Our county and its people; a descriptive work on Oneida county, New York;, Part 127

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 127

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).

Davis, Eugene, born in Frankfort, Herkimer county, June 18, 1850, is a son of David W. Davis, a shoemaker, who had previously followed trade in Utica for a time. David W. married Lydia Stevens, a native of Herkimer county, who is living in Richfield Springs aged eighty six. Her father was a soldier in the war of 1812. Their children were Charles S., of Utica; Harriet (Mrs. Chauncey Johnson), of Yon- kers, N. Y .; Hiel, of Utica; Susan (Mrs. James Castler), of Richfield Springs; and Eugene, of Utica. Eugene Davis was educated in the Frankfort public schools and first engaged in various business occupations, principally in the carting and livery business and hotel keeping in Lexington, Ky., for several years. In 1881 he came to Utica and engaged in carting, and in 1888 purchased his present livery and sales stable of John Butterfield. He then combined the livery business and carting on an extensive scale and also extended the boarding and sales stable enterprise. He is a member of Oriental Codge, F. & A. M., Oneida Chapter, R. A. M., Utica Com- mandery, K. T., the Scottish Rite bodies, 320, Fort Schuyler Council, R. A., and Fort Schuyler Club. In February, 1882, he married Nellie McKennan, of Utica, and they have four children: Chauncey W., Lillian, George A., and Bessie.

Crippin, A. E., was born in Decatur, Otsego county, December 13, 1861, son of George and Catherine Crippin. Mr. Crippin was educated in the schools of Otsego and Oneida counties, after which he entered the employ of the New York Mills Man- ufacturing Company, and is now overseer of the weaving department of No. 2 mill. In 1837 he married Miss Lucy Harington of Kasoag, Oswego county, he is a member of Schuyler Lodge No. 147, I. O. O. F., and Samuel Campbell Council No. 1090 Royal Arcanum; in politics he is a staunch Republican.

Thompson, Henry D., was born in New Hartford, N. Y., in 1826, and since his retirement twenty years ago from farming he has been a resident of the village. He is the only child of Ethan Thompson, who came here from Connecticut when a boy. Ethan Thompson took a lively interest in all that pertained to the welfare of the town; was a member of the M. E. church and was always engaged in agricultural pursuits. He died in 1881, aged ninety-two years. Henry D. Thompson married Mary J. Webster.

Vanderzee, H. B., was born at Schodack, N. Y., in 1855, one of three children of Mathias and Katherine (Marble) Vanderzee, and is a descendant of a Dutch family whose lineage is traced to Holland. He received his education in the Troy Business College, and his first business engagement was in the woolen mills at that place. He has been a resident of New Hartford since 1888, and assistant superintendent two years on the Belt Line, having served several years as conductor and also as motor-

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man for a time. Fifteen years ago he married Maggie Boyle of Yorkville, by whom he has one son, George, aged eleven years. Mr. Vanderzee is an honorary member of Troy Fire Department.

Davies, R. M., was born in Wales in 1827. son of John R. Davies, who came fron Wales when R. M. Davies was five years old and settled in Utica where he always resided. Mr. Davies acquired an education by his own efforts and first engaged in farming ; but in 1843 was employed in a factory at Oriskany where he remained seven years. In 1850 he married Jane Purdy, by whom he had four children: Ella, Henry, Margaret, and George W., who died at eleven years of age. He spent three years in California and New Mexico, mining and railroading. Mr. Davies has been iden- tified with the Republican party from the time of its organization, and was super- visor in 1882.

Stevens, Franklin, was born in Camden, Oneida county, N. Y., August 18, 1813. He obtained his education in the district schools and has since been engaged in many occupations. He was a merchant in Cleveland, Oswego county, N. Y., dur- ing the war. He has had much experience as a hotel man and has conducted the Lake Beach Hotel at Sylvan Beach, N. Y., for the past thirteen years. In 1834 he married Mary R. Potter, of his native place, by whom he had three children: Ellen, who married C. C. Cady, now of Boston, Mass .; Welthena, who is at home; and one deceased. Mr. Stevens's father, William, was born in Connecticut and came to this State when a young man. He married Marinda Pond, of Camden, N. Y., by whom he had five children : Heury, Menzo, Franklin, Gilbert, and Welthena. Mr. Stevens was town clerk of Cleveland for one year.

Buell, Wales, M. D., was born in Walesville, Oneida county, March 31, 1837, son of Alton and Julia Ann (Wales) Buell. Alto: Buell was the son of Benjamin Buell of Westmoreland, and Julia Ann Buell was the daughter of Jonathan Wales, who came from Windham, Conn., in 1797, settled in Whitestown and built up the village of Walesville, aud in addition to residences, he built the paper mill, hotel and other buildings. The larger portion of the village of Walesville was built by Jonathan Wales and Alton Buell. Mr. Wales died in 1838. Alton Buell built up the village of Walesville from the point where Jonathan Wales left off, and also the stove foundry, which was run as A. Buell & Co. They manufactured the Walesville cook stove, in which wood was used, and it was the greatest stove of its day, known and sold in every section of the country. Dr. Wales Buell was educated at Whitestown and Fairfield Seminaries, and at the Bellevue Medical College in New York. He practiced in Utica six years, and removed to Walesville, where he has since prac- ticed. Dr. Buell's family is the oldest in the county, and have done almost the entire work of building up one of the oldest villages.

Parmelee, David E., was born in Kirkland, May 12, 1821, and was one of the ten children of Chester and Haddassah Parmelee. Chester Parmelee came here from Connecticut ninety-five years ago, and was about nineteen years of age when his parents settled here. His father and brother died soon after coming here. David E. Parmelee was educated in the district schools of Kirkland, and engaged in farm- ing, which he followed up to a few years ago, when he moved to the village of Clin- ton. He is the owner of the old homestead farm of 130 acres. December 8, 1846, he

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married for his first wife, Amy Pierce, and January 14, 1852, he married Elizabeth Cole, by whom he has two children: Flora R. and Charles W. Mr. Parmelee was for six years town assessor, and for nine years village assessor.

Fowler, William H., jr., was born at Trenton, Oneida county, N. Y., June 13, 1880. His father, William H. Fowler, was born at Fairfield, Conn., November 8, 1801, and died at Little Falls, N. Y., April 17, 1896. In 1827 he removed to Trenton, N. Y. In 1832 he moved to Cold Brook, Herkimer county, N. Y., where he carried on a furni- ture and undertaking business for fifty years. In 1829 while in Connecticut he mar- ried Mary Ives of New Haven, who was born in 1803, and died in Cold Brook in De- cember, 1881. William H., jr., was educated in the common school in Cold Brook, where he lived until twenty-three years of age; from which place he went to Poland, Herkimer county, and was manager of the Union store, a position he held for twelve successive years. December 25, 1857, he was married to Mary M. Slocum, daughter of Sidney Slocum of Cold Brook. In 1866 Mr. Fowler moved to Trenton, N. Y., where he became associated with Levi Wheaton, under the firm name of Wheaton & Fowler, dealers in general merchandise, and remained until 1870, when he settled at Oriskany Falls, N. Y., where he has since resided and is now engaged in the general merchandise trade. Mr and Mrs. Fowler have three children: Frank S., born January 31, 1861; Ruth Ives, born March 30, 1866; and Nettie E., born De- cember 3, 1872. Frank S. is engaged with his father in business, and October 15, 1884, he married Anna Louisa Root, of Madison, N. Y. April 19 Ruth Ives married Clifton C. Newell, of Oriskany Falls. Mr. Fowler has been identified with the Pro- hibition party for the past ten years.

Palmer, E. H., was born in New Hartford, Oneida county, N. Y., in 1837. His father, Joshua Palmer, was born in Connecticut, and was an early settler of this town, keeping a "half-way house " on the Whitestown road. He married Adaline Sanford, of New Hartford, by whom he had four children, of whom E. H. is the only survivor: Ai, Celia, Elias H., and Esther. Elias H. Palmer has spent his whole life here, and has always been a farmer. In 1860 he married Clara H. Jones, of an old local pioneer family, also of Connecticut, by whom he had one daughter, Belle, now the wife of William Owens, of Whitestown.

Munger, Charles, M. D., was born in the town of Fenner, Madison county, N. Y., April 26, 1841, and has been nearly twenty-five years engaged in the practice of medicine at Knoxboro, having at that time just graduated from Bellevue Hospital Medical college at New York city, and his professional work began with his resi- dence in Knoxboro. He attended the Cazenovia Seminary, previous to entering upon his medical course, which included one year at Ann Arbor and two years at Bellevue, graduating in 1871. Dr. Munger's father was Chauncey Munger, also a native of the town of Fenner, and a lifelong farmer in that section. Chauncey Munger's father was one of the first three settlers in the township, and a part of the farm upon which he settled in 1793 is still in the possession of the family descend- ants. Chauncey Munger married Minerva Hathaway, a native of Massachusetts, who was born in 1803, and died at the homestead in 1868. A noteworthy accom- plishment of her early life was the weaving of a bed counterpane when she was six- teen years of age, which, although seventy-six years old, is still in use in Dr. Mun-

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ger's home. Mr. Munger died at his son's home in Knoxboro in 1879. Mr. Munger married Mary E. Strong, a native of Stockbridge, who was born April 20, 1842, and she died June 1, 1881, leaving two daughters: Jessie Strong, born July 11, 1874, and H. Louise, born September 5, 1876. Dr. Munger married for his second wife, Emma O., daughter of W. G. Strong, of Knoxboro, by whom he has had three children: Edith Frances, born November 28, 1886; Margaret Strong, born May 26, 1892, and Robert Strong (deceased), born October 19, 1894.

Foster, Burton G., was born May 15, 1838, in Greenville, Greene county, N. Y., and was educated in the public schools and Greenville Academy, coming to this part of the State in 1867, where he conducted a stock farm of choice blooded Ayershire and Jersey cattle. December 8, 1869, he married Estelle Silvernail, of Oneida Valley, N. Y., by whom he had five children: Nellie M., Burton G., jr., Homer B., Theo- dore and John H. Mr. Foster's father, Theodore Foster, was born in Westerlo, Al- bany county, N. Y., December 28, 1797. He was of New England or Connecticut stock. He was educated in the schools of his day, and was a blacksmith and farmer by occupation, and a member of the Presbyterian church. April 18, 1833, he mar ried Maria Moore, of Rensselaerville, Albany county, by whom he had three chil- dren: Joseph, Benjamin and Burton G., as above. Mr. Foster died in April, 1877, and his wife August 10, 1880. Burton G. Foster's grandfather, Apollos Moore, came from Pittsfield, Mass., and settled near Rensselaerville in 1785, coming on foot while his wife rode a horse that cost five dollars, as stated in an old directory of Albany county, carrying with them all their worldly goods. Mr. Moore afterwards became jus- tice of the peace, supervisor, and was the first judge of Albany county, an office he held until he was nearly seventy years old. He had a store on his farm, also a large flouring mill in the village; also was a foremost member of the Episcopal church. He was an officer in the Revolutionary war, enlisting when sixteen years of age, and served till the close of the war; he also served in the war of 1812. He died in 1840, aged seventy-six years. Mr. Foster's father, John H. Silvernail, was born in Colum- bia county, N. Y., September 30, 1817. He married Helen Johnson, by whom he had eight children: Homer, Estelle, Alfred J., Bradish, Mary, Henry, John H. and Helen. He died January 13, 1886, and his wife July 18, 1885. The family are of New England stock. Mr. Foster is now a farmer and horse breeder of first-class trotting stock, at his farm, Oneida stock farm, one mile east of Oneida, N. Y. He has a horse of the Electioneer and Wilkes blood of Senator Stanford's California breed. He has been a resident of Verona five years. He is a member of Oneida Lodge No. 270, F. & A. M., and in politics a Republican.

Chamberlin, George L., was born in the town of Verona, N. Y., October 24, 1829. He was educated in the common schools and Vernon Academy and afterwards taught school for five years, but is now engaged in farming. August 11, 1850, he married H. Ellen Fleishman, of this town, by whom he had three children: Marion F., Rhoda A. and Bayard L. Mr. Chamberlin's father, Loel Chamberlin, was born in Vermont, February 12, 1793, and came to this State and county with his parents when a boy. He was educated in Clinton common schools, after which he engaged in farming. He married Elizabeth Lanning, of this town, by whom he had nine children: Samuel, Isaac W. Eliza, Meriba, three infants not named, George L., as above, and Rhoda. He was in the war of 1812. He died November 25, 1872, aged

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eighty years, and his wife May 20, 1884, aged eighty-eight years. Mrs. Chamber- lin's father, Augustus Fleishman, was born in Prussia, Germany. in 1823, where he was educated, and was a farmer by occupation. He came to the United States in 1858 and located here. He married Ellen Gladwell, formerly of England, by whom he had nine children: Frederick, William, Ellen, Emma, Josephine, Julia George, Charles and Evelyn. The ancestry of this family is English and German.

Gerwig, Frederick, was born near New London, in the town of Verona, November 21, 1843. He was educated in the district schools, and afterward learned the car- penter's trade. July 12, 1884, he married Catherine Angley, of Rome, N. Y., by whom he had seven children: Edward W., Laura M., Bertha A., Frederick B., Martha B., Frank C., and Elmer H. Mr. Gerwig is a contractor and builder with his brother George. Mr. Gerwig's father, Frederick Gerwig, was born in Alsace, France, in 1821, and came to the United States with his parents when nine years of age locating in this town, where he was a boat builder by occupation. He married Barbara Ruby, of this town, by whom he had eleven children: Frederick, as above, Margaret, Elizabeth, Barbara, George, Jacob, Caroline, Amelia, Sarah, Charles, and Benjamin. Mr. Gerwig died in 1877. Mrs. Gerwig's father, Jacob Angley, was born in Germany. He married Margaret Fembel, and came the the United States locating in Rome, N. Y. They had twelve children, three of whom survive. The father and mother are dead. Mr. Gerwig is a member of Romania Lodge, No. 271, A. O. U. W., of Rome, N. Y. The family are of German ancestry on both sides.

Leete, Pelatiah W., was born in Guilford, New Haven county, Conn., May 4, 1815, and came to Verona, N. Y., with his parents when three years of age. He was ed- ucated in the public schools, and in early life was a boat builder. He is a natural mathematician, and his main business is that of a civil engineer and surveyor. He has served the town of Vienna as justice of the peace and school commissioner. He has been married twice, first in 1846, to Elizabeth Fuller, and they had one son, Pelatiah W., jr., who is a resident of Sioux City, Iowa. Mrs. Leete died in 1855 and he married for his second wife, Jennie E. Gardner, of the town of Amboy, Oswego county, in 1870, by whom he had one son, Arthur L. Mrs. Leete is station agent, telegraph operator, and express agent at West Vienna, for the past seven years, on the Ontario and Western Railway. This old family is of New England stock, and dates back to England to 1639. William Leete was the first of the family in this country ; he became governor of New Haven colony, and when Hartford and New Haven united, was governor of the State of Connecticut which position he held when he died. Mr. Leete is the fifth of the name of Pelatiah, his son the sixth, and his grandson the seventh.

Gates, Henry L., son of Nathan Gates and Phebe York was born in Brookfield, Madison county, N. Y., May 12, 1859. His grandfather, David Gates, was the pio- neer settler in the Beaver Creek Valley in the town of Brookfield having come there from Putney, Vermont, in April, 1793. The old Gates mansion at Putney where David Gates was born is still standing. Mr. Gates was educated at Brookfield Academy, read law in his native village with S. B. Daboll, now circuit judge in Michigan, and in West Winfield with the late Hon. S. S. Morgan, and was admitted to the bar at Ithaca in 1882. He first practiced in Brookfield, where he also served

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one year as town clerk. In 1882 Mr. Gates was married to Miss Roxie Waterman of Utica. In 1886 he removed to Utica and was associated in business for two years with the late John G. Jones. Since then he has practied alone. In 1890 and again in 1894 Mr. Gates was elected justice of the peace and still serves in that capacity. Although having decided cases numbering into the thousands his decisions have only been appealed from five times and none have ever been reversed. Mr. Gates has been assistant journal clerk of the Assembly of the State of New York since January 1, 1894. For the last five years Mr. Gates has been chairman of the Republican City Committee of the city of Utica. He is a member of Utica Lodge No. 33, B. P. O. Elks, Faxton Lodge F. & A. M., Samuel Read Lodge K. P., the Utica Mannerchor, one of the original Board of Governors of the Masonic Club, a director in the Oneida County Sportsmen's Association, and for many years a vice-president of the New York State Association for the Protection of Fish and Game. Mr. Gates as a lawyer ranks high among the younger members of the bar.

Small. Lewis J., was born October 7, 1852, in Deerfield, Oneida county, and is a son of Gottlieb Small, who came from Germany and died in Deerfield March 10, 1860. He was educated in the district schools and Utica Business College, was reared on a farm, and at the age of twenty engaged as clerk for Weaver & Watkins, general merchants of Deerfield Corners, with whom he remained for five years. He then became a clerk in Utica for Roberts, Butler & Co., wholesale clothing manufacturers, spending five years in the stock department and seven years in the office of the manufacturing department as bookkeeper. In 1889 he organized with G. A. Grant as president and the late F. W. Kuhn as vice president, the Utica Clothing Company, incorporated with a capital of $15,000. Mr. Kuhn retired in 1892 and George E. Vail became vice-president. Mr. Small is secretary and treasurer. November 25, 1891, he married Eleanor J., daughter of the late Robert R Watkins, of Holland Patent, Oneida county. They have one son, Harold Watkins, born August 15, 1893.

Quinn, John, born January 6, 1840, in Boonville, Oneida county, is a son of John Quinn, who was born in Ireland in 1802, came to America in 1833, and settled in Quebec, Canada. About 1838 John, sr., went to Boonville, in 1856 moved to Rome, and in 1861 located in Utica, where he died in 1878. John Quinn, jr., went to Arizona Territory in 1858 and remained there till the war broke out. He then came to Utica and joined the family, and entered the employ of the Gulf Brewery where he remained until 1874. In that year he formed a partnership with John Myres, James O'Toole and Thomas Quinn (his elder brother) and built the Star Brewery on the corner of Mohawk and Jay streets, the firm being J. Myres & Co., which still con- tinues. The capacity of this brewery is about 30,000 barrels a year. In 1888 the same men and six others incorporated the Eagle Brewery Company with a capital of $100,000, and built the present Eagle Brewery on the corner of Jay street and Third avenue. Its capacity is 50,000 barrels per year. Mr. Quinn has been president since the incorporation. He has been a member of the Board of Charities since 1879, and was its president in 1895. He is a member of the Knights of Honor and a member of the C. B. L. May 2, 1864, he married Ann T. Venn, of Utica, who died Decem- ber 10, 1881. They had nine children of whom four are living: Frederick J., Rebecca H. (Mrs. Thomas Ilobbs), Anna and Margaret E. January 10, 1883, he married

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second, Mrs. Mary A. (Welch) Kelly, and they have nine children, of whom six are living: Bessie, Thomas, John, Agnes, Mary, and Harry.

Sharp, Charles W., was born in Morrisville, Madison county, August 12, 1842, and is a son of Charles H. Sharp, a mechanic, who came with his family to New York Mills in 1853 and died in Wisconsin in 1886. He learned the trade of scythemaker and machinist in the town of Paris, Oneida county. In July, 1862, he enlisted in Co. G, 117th N. Y. Vols., as a musician, and remained with his regiment two years and eleven months, or until the close of the war, being honorably discharged June 6, 1865, at Raleigh, North Carolina, and mustered out at Syracuse on June 17, 1865. In 1877 he came to Utica and engaged in manufacturing and bottling small beer and soda water, which he still continues. He is an active Republican, and was formerly a member of Post Reynolds G. A. R. and its commander nine years. He is now a member of Post Bacon, and active in G. A. R. circles. He was a member of the committee on the chief's staff under Gen. S. S. Burdett, and later one of the State G. A. R. inspectors. Heis now a member of the general committee of the G. A. R., Department State of New York, and was active in securing the annual encampment for Utica in May 1896. He is also a member of the Utica Lodge Knights of Honor. He married first Martha Lloyd, of Clayville, N. Y., and they had one daughter, Jennie M. (Mrs. Nathaniel Crask) of Utica. In April, 1874, he married, second, Carrie A. Tillson, also of Clayville, Oneida county, and they have one daughter. Grace A.

Ball, Emmett J., was born in Marcellus, Onondaga county, N. Y., November 22, 1852, son of Daniel and Esther (Wood) Ball. Daniel Ball was district attorney of Oneida county from 1868 to 1872. Emmett J. was educated in Whitestown Semi- nary and was graduated from Hamilton College in the class of 1875. He received the degree of LL. B. from Hamilton College Law School in 1876, and the same year opened a law office and commenced the practice of his profession in the city of Utica. In 1886 he and his brother, Willard D., formed a copartnership. Emmett J. held the office of special surrogate of Oneida county for two terms, from 1878 to 1884. He was the candidate for city judge of Utica, on the Republican ticket in 1882, and was defeated by Judge P. F. Bulger. Mr. Ball is unmarried. He is a Mason, an Odd Fellow, a veteran of the Utica Citizen Corps and a member of Royal Arcanum.

Barney, Moses, was born in County Wexford, Ireland. December 23, 1833, came to America in 1854, and first settled at Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn, N. Y. A year later he moved to Holland Patent, Oneida county, and in 1856 located in Utica. where he has ever since been engaged in the livery business, a period of forty years. He has occupied his present quarters in Elizabeth street since 1872, and is the oldest liveryman in continuous business in the city. He was the first Democratic alderman elected from the Fourth ward and served two years. He is a member of Mohawk Valley Lodge Knights of Honor, and one of the organizers of the Gulf Brewery and Brew- ing Company, which he has continuously served as president. He was also one of the originators of the Eagle Brewing Company.

Kelly, Patrick E., city treasurer of Utica, N. Y., was born in that city March 27, 1851, son of Thomas and Ann (Doody) Kelly. He was educated in the public schools, and was graduated from the Assumption Academy. He learned the printer's trade

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in the composing room of the Utica Observer, and was publisher of the Sunday Trib- une for eighteen years. Mr. Kelly was excise commissioner of the city for four years, and was appointed city treasurer January 11, 1896. January 23, 1872, he married Ellen M. Carroll, of Utica. Mr. Kelly is a member of the Elks, Maenner. chor, Utica Lodge, Knights of Honor, of which he has been treasurer for many years. He is a member of the Grand Lodge, being chairman of the committee on printing and supplies. He also a member of the Utica Division, Ancient Order of Hibernians.

James, A. Willard, was born June 20, 1863, in Utica, as was also his father, Arthur M., who was a son of Joseph James, who came here from Welsh Bush, town of Frankfort, and followed his trade of architect and builder, and who was prominent in church work, being for several years an officer in the Tabernacle Baptist church. He was educated in the public schools of Utica and became a clerk of Bradstreet's Commercial agency. In 1883 he accepted a position as bookkeeper with Henry Hopson, real estate and fire insurance, with whom he has since remained. Mr. James has been an active Republican, and in 1893 was elected city assessor of the Tenth ward for two years, being re-elected in November, 1895, for another term. He has been ward and city committeeman several times and a delegate to several political conventions. Ile is the official appraiser of real estate for the Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York and a member and past noble grand of Oneida Lodge, No. 70, 1. O. O. F., and a member and past chief of Tri-Mount Encampment, No. 24, I. O. O. F. He is also a trustee of the Odd Fellows Union.

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Our county and its people; a descriptive work on Oneida county, New York;, Part 127

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