Our county and its people; a descriptive work on Oneida county, New York;, Part 111

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 111

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

cis, Olive, and Elizabeth. He died March 11, 1832, and his wife February 20, 1865. Mrs. West's father, Alanson Jackson, was born in Connecticut about 1792. He married Marilla Warner and came to the town of Verona in 1818. They had four children: Noble, Amos, Mary Ann and Julia. He died in 1838 and his wife in 1880. Mr. and Mrs. West are members of the Seven Day Baptist church, of which he has been deacon for thirty years. The ancestry of the family is New England stock, of Welsh, Scotch and Irish origin.

Graham, George H., was born in Oriskany, N. Y., May 21, 1843, son of George and Jane Graham. George Graham was born at Whitesboro, N. Y., in 1811. He has been engaged in contracting, doing work on the canal, and has also been en- gaged in railroad building. He has been superintendent on various divisions of the canal, and was supervisor of the township, for which he wasnominated sixteen times and elected eight. He was justice of the peace for over thirty years, and has also been a member of the Legislature, and on the excise commission of the county eight years, and he has been one of the most prominent men of the township during his life, and although eighty-four years old, is still in good health George H. Graham was es'ncated in Whitestown, after which he superintended at railroad, canal and reserv .r building ; part of the time he was engaged on the Welland canal, on the New York Reservoir, also on the New York Central R. R. He returned to Whites- town in the fall of 1879 and took charge of the Oriskany Malleable Iron Works, which was started in a small way in a hired shop with $8, 000 capital, employing about thirty-five people ; and in seven years they increased the capital stock from $7,000 to $41,000, and constructed the present factory, where they employ on the average of 120 men. This has been one of the successful industries of the county, and Mr. Graham is superintendent. He is supervisor of the town, having been elected for two years. He married Fanny Murphy of Oriskany, by whom he has two children: Jean and Annis.

Neal, Austin D., was born near Paris Hill, N. Y., in 1813, son of Martin Neal, who was of Scotch ancestry, and was born in Connecticut. When eighteen years of age he settled in the old town of New Hartford, coming with his father, William Neal, and making the journey with an ox team. He had no capital, but by economy and the exercise of rare business qualities he accumulated a large amount of prop- erty at farming. He married Roxy Porter of an old local family. Austin D. Neal had resided on the old homestead until 1895, when he came to live a retired life in the village. In 1852 he married Mary Gilbert, who died in 1867, leaving two chil- dren : Mary Adelaide, and Martin Edwin ; the latter is now engaged in farming on the homestead, which comprises eighty-two acres of land. In 1871 he married his present wife, Mary, daughter of Abel Law, by whom he had one child, William Austin, who was born in 1872 and died in 1883.

Aylesworth, Rev. David W., was born in Odessa, Ontario, Canada, in 1830, and is a Methodist Episcopal clergyman of New Hartford. He is a son of a lay preacher of the Methodist Episcopal church at Odessa, who was highly esteemed as a man of rare intellectual attainments, and a gifted public speaker. He died in 1890. Rev. David W. Aylesworth began his education at Odessa, and studied engineering at Bath and Newburg. In 1856 he entered the ministry, completing his education at

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Ottawa. In 1868 he came to New York State and entered upon his life work of preaching the gospel. He is also an active worker in the interests of the I. O. G. T., and a fluent speaker.

Jones, James E., M. D., was born in Otsego county, N. Y., July 17, 1832. He was educated at Whitesboro Seminary, Ann Arbor, Mich., and Albany Medical College, from which he was graduated in 1855. After practicing four years in Utica, he re- moved to Clayville, where he practiced for over thirty years. In 1858 he married Margaret Springer, by whom he has three children: Ida (Jones) Burt, of Utica, N. Y .; Anna M., a teacher in Utica; and Frank J. Dr. Jones's father, Elias Avery Jones, was born in Bridgewater, N. Y., in 1809, and his grandfather, Elias Jones, was one of the first settlers in Bridgewater, where he came from Stonington, Conn. Simeon Morgan, an uncle of Dr. Jones's grandfather, was killed at the battle of Groton Heights, and not a few of his ancestors were actors in the stirring events in the early history of the country. His great-grandmother Hunt during the American Revolution narrowly escaped massacre by the Indians, four miles south of Amster- dam; she heard the Indian war-whoop and fled to the woods with her only child, the doctor's grandfather, hiding until her house was burned and the Indians departed. Her husband was absent as a volunteer soldier with the Americans.

Cleveland, Charles H., was born in Rome, N. Y., November 14, 1855, son of George and Lucy Cleveland. George Cleveland is a farmer and is still living at the age of sixty-six years. Charles H. Cleveland was educated in Rome and then en- gaged in the mercantile business. He was a merchant in Rome for six years; and was also engaged in farming. He now conducts a general store at Lowell and carries a stock that will compare favorably with any mercantile stock in the town of Westmoreland. Mr. Cleveland married Bertha Cook, of Rome, by whom he has two children: John A. and Gretta M.

Overrocker, Enos D., was born in the town of Westmoreland, N. Y., September 15, 1855. He was educated in the district schools, and, with the exception of seven years, has always followed farming. April 16, 1892, he married Elizabeth Deihl, of Vernon Center, by whom he has two children: James, and a baby boy not yet named. Mr. Overrocker's father, Jerome B., was born in the town of Vernon, N. Y., in 1811. He was well educated, and was a farmer by occupation. He married Roxanna Payne of Bloomington Point, Conn., by whom he had nine children: Sidney, James, Lafayette, Frank, Lucinda, Edward, Enos D., as above, a baby not named, and Ida. Mr. Overrocker died in 1886; his wife survives and resides with our subject. Mrs. Enos D. Overrocker's father, Ernest Deihl, was born in Germany, and came to the United States when a young man. He married and had seven children by his first wife, and six by his second wife. Mr. Overrocker's brother, Lafayette, was a soldier of the late war. He enlisted August 3, 1862, in Co. H, 117th N. Y. S. Vols., and was honorably discharged at the close of the war. The ancestry of the family is Dutch and German.

Williams, Rees G., son of William E., was born in Carmaerthonshire, Wales, July 19, 1828, and came to Utica with his parents in 1841. He learned the printing busi- ness in the Gazette office, and in 1862, with the late Lucius C. Childs, opened a job room in Franklin Square. Later he was connected with the New York Central Rail-

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

road offices, for a time he was foreman of the Observer job room, succeeding Luther M. Kent. In 1866 he engaged in the insurance business as a representative of the Charter Oak Company. This calling he continued until his death, which occurred December 23, 1895. Mr. Williams early identified himself with Masonry and became an ardent promoter of its principles. At the age of twenty-four he was junior war- den and was successively promoted until he filled exalted positions in the Grand Lodge of the State. He instituted many lodges and was one of the best known Masons in Central New York. Since 1861 he was connected with the Knights Tem- plar and was its commander when it took part in the obsequies of President Garfield in Cleveland. Mr. Williams took deep interest in the history of Utica and was a prominent member of the Oneida Historical Society from its inception. Ile was a man of engaging personality, remarkably well informed, warmly esteemed and highly respected, and inflexibly honest.

Roberts, John C., managing editor of Y Drych (The Mirror), the leading Welsh paper of the country, was born in Llysfaen, North -Wales, June 7, 1840. In 1866 he came from Denbigh, North Wales, to America, and after two and one-half years spent mostly in New York city settled permanently in Utica, where he has ever since (March, 1869) held the position of managing editor of Y Drych.

Day, Horace E., was born at West Schuyler, Herkimer county, N. Y., August 21, 1846, son of Horace B. Day, and was educated in the public schools and Utica Free Academy. He has been identified with the Utica Opera House in various capacities since about 1866, when he was placed in charge of the box office. In 1892 he became lessee and manager of this play house, and has conducted its affairs successfully, being well sustained by the theatrical publie of the city of Utica. Mr. Day married Kittie M. Mckinney, of Utica, and they are the parents of six children.

Weaver, Abram H., was born in Deerfield, Oncida county, N. Y., June 13, 1849. He was educated at Utica, and has since followed farming. In 1881 he purchased a farm in Marcy, where he resided until 1892, when he took up his residence at Deer- field Corners, but still carries on the farm. In 1877 he married Matilda, daughter of Richard and Rachel Harter, natives of Deerfield. Richard Harter was a farmer in Deerfield. He was a Democrat in politics, and was supervisor of Deerfield and jus- tice of the peace for a great many years. He died May 3, 1883, aged eighty-three years, and his wife died April 18, 1860, aged sixty-seven years Mr. and Mrs. Weaver have one daughter, Florence R., born June 20, 1880.

Jamieson, Robert, was born in Glasgow, Scotland, son of Alexander and Betsey Jamieson. The family came to the United States in 1865, and Alexander was em- ployed in the New York Mills until he died in 1882. Mrs. Jamieson is still living. Robert Jamieson engaged in work in the New York Mills, at which he has always continued. He is overseer of the weaving in Mill No. 1. He is a popular and promi- nent Republican, and has been elected supervisor two terms. He married Julia Cash of New York Mills, by whom he has one son, Edward C. Mr. and Mrs. Jamie- son are members of the Presbyterian church of New York Mills.

Dygart, John H., was born in Oneida county, N. Y., in 1829. He was educated in the district schools, and January 1, 1853, he married Susan Lansing, of his native county, by whom he had six children: Harriet A., Dennison H., George H., Ida M.,

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Josie F., and Myra M. Peter Dygart, father of John H., was born in Madison county, N. Y., and married Elsie Goodeno, by whom he has three children: John H., Dennison and Maria. Mrs. Dygart's father, Henry Laning, was born February 8, 1808. He married Abigail Coon, of his native place, by whom he had three children : William, Susan, and Harriet. Mr. Laning died January 16, 1890, and his wife July 19, 1860. Mr. Dygart's grandfather, Henry Dygart, was a soldier in the Revolu- tionary war. The ancestry of the family is of New England stock, of Dutch origin on both sides.

Foster, Ellen M .- Charles Foster was born in Southampton, L. I., in 1797, and was educated in the schools of that day. He was a tanner and shoemaker in early life, and afterward a farmer. He came to Oneida county when twenty-three years of age. He married Rhoda Snow, of Sandisfield, Berkshire county, Mass., by whom he had nine children: Charles S., Mary S., William A., deceased, Ellen M., as above, an infant daughter not named, James J., George A., William H., and Edward S. George A. graduated from Ann Arbor University, Michigan, as an attorney at law. He enlisted in the 44th, Colonel Ellsworth's regiment and participated in the Seven Days fight in the battle of the Wilderness, was promoted as captain in a colored regiment, was honorably discharged at the close of the war, and is now a resident of Chicago. Edward S. also enlisted in Company C, 117th N. Y. Vols., and was in the Army of the Potomac. He died in Virginia, July 21, 1863, and was buried in the Hampton National Cemetery. Mr. Foster died November 3, 1858, and his wife De- cember 26, 1879. Christopher Foster, styled farmer in the shipping list, embarked in London, June 17, 1635, in the Abigail, and moved to Southampton in 1651.

Merry, Frederick J., was born in Baden, Germany, December 31, 1840. He was educated in the schools of his native place until he was twelve years of age, when he came to the United States, locating in the townof Verona. He owns a stone quarry, a cheese factory, and a farm. August 16, 1862, he enlisted in Co. L, 1st N. Y. Mounted Rifles, was in the department of the Army of the James, and was honor- ably discharged June 11, 1865. March 10, 1875, he married Anna E. McGann of this town, by whom he has three children: William G., Grace C., and Belle S. Mrs. Merry's father, Hugh McGann, was born in 1817, was educated in the common schools and was a blacksmith by occupation. Mr. McGann married Mary Butler, by whom he had eight children: Mary, Emily, Ellen, Mary, Sarah, William, Anna E., and Adelia. He died in 1884 and his wife died April 7, 1896.

Dapson, Thomas, was born in Kent, England, April 25, 1831. He was educated there, and is a farmer by occupation. October 21, 1855, he married Sophia Braizer, and came to the United States October 24, 1855, and located in Augusta, Oneida county. Mrs. Dapson died in 1859, and for his second wife Mr. Dapson married Harriet Pankhurst, of his native country, by whom he had seven children: Emma C., Hattie J., Winnifred E., John T., Frank E., George W., and Fred A. The family resided in the town of Vernon ten years, and in the town of Verona since 1874. Mr. Dapson's father, Thomas Dapson, sr., was born at the old home in Eng- land in 1808. He was a farmer by occupation, and married Jane Mercer, of his na- tive country, by whom he had eight children who grew to maturity; Mary A., Jane, Thomas, Harriet, William, Sarah, Alfred and Eliza. Mr. Dapson died in 1883; his

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wife died in England Mrs. Dapson's father, William Pankhurst, was born in Kent, England. in 1815. He married Charlotte Law, of his native place, and they had five children: Ann M., Harriet, Jane, Elizabeth, and George. Mr. Dapson is a member of Vernon Grange, No. 638, of Vernon, N. Y.

Case, A. Pierson, was born in Vernon, N. Y., March 22, 1818, son of Salmon Case, who came from Norfolk, Conn., in 1813, and built up a large mercantile business, carrying it on until 1840, when he retired. He, in company with John J. Knox, started the Vernon Bank in 1839, of which for some time he was cashier. Salmon Case was a descendant of John Case, who came from England in 1640 and settled in Connecticut. He was born November 26, 1794, and died in 1871. In 1844 he was the Whig candidate for Congress in Oneida county. A. Pierson Case received his school training at "Dominie" Wicks's school on Paris Hill, Prof. Charles Bartlett's High School at East Utica, and the Vernon Academy. He then entered his father's store at Vernon and for the following thirty-five years was identified with the business, he, with his brother, continuing the business for thirty years after bis father's retirement. In August, 1862, Mr. Case enlisted in the 146th Regt. N. Y. Vols., and served until January, 1864, when he was discharged on account of ill health. After his retirement he was for a time interested in the mercantile business. In 1878 he represented the town in the Board of Supervisors. In 1879 he was chosen cashier of the bank, and so continued until 1893, at which time he was elected its president, succeeding Warren G. Strong. 1 His mother was Maria Pierson, born in Cazenovia, September 5, 1799, and died in Vernon, March 10, 1885. Mr. Case married Lovina W. Coburn, who was born in Homer, N. Y., December 20, 1820, by whom he had two children: Maria A. and Charles S., who is in the lithographing business in Bingham- ton, N. Y.

Robbins, Albert W., was born in the town of Augusta, near the village of Knox. boro. His father, Lorenzo Robbins, came to Augusta with his parents in 1813, when he was but two and a half years of age. He was one of a family of nine children : they were natives of Berkshire county, Mass., where he was born September 6, 1811. In 1840 he married Clarissa E. Guthrie, of Stockbridge, N. Y., who died in 1849. Albert W. Robbins is one of two children, and acquired his education at the Augusta Academy, Mansfield Seminary, Pennsylvania, and the Oneida Seminary. In 1861-2 he taught school, but the Civil war having broken out, he enlisted in the 117th N. Y. Vols., Co. G, and remained three years in the service, receiving in the Drury Bluff battle a severe wound for which he now draws a small pension. After his discharge from the army he returned to Augusta and resumed his farm life, which he still con- tinues. He married for his first wife, Eliza Bishop, of Cleveland, Ohio, who died May 23, 1890, leaving one son, Edwin, now a student in Hamilton College. His present wife is Sarah Dudley of Augusta, who was educated at the Augusta Academy, and also the training school for teachers, at Quincy Mass.

Keith, Charles B., was born at North Brookfield, Madison county, February 5, 1858, He attended the public school of that place, also the Whitestown Seminary until he was eighteen years of age, when he was made acting station agent of the D., L.

1 His brother, Josiah Case, was president of the bank from 1862 to 1896; and his brother. Everett, was cashier from 1851 to 1829.

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& W. R. R. at North Brookfield. A short time subsequent to this he received the appointment to a similar position, on the N. Y., O. & W. R. R. at Westmoreland, N. Y., and remained at that place until November, 1878, at which time he was promoted by the same company to the agency at Oriskany Falls, a position he still occupies. His father, Henry P. Keith, was born at Unadilla Forks, N. Y., July 21, 1829. He early removed to North Brookfield, where he was engaged in farming and milling until he was forty years of age, when he devoted several years to the mant- facture of cheese. In 1889 he removed to Oriskany Falls, where he still resides. December 21, 1854, he married Mandana C. Peck, of North Brookfield, who was a native of Henderson, Jefferson county, N. Y., and was born May 3, 1833. She is also living. On the first of November, 1883, Charles B. Keith entered in copartner- ship with O. B. Abbott, under the firm name of Abbott & Keith, dealers in coal, and continued until the death of Mr. Abbott, in 1894. W. C. Nye succeeded to the Abbott interest, and the firm has since been Keith & Nye. December 25, 1879, Mr. Keith was married to Hattie E. Kellogg, of Westmoreland. Mrs. Keith was educated at Westmoreland and Whitestown Seminary. They have two children: Harry C., born June 19, 1882, and Royal B., born April 20, 1885.

McPherson, John, was born in Port Glasgow, Scotland, December 13, 1845, son of William and Agnes (Crawford) McPherson. William McPherson died in the West Indies at thirty-six years of age, and Mrs. McPherson died in New York Mills in 1881. John McPherson was educated in Scotland and came to New York Mills 10 1865, since which time he has been in the employ of the company, and he is carpen- ter at mills Nos. 3 and 4. Mr. McPherson is a member of Lodge No. 224, F. & A. M. He married Mary F., daughter of George Burdick of Westmoreland, by whom he has two sons: William Monroe and Roy Burdick.

Pattengill, Lucia G .- Charles N. Pattengill was born in New Lisbon, Otsego county, N. Y., December 11, 1820, son of Lemuel Pattengill, a captain in the war of 1812 who was captured by the British and exchanged. Charles N. Pattengill was educated at the Oneida Institute, Gilbertsville Academy and Oxford. He first studied law, and at the same time was engaged in teaching, but after qualifying him- self for the bar he felt that his calling lay in the ministry, which he entered in 1853, his first pastorate being Westville church, Westville, Otsego county. After officiat- ing there four years he came to Whitesboro, where he remained ten years before going to Palmyra. He remained there six years, then went to Gloversville for four years, thence to Fayetteville, where he remained about three years. He was naturally a ready and fluent speaker, a man of rare earnestness and power. In the late Civil war his eloquence found a great theme, and, inspired by patriotism, his addresses did much for the Union during that period of great trial. His ministry at Whitesboro was noted for its successful results and the good he accomplished. In Palmyra he worked unremittingly, building a magnificent church, raising the money for this edifice and designing the interior himself. He married Lucia Gregory, by whom he had three children: John Gregory, who died in 1862; Charles Fennimore, who resides with his mother in Whitesboro; and Lucia Louise who married Levi S. Chapman, a well-known lawyer of Syracuse.

Baer, G. A., was born in Oriskany, N. Y., March 2, 1860, son of John and Eliza-

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

beth Baer. John Baer was born in Hechingen Hohenzollen, Germany, October 25, 1813, and came to Oriskany in 1842, where he engaged in the manufacture of har- nesses. He was also engaged in farming, and was proprietor of a hotel. He died in 1882. G. A. Baer was educated in Oriskany, Whitesboro Seminary, and East- man's Business College, Poughkeepsie, N. Y., after which he worked with his father. He was engaged for a number of years in commission business, buying prod- nice for New York houses. In 1892 he associated himself with H. L. Sweet, and they have a large store in the village of Oriskany, where they keep a complete stock of merchandise of all descriptions. Mr. Baer has been justice of the peace for eight years, is the present postmaster and has been director in the Oriskany Malleable Iron Works for a number of years. He married Mary E. Quinn of Brooklyn, by whom he had four children: Mary, Alma, John, and Helen. Mr. and Mrs. Baer are members of St. Paul's church at Whitesboro.

Magill, David B., was born in Ireland, May 26, 1836, son of James and Elizabeth Magill. David B. came to the United States in 1844, and was educated in the public school of New York Mills, and then engaged in work in the mills. He learned the trade of machinist, which he followed until he volunteered in the late Civil war, going to the front with the 117th N. Y. Vols. He was in all the engagements in which his regiment participated up to the battle of Fort Fisher, where he was badly wounded, losing a leg in that battle. Soon after this the war closed and he was mustered out. When Mr. Magill volunteered in 1862 he was commissioned second lieutenant of Co. D; in 1863 he was promoted to the first lieutenaney of the same company ; and was made captain of Co. A in 1864; and then promoted brevet major by the secretary of war in 1865, for meritorious services at Fort Fisher; and also brevetted major by Governor Fenton of New York.

Neal, Morris M., was born in Whitestown, N. Y., in 1824 and came to New Hart- ford with his parents when one year old. Ihis father, William Neal, was born in the town of New Hartford, Litchfield county, Conn., February 18, 1797, and died Janu- ary 14, 1832. His mother, Mary Moore, was born in Whitestown August 2, 1803, and died June 21, 1882. His parents were married November 9, 1823. His paternal grandfather with his family came to this State about 1794 and settled in the south- erly part of the town of New Hartford (then the town of Whitestown), about one and a half miles northeasterly of Paris IIill. His maternal grandfather Moore and wife came to this town (then Whitestown) and lived for a time on the premises pur- chased by her father, Benjamin Merrill, who came to Whitestown in 1790 and pur- chased a quarter section located on the highway from Utica to Bridgewater one mile north of Sauquoit and near Chadwick Mills Cotton Company; this farm was pur- chased by Benjamin Merrill for his son Zenas, who came in 1791 and began clearing ; he died in 1793, and his father sold out in Connecticut and moved on to the farm in 1794. Morris W. Neal was reared on a farm, and now resides in a house which was erected in 1794; and it is a notable fact that his grandmother traveled through Utica when it consisted of only three log huts. In 1868 Mr. Neal married Sarah Patchin of Paris.

Eaton, Elmer E., came to the town of Augusta in 1881, having moved from the town of Stockbridge, where he was born May 15, 1843, and where he was educated.

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He was a son of Justus Eaton, a native of Connecticut, who came to Augusta with his parents in early childhood. At the age of fifteen his father bound him out to John Porter, where he continued to live until he was twenty-one, at which time he settled in Stockbridge, where he resided a prosperous farmer until his death, Febru- ary 23, 1888. His wife, Susan M. Green, was born in Vermont in 1805, and died in Stockbridge, November 12, 1871. The Eatons were of English descent. " Hill Crest Farm," two and a half miles north of Knoxboro, the home of Mr. Eaton, is one of the finest in the town. He married Mrs. Eva (Ranney) Stewart, who was born in Stockbridge, June 30, 1855, by whom he has five children: Lena M., born January ?, 1882; Lillian C., born May 1, 1884; Lottie May, born September 19, 1887; Bernice L., born October 11, 1889, and Merlin E., born August 19, 1892. Mrs. Eaton has one daughter, D. Elizabeth Stewart, who was born July 20, 1875.

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Our county and its people; a descriptive work on Oneida county, New York;, Part 111

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