2d of July. While a member of this regiment he was promoted to corporal and sergeant. In October, 1863, he was ordered before General Casey's examining board in Washington, and was appointed by President Lincoln to a captaincy in the Tenth Regiment of U. S. Colored troops, . November 3, 1863. In this regiment he was engaged in the advance up the James River, May 4, 1864, under General Butler. He was on the provost guard at City Point under General Patrick during the winter of 1864-65, and was ordered to the front in time to be in the first brigade which entered Richmond after its evacuation by the Confederates. Shortly after this regiment was sent to Corpus Christi, Texas, and thence to Galveston. At this place Captain Sturdevant resigned his commis- sion April 6, 1866, and received an honorable discharge. Returning to his former home he was soon after appointed principal of the leading public school of Oneida, and after several years' service therein was elected school commissioner of the First district of Madison county. While holding this office he was called to the principal- ship of Onondaga Academy, which position he occupied for sixteen years, resigning it in 1888. While engaged in this work in 1883 he received from Hamilton College the honorary degree of A. M. On retiring from Onondaga Academy he was ap- pointed assistant conductor of Teachers' Institutes of the State of New York, which position he held for about two years when he retired, and now resides on his farm in Verona on the Rome and Oneida road. In April, 1865, he married M. Isadore Willard, only daughter of Erastus Willard, at one time sheriff of Oneida county. She died in May of the following year. April 2, 1868, he married Elizabeth H. Rog- ers, of Oneida, N. Y. Mr. Sturdevant's father, Dudley Sturdevant, was born in Connecticut in 1800, but at an early age removed with his parents to the town of Augusta in this county. In 1840 he removed to the homestead which our subject still owns and occupies. He was educated in the common schools of his day. He married Mary A. Swan of this town, by whom he had seven children: Caroline L., Edward Y., Ellen L., Oliver W., as above, James W., John E., and Theodore F. Mr. Sturdevant died in 1864, and his wife in 1885. Mrs. Elizabeth H. Sturdevant, the wife of our subject, is the daughter of David Rogers, who was born in Oxford- shire, England, in 1814, and was educated there. He married Rhoda Hull of his native place. Their children were Elizabeth H., as above, Anna M., and John H. The family came to the United States in 1849 and settled at Oneida, where Mrs. Rogers still resides. Mr. Rogers died in 1868.

Hanna, Col. Nathaniel, one of the early settlers in Oneida county, was born in Ireland, near Dublin, of Scotch parentage, in 1717; he emigrated to this country in 1781, settling in Cambridge, N. Y. ; he came to Oneida county about 1787 and located himself on a farm about two miles west of Clarks Mills. He died in 1803 and was buried in the Evergreen Cemetery on South street, which at that time adjoined the first Methodist church built in the town of Westmoreland. He served his mother country as colonel of dragoons in the seven years war on the Continent, 1756-1763,

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and afterwards as sheriff of Kings county. He was a man of massive frame, and was long remembered by the early settlers as an expert horseman. His daughter Sarah married James Tompkins, a native of Ireland, born in 1762, died in 1828; came to this country in 1781 and to Oneida county about 1787. He bought a farm located on the Oriskany Creek a short distance below Clark's Mills. He took his conveyance from General Washington, and the penmanship was in the hand of Clinton, the general's private secretary, The farm is now owned by Mrs. E. Langdon. The purchase was made prior to the era of highways, and Indians were his daily visitors. His house was the headquarters of Methodism, and Bishop Asbury and Lorenzo Dow with his wife Peggy often slept at his house, and thundered the law in the old church on South street. Mr. Tompkins's daughter Eleanor married Francis Watson, a native of England, who was born in 1794, and died in 1871; he purchased the homestead, on which he lived until about 1856. His son, Col. James T. Watson, an old resident of Clinton was born in 1830; he established a drug store in Clinton in 1858 which is now conducted by one of his sons. He received his military commis- sion from Governor Hoffman, and was active in the State service for many years. For several years he has been president of the Westmoreland Cemetery Association, and has filled several other positions of trust with honor; he is an enthusiastic sportsman with gun, rod, or sail, and the latchstring of his cottage, Bontekoe. Thousand Islands, always hangs outside for all his friends.

Jackson, John T .- John Jackson's father was John Jackson, born in Boonville in 1830, and died October 9, 1857. His mother, Harriet Pitcher, was born in Boonville February 13, 1832, and they were married February 24, 1852; they had two sons; Roscoe N., born July 7, 1856, and John S., born November 6, 1857. His grandfather, John Jackson, of Herkimer, married Hester Neely and came to Boonville in 1817. She died in September, 1881, and her husband in 1829. Their children were Abra- ham, Jerome, Silas, Andrew, John, Jane and Ann. Abraham and Silas are living in Wisconsin, and the others are dead. Roscoe N. Jackson married Minnie With- ington of Adams, and is now a physician in Faribault, Minn. John S. Jackson was born in Boonville, November 6, 1857; he has always been engaged in farming and owns 130 acres which is devoted to dairy products. In 1878 he married Cora Bell Talcott of Leyden, Lewis county, N. Y .; she was born in Leyden in 1859, and there lived until her marriage, November 6, 1878. They have three children: Pearl S., born October 23, 1881; Edith H., born October 1, 1885; Vere T., born December 23, 1890.

Tripp, Orris B., was born in Floyd April 27, 1838, son of Isaac and Mary (Brook) Tripp. Isaac Tripp was born in Steuben, and was a pioneer farmer, active in both town and county affairs; he was assessor in the town of Floyd for many years, and at one time the Democratic candidate for county superintendent of the poor. Will- iam Tripp, grandfather of Orris B., was a Revolutionary soldier and drew a pension for the same. His father, Job Tripp, was a soldier in the French war and also took an active part in the Revolution, being commissary to General Gates, and trained the horse that Arnold road at the battle of Saratoga Orris B. Tripp was the young- est of ten children, and was educated in the district schools of his town and at the Utica Academy. He married Esther Jones in 1874, daughter of Hugh W. and Sally Smith Jones; they had one son in 1890, now deceased. He engaged in general

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farming at twenty-one years of age; held the office of justice of the peace three terms (twelve years); represented the town in the Board of Supervisors in 1881; has been active in public affairs and private enterprises. Though not a communicant of any church he is a staunch believer and liberal supporter of the Christian religion. He is an extensive reader of history and of current events, enjoying fiction as well. He resides in the same house in which he was born, and has never moved but once, and then he took his house with him about a mile to an adjoining farm. He is a reliable, upright citizen, and his standing in his town is evidence that he has not lived in vain.

Adams, Justus B., son of John J. Adams, was born in Boonville December 10, 1832. In 1868 he bought a farm of 116 acres where he keeps a dairy of sixteen to eighteen cows. In 1868 he married Rhoda, daughter of Elisha and Lenda (Burdick) Scofield of Jefferson county, by whom he has three children: Pearl E., Dewey J., Lillie B. Justus B. and his wife are members of the Friends church. John J. Adams was born in Ballston, Saratoga county, February 13, 1801; he came to Boonville in 1805. He married Betsey Corwin, by whom he had six children: Ezra J., Azubah B., Eli J., Justus B., Jesse T. and Clarissa E. John J., his wife, and all the children were Friends, except Clarissa E. John J. died in 1882, aged eighty-one; Betsey, his wife, died in 1836, aged thirty-six. Ezra Adams, father of John J., was born in Con- necticut in 1770; he married Betty Beardsley, by whom he had four children: Irena, John J., Polly and Azubah. Ezra Adams came into Oneida county about the year 1800 and followed surveying; he used to have two white men and two Indians to assist him. He bought a tract of land lying east and west from Ava Corners; the tract was three miles long and 200 rods wide-200 acres-and in the year 1805 he with his family moved and settled about two miles west of where Ava post-office is now. He died in 1823, aged fifty-three, and Betty, his wife, in 1805, aged twenty- nine He married Lydia Dewey for his second wife, by whom he had seven children : Clarissa, Ezra, Josiah Dewey, Julia L., Ephraim Sherwood, Polly and Walker, who was one year and one day old when his father died. They all lived in Ava or Lee for about fifty years after their father's death. Julia L. (Townsend) is still living and keeping house in her eighty third year.

Root, Oren, was born at Syracuse, N. Y., where his father was principal of Syra- cuse Academy, May 18, 1838, and his family moved to Clinton in January, 1850, when the elder Root was elected professor of mathematics in Hamilton College, which position he held for thirty-two years. In 1852 Oren entered Hamilton Col- lege in the class of 1856, a boy fourteen and one-half years of age, the youngest member of the class. After graduation Mr. Root taught for a time, and finally took up the study of law, being admitted to the bar of Wisconsin in 1858. From 1860-62 he was tutor in mathematics in Hamilton College, leaving that position to become principal of Rome Academy. His next field of action was the West, where he oc- cupied the chair of English in the University of Missouri for five years. In 1871 he resigned to become superintendent of the newly organized schools of Carrolton, Mo. Two years later Professor Root became principal of Pritchell Institute, Glasgow, Mo. While here, in obedience to a strong impulse, he decided to enter the ministry, taking charge of two struggling and divided churches, in addition to his school duties, and here his great ability as an organizer proved of inestimable value. But

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the strain of the added cares proved too much even for his great endurance, and he was obliged to give up active duty for a time. In 1880, his health fully restored, he was called from the West to assist his aged father, whom he succeeded the following year as professor of mathematics. Professor Root had now been in the West fourteen years. His experiences had been varied and often severe. He was teacher, lawyer, prin- cipal, superintendent, and pastor. The training thus received has manifested itself in later years in Professor Root's work in college. His mind was broadened, trained, and made ready for work. He had acquired knowledge that could only have been obtained in the rough and more trying life of the West. He had found a certain readiness and push, a fearless determination, and willingness to lift and carry burdens which has enabled him to become a power in his chosen work and place. Professor Oren Root has taught mathematics in Hamilton College for fifteen years, with great zeal and ability. As an instructor, Dr. Root is forcible, clear and thorough. As an orator, Dr. Root is held in repute far and wide. His utterances are pithy and powerful, his rhetoric is easy and finished, his discourses replete with illustration, and persuasive in their effects. His hearers move with him, and there is a seriousness and substantiality in and through it all, that only comes of fixed purpose and strong conviction. His experience and knowledge of life make him a leader of more than ordinary power.

Scollard, Clinton, was born September 18, 1860. He is the only son of Dr. James I. and Elizabeth S. Scollard. He graduated from Hamilton College in 1881, with a record for high scholarship. After teaching rhetoric and oratory for a year or two in the Brooklyn Polytechnic, he entered upon a post-graduate course in advanced English at Harvard University. In 1886 he went abroad, and in 1887 he made a tour of several months in the far East. Upon his return he was called to Hamilton as instructor in English literature. He was mrrried July 3, 1890, and spent his honeymoon in Europe. In 1891 he was elevated to the chair of English literature at his alma mater. This he held till 1896, when he resigned to devote his time wholly to literature, in which field he has attained unusual fame for a young man. He has published several volumes of poetry which rank with those of the best writers in that line. While still an undergraduate at Hamilton, Mr. Scollard's poetical efforts began to attract attention. The college periodicals of that date contain many clever verses from his pen.

Knox, J. Theodore, was born in Knoxboro, N. Y., December 13, 1845, and came from the family that founded the village bearing the name. They were among the prominent citizens in the town of Augusta, and instances became conspicuous, among the clergy and financiers, in a larger field. His grandfather, John J. Knox, came from Montgomery county in 1811 and settled at the place which later became Knoxboro. James C. Knox, father of J. Theodore, was born at Knoxboro Novem- ber 29, 1818, and spent his life there, engaged in active and successful mercantile and manufacturing business; he died July 16, 1894. October 2, 1844, he married Mary E. Whiteley, who was a native of Utica, born December 2, 1818, who is still hving on the old homestead in Knoxboro. J. Theodore received his education at Dwight's Rural High School in Clinton and at the age of sixteen entered his father's store as clerk and bookkeeper, and in 1865, although only twenty years of age, entered into partnership with his father, which contineed until 1881; at that time selling to

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his father the interest he held in the store, having in the mean time engaged in the general insurance business, which he still continues besides conducting the affairs of his farms. Mr. Knox has held the office of town clerk for two terms, and in 1881 received the nomination for the Assembly. February 20, 1873, he married Lucy Anna Barbour, of Pittstown, Rensselaer county, who was born August 7, 1848, and received her education at North Granville, and Temple Grove Seminary; her father, Rev. P. Barbour, was then pastor of the Presbyterian church of Augusta. They have three children: Mary Barbour, born March 10, 1883; Ruth Agnes, born November 6, 1886; William Curtis, born May 3, 1889.

Williams, Arnon George, was born in Westmoreland, July 8, 1818, son of George and Rhoda (Beckwith) Williams. George Williams was a native of Massachusetts, and came to Westmoreland about 1816, where he conducted a farm. He then went to boating on the canal, but afterwards resumed farming until his death in 1850. Arnon George Williams was educated in the district schools, then learned the black- smith's business, after which he went to the Groton Academy in Tompkins county, where he prepared for college. He entered Hamilton College in 1842, graduating in 1845, having gained a collegiate education through his own efforts, teaching school at intervals. After graduating from college he went to teaching in the Delancey In- stitute at Westmoreland where he taught two years, and then went to Walworth Academy where he occupied the position of principal for two years; from here he went to Fayetteville where he served as principal for five years; thence to Vernon, serving years; after which he returned to Delancey Institute, also serving as principal a term of years. On returning to Westmoreland he bought the Springs buildings and property connected with them; he later bought the Hallock farm, which he ran in connection with the Institute, which has been known as the Delancey and Williams Institue. After some years he gave up teaching and turned his at- tention to cultivating his farming property. Mr. Williams is a staunch Republican, contributing his best efforts to the support of his party, but has never sought a political office. He has been justice of the peace and loan commissioner. Mr. Will- iams married Jane B. Pratt, of Castile, Wyoming county. Mr. Williams's career has been one of remarkable activity. He has been one of the foremost educators in the county, and was one of the principal men in forming the town Agricultural Society, which ran for ten years successfully ; he was also one of the organizers, and first master of the grange in this town for four years. Mr. Williams has always been at the head of the educational work, and foremost in everything connected with the inter- ests of the farmers, and is first vice-president of the Farmers' club.

Jessup, Benjamin T., was born in Colchester, Delaware county, N. Y., April 12, 1813, son of Abraham and Phoebe Jessup, also of Colchester, N. Y. Mr. Jessup's ancestors came to this country in 1642. He went to New York at sixteen years of age, and was engaged in business there for fifty-eight years. Fifty years of this period, he was engaged in the manufacture of paints and oils, and was one of the pioneers in that business, and was the first to prepare zinc paint for painters' use. In 1887 he retired entirely from business, and bought the S. Newton Dexter place in Whitesboro. Mr. Jessup married Emily C., daughter of Robert Johnson, of Middletown, Conn., by whom he had four children : John C., Robert J., Henrietta,

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married to Edgar P. Glass of Syracuse, and Benjamin A. of Brooklyn, N. Y. His second wife is Mary E., daughter of John Tunbridge, of Utica.

Wilson, William H., was born February 5, 1849, son of Henry W. and Adelia S. (Draper) Wilson. Henry Wilson was the son of James Wilson, who built the present homestead residence and purchased the present homestead farm, in 1792, coming here with Judge White, and being one of the earliest settlers in the township. Henry W. lived here during his lifetime. William H. Wilson was educated at Whitestown Seminary, after which he engaged in farming on the old homestead farm, where he has always resided. Mr. Wilson is a staunch Republican and takes an active interest in the success of his party. He married Emma J , daughter of E. Chauncey Lewis, a farmer of Kirkland. This is a sketch of one of the oldest and best known families in the township of Whitestown. On his mother's side, the family are descended from the Draper family, who trace their descent back to 1620.

Race, Chester A., was born in Greene, Chenango county, N. Y., son of George 'T. Race and Margaret A. Race. His grandfather, Derrick Race, came from Connec- ticut and settled in Greene, when it was a vast wilderness. Chester A. was educated in Chenango county and settled in Norwich and from there came to Walesville. Mr. Race is a carpenter and builder and also engaged in farming. He married Jane Whiting, by whom he had two children: Jesse, and Georgie. Mrs. Race died in 1872, and he is now married to Ella Brooks, by whom he has four children : Charles, Arthur, Carrie and Bertie. Mr. Race and wife are members of the Baptist church at Walesville, and Mr. Race is a staunch Republican and takes an active interest in the success of his party.

Hawkins, James S., was born in Canada, December 23, 1822, and came to the United States with his parents when a year old. Ile was educated in the district schools in various places, and has been a boat builder by occupation. March 23, 1843, he married Jane E. Pratt, of Rome, N. Y., by whom he had cight children, two of whom died in infancy: Delos A., Salome M., Udell R., Addie M., Frances E., and Sarah J., all of whom are married. Mr. and Mrs. Hawkins have thirty-one grand- children. October 18, 1861, Mr. Hawkins enlisted in Co. K. 97th N. Y. S. Vols., re- enlisted January 4, 1864, and participated in the following engagements: South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Mine Run, Rac- coon Ford, Battle of the Wilderness, Laurel Hill, Spottsylvania Court House, North Anna River, Bethsaida Church, White Oak Swamp, in front of Petersburg, and the Weldon Railroad, where he was taken prisoner August 19, 1864, and was in Libby and Salisbury Prisons, was exchanged and returned to his company May 6, 1865. He was honorably discharged June 9, 1865, from Navy School Hospital. He is a member of Joseph Warren Post, of Verona, N. Y., No. 615, G. A. R., Department of New York.

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Our county and its people; a descriptive work on Oneida county, New York;, Part 109

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