Our county and its people; a descriptive work on Oneida county, New York;, Part 130

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 130

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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ber of the Royal Arcanum, having served two years from 1887 as supreme regent of that order. His work in furthering the interests of this latter organization has given him a wide reputation. In 1873 he married Dorlissa, daughter of John W. John- ston, a prominent lawyer of Sullivan county. In 1895 he was unanimously nomi- nated by his party for justice of the Supreme Court of the State, but he declined to run.

Kent, Perry E., son of Ela and Ann E., was born in Greig, Lewis county, July 25. 1855. The family is of English extraction and descends from Enos Kent, who was among the Pilgrim ssettlers of Massachusetts and later one of the founders of Kent, Conn., which took his name. Enos, great-grandfather of Perry E. (brother of James Kent, LL.D., the celebrated jurist, chancellor of N. Y., and once a professor at Co lumbia College), was a Revolutionary soldier, while his son served in the war of 1812. Ela Kent was a captain in the old Lewis county militia and an early school teacher, and married Ann E. Wheeler, of Scotch descent. They had three children: Mrs. J. E. Lewis and Perry E. of Utica, and R. E. H. Kent, of Lee, Oneida county. Perry E. Kent attended the Boonville High School and at the age of eleven entered the then Black River Herald office, which his father had been instrumental in found- ing as the Boonville Ledger. In 1869 he entered the office of the Geneva Courier. Later he was assistant foreman of the Illion Citizen and still later assistant instructor at the Cornell University Press. Afterward he was foreman and finally manager of the Phelps Citizen, superintendent of the Geneva Courier, and connected with the job printing office of the Scranton, Pa., Republican. In the fall of 1879 he came to Utica to accept a position with Curtis & Childs, job printers, and in 1880 he started in busi - ness for himself in Seneca Falls. After three years of success in business he returned to Utica, and again entered business which afterwards became the firm of Kent & Fierstein; selling out his interest there in 1888 he established his present job print - ing office on the corner of Genesee and Bleecker streets. In January, 1893, William E. Davies was admitted to partnership under the firm name of Kent & Davies. Mr. Kent has been an Odd Fellow since 1881, is a past grand, and also a past chief patri- arch of the Encampment and a member of Canton Utica, No. 3 P. M. He joined the K. of P. in 1882 and was chancellor commander two terms; he became a Mason in 1886. He is a member of the Royal Arcanum and in 1886 joined the Utica Citi- zens' Corps, which was subsequently mustered into the National Guard as the 44th Separate Co. After serving five years he joined the 28th Separate Co., Utica City Guards, in 1893, and is an exempt fireman. He was a charter member of the Old Fort Schuyler Rifle Association and the Utica Cycling Club, and for several years has been an active member of the Y. M. C. A. and the South Street M. E. church. As a marksman in military circles he has won valuable medals and handsome trophies. During the first year that the expert class was authorized by the State he was the only man outside of New York city to qualify as an " expert " marksman and the seventh in the State at large to receive the decoration for long distance shooting. In 1893 he won a gold medal at the World's Fair. In 1895 he won gold and silver medals at the International Scheutzenbund at Glendale, L. I. In 1878 he married Carrie E. Sheeler, and their children are Lulu Bell, Harold L., Leslie Mar- guerite.

Benton, George, was born at Frankfort, Herkimer county, N. Y., in 1836, son of the late James Benton. He came to Utica in 1839, where he was educated in

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Williams's Private School, and began his agricultural pursuits at his present location, a 200 acre dairy farm overlooking Utica, it being the old homestead where his father resided for twenty-five years. The latter was a man of rare ability and a prominent builder of Utica, who died at ninety years of age. He was born at Warwickshire, England, in 1805, and his parents being poor, and he the oldest of the family, he was early thrown on his own resources. After acquiring his trade as a builder, he came to America and settled in Utica, where he was a man of great discrimination and tact, an essential requisite of an employer of many men of whose welfare he was ever mindful. He upheld the principles of the Democratic party, but was elected mayor of Utica in 1878 by the Workingman's party. He married Susan Bradley, of Eng- lish birth, who died in 1889, leaving five children. In 1867 George Benton married Rhoda, daughter of Thomas Wheatley, of New Hartford, by whom he had twelve children, of whom eight are now living. Mr. Benton was elected supervisor in 1890, by the largest majority ever received by a Democrat in New Hartford.

Selbach, John H., was born in Utica, N. Y., February 15, 1866, son of John and Mary Selbach. John Selbach was born in Germany, and came to America over forty years ago. He was first a merchant in Utica, and later engaged in farming, at which he continued, until he retired in 1892 Mrs. Selbach died in 1872. John H. was edu- cated in the public schools of Utica, after which he engaged in farming, and is also a milk dealer, running a route in Utica. He is one of the best known farmers in Whitesboro, and is also school trustee. He married Catherine Miller, of Whitesboro, by whom he has two children: Mary and Fred. Mr. Selbach and his wife are mem- bers of St. Paul's church at Whitestown.

Gates, William M., was born in New York Mills, February 18, 1844, son of James and Mary Ann Gates. James Gates came from England in 1832, and was engaged in the manufacture of soap and candles. He died in 1887. William M. Gates spent his early life on a farm, and when he came to Whitesboro, he engaged in the cheese manufacturing business, and in which he was engaged for ten years. He afterwards engaged in building, but of late years has been retired from active business. He married Lizzie Kennedy, of Marcy, by whom he has one daughter, Libbie B. Gates, who is interested in kindergarten work. Mr. Gates is school trustee of Whitesboro, a position he has held for a long time, and he has also been a member of the Village Board. Mr. Gates and family are members of the Presbyterian church of Whites- boro.

Tyler, Henry H., son of Dr. John Tyler, was born in the town of Lee, Oneida county, N. Y., August 1, 1831. Henry H. Tyler was educated in the schools of Rome, attending the first school term organized in the Rome Academy. He engaged in inechanical business for a number of years, then turned his attention to farming, at which he has since continued. In politics Mr. Tyler has been an independent Re- publican. Mr. Tyler is a successful well known farmer in the town of Westmoreland where he resides, and his place is noticeable for its tasteful and attractive appear- ance. He married Elizabeth A. Stevens, by whom he had four sons: Bayard H., who isan artist in Yonkers, N. Y. ; Fred A., who is a member of the Pease Furnace Co. of Syracuse, N. Y .; C. Edwin, connected with the mercantile business in Rome ; and Jesse S., who is at the homestead farm. Mrs. Elizabeth A. Tyler, his wife, died in

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1886, and he is now married to Mrs. E. F. Terpening of Westmoreland. His father, Dr. John Tyler, was a prominent physician of Rome for many years. He died at the age of sixty-three. Asa P. Tyler, the grandfather of Henry H. Tyler, was born in Massachusetts, and was one of the earlest settlers in Rome, there being but five houses where the city of Utica now stands at the time of his settling in Rome. At a little later date the territory where Rome now stands was sold at auction at Johns- town for taxes at $1.00 per acre.

Bell, Henry Dwight, was born in Westmoreland, N. Y., September 4, 1840, son of John Morris and Sarah Bell. John Morris Bell was the son of Phineas Bell, a soldier in the American Revolution; and Mrs. Sarah Bell was the daughter of Anson Smith of Walesville, N. Y. Henry D. was educated at the district school, and at the Whitestown Seminary. He then engaged in farming at which he always continued. In politics he is a Democrat. Mr. Bell married Helen Rogers of Whitestown, by whom he has three children: Louis W., Edna and Grace.

Miller, Morris S., is a native of the town of Augusta, where he wasborn February 10, 1843, son of Morris S. Miller, who was also born in the town of Augusta in 1814, and was for many years identified with the agricultural interests of that town. He lived in the town forty years, when he removed to Deansville and resided there for a period of twenty years, after which he returned to Augusta, settling in Oriskany Falls, living there seven or eight years, when he retired and came to Oneida Castle, where he died in 1887; his father, Isaac C. Miller, came from Connecticut, settling in the town of Kirkland, and at one time he and his four sons owned a body of land covering a distance of four miles in length. Morris S. Miller, sr., married Lucinda Wood, of Augusta, who was born in 1817, and died in Oneida Castle in 1891. Morris S. Miller, jr., is one of a family of five children, and received his education at Augusta and Deansville, after which he devoted himself to stock raising, principally that of fine horses. He is an active Republican, and in the years 1885 and 1886 rep- resented his town on the Board of Supervisors. He married Jane A. Cody, daughter of F. A. and Phoebe Cody, of Vernon Center, by whom he has had four children, three of whom are now living.

Allen, Hiram J., was born in Potsdam, St. Lawrence county, N. Y., November 11, 1831, son of Henry Allen who was a native of Vermont. H. J. Allen was for a num- ber of years in the employ of the government, and has gained a great knowledge of traveling, and when quite young, was in California, Mexico and many other places of interest. He learned the trade of a carpenter and joiner, which business he fol- lowed many years. He was the builder of two of the Hamilton College buildings, also two of the society buildings, and at present conducts the leading plumbing business and hardware store in the village. He is a director in the Mercantile Co- operative Co. of Rome, N. Y., and married Adelaide Clough, of Vermont, by whom he has seven children: Walter H., Nellie M., Alice D., Edith V., Herbert, Harold and Leslie H. Mr. Allen is a member of the Masonic fraternity.

Cross, John Cleveland, was born in Stirlingville, Jefferson county, N. Y., Septem- ber 12, 1833, and was a son of Theodore and Harriet ((Seymour) Cross. Theodore Cross was born in Weare, N. H., November 14, 1804. His ancestors came from Massachusetts, being among the first settlers of Ipswich, Haverhill and Methuen,

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where they held a large colonial and Indian grant of land, a portion of which, the homestead farm with house originally built about 1640, is still in the possession of George L. Cross, the seventh lineal descendant of the original owner. Many mem- bers of the family served in the Colonial and Revolutionary wars, and were prom- inent in the early history of Massachusetts and New Hampshire, being connected with the Adams, Cleveland, Choate, Eastman and Burbank families of those States. Theodore Cross came to the town of Philadelphia in 1818, where he engaged in farming and lumbering till 1856, when he removed to Boonville, N. Y., carrying on with his son the butter and cheese business He died at Oriskany Falls in 1881. John C. Cross was educated at the Governeur Academy in St. Lawrence county, N. Y., graduating at the age of eighteen, when he entered the employ of W. W. & I. N. Herrick, general merchants iu Philadelphia, N. Y. After one year of service there he went to Boonville as clerk in the store of an uncle. John Cross, with whom, after three years, he entered into partnership. Selling out there in 1858, he removed to New York city. engaging in the general produce and commission business. He continued there until 1861, when he removed to Oriskany Falls, N. Y., and for the next seventeen years was there engaged as a general merchant. He has since been engaged as an extensive farmer and dealer in hops. He is one of the largest hop. growers in the State, having now eighty acres devoted to that product. He was elected the first president of the village of Oriskany Falls upon its incorporation in 1888. December 5, 1855, he married Permelia V. Goodrich, daughter of Hon. Caleb Goodrich, of Boonville, N. Y., by whom he had four children: Theodore La Mont, born February 9, 1858, now a practicing attorney at Utica, N. Y. ; Harriet Louisa, born June 16, 1860, who died August 9, 1894; Kathlenn, born March 25, 1870, now living with her parents; and Wylie C., born May 1, 1861, and died May 7, 1851.

Hinman, William, born in Stockbridge, N. Y., August 15, 1832, and moved to Knoxboro with his parents, where he has resided since 1838. His father, Harlow Hinman, was a native of Connecticut, and was one of the early settlers in Stock- bridge. He engaged in farming for a time, and conducted the hotel at the vil- lage of Knoxboro. Ile married Caroline Powers, of Augusta, and she died in Knox- boro in 1860, and Mr. Ilinman died April 5, 1853. William Hinman was educated at Knoxboro, and when his course was completed, returned to his father's farm. He has conducted it, accumulating and adding to it each year, until he has now one of the finest farm properties in the county. Mr. Hinman has been supervisor for several terms, and is now president of the Oneida Agricultural Society, and has also been school trustee for thirty years. January 1, 1854, he married Abbie Vaughn, of Augusta, who was born October 1, 1833, and by whom he has four children: Charles V., born June 12, 1856: William J., born July 4, 1858; George G .. born September 7, 1864; and Maud E., born November 6, 1872.

Nichols, Charles F., M.D., was born in Milton, Sussex county, Del., June 8, 1865, son of Captain Charles and Susan Nichols. Charles is captain in the navy, which he joined about forty years ago. Charles F. was graduated from St. John's College at Brandywine, Del., in 1881, after which he took a medical course at Baltimore Uni- versity, served two years in the University Hospital, and was graduated in 1886. In 1887 he located at Vienna, where he has practiced to the present time. He is wholly a self-made man, public spirited and actively interested in educational affairs.

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He is a member of Sylvan Beach I. O. O. F. and encampment at Oneida. In the subordinate lodge, I. O. O. F., he has held all the offices in the gift of the lodge. Mr. Nichols married Elizabeth, daughter of Albert and Nancy Cook, by whom he had one child, Albert Cook.

O'Brien, John, was born in Ireland, September 6, 1839, son of John and Catherine (McCarthy) O'Brien. John O'Brien was educated in Ireland and America. He came to the United States in 1854, and first began at railroading, then engaged in farm- ing, and bought the life lease of Joshua Stivers, which he afterwards sold; then he returned and bought back the lease he formerly owned, where he lived three years. He sold it to George Clark, and moved to M. H. Tenant's farm, which he leased for five years, for $500 per year. He was elected road commissioner of the city of Rome, where he served two years in succession. He then moved on to the Brook farm, in the Second ward in Rome, and lived there one year; from here he moved on to the Phonex Abbe place, known as the Jim Kirkland farm, and lived there three years; he afterwards moved on to a farm known as the Moore, Montgomery and Schneider farm; there he attended an indicating station on the New York Central for two years. He then moved on to the farm known as the William Evans farm, where he lived one year; then moved on to the John Fleming farm and lived one year. He then moved on to his present farm, where he has resided for the past nine years. He married Honora Quinn, of Ireland, by whom he has eight children: Michael J., William, John T., Annie, Mary, Rosie, Maggie and Fannie. Mr. O'Brien, although a Democrat, was elected for two terms in succession, commissioner of highways in the township of Westmoreland. This town is Republican by a large majority, and Mr. O'Brien is the only Democrat who was ever elected to that office in this town -- ship.

Wasserman, Felix, was born in Germany, in 1826, son of Felix and Barbara Was- serman. Felix Wasserman, jr., came to the United States in 1860, and has since been engaged in farming. He married Darasia Smith, of Germany, by whom he had one son, George Wasserman, who is a farmer of Waterville, N. Y.

Hamlin, Edward A., was born in the town of Floyd, Oneida county, November 28, 1842, son of Joseph S. Hamlin, a native of Connecticut, who was born July 20, 1810, where he lived until six years of age, moving with his parents to Holland Pat- ent, N. Y. Joseph S. Hamlin was engaged in farming, and in 1833 married Delia Willard of Fairfield, Herkimer county, who was born July 25, 1817. Edward A. re . ceived his education at the district school where he lived, and afterwards completed a course at the Whitestown Seminary. Leaving school at the age of twenty, he re- turned to the farm, and continued at that industry until 1867, living in the mean time at Floyd and Trenton, N. Y. In 1867 he settled at Oriskany Falls, and with James A. Douglass, as Douglass & Hamlin, conducted a lumber business; this partnership continued ten years, after which Mr. Hamlin sold his interest in the business to his partner, and returned to his former occupation, settling on a farm adjacent to the village, and has continued farming, with the exception of two years, to the present time. In June, 1895, he, with C. C. Newell and C. E. Hains, organized the Oriskany Falls Knitting Company, to manufacture sweaters and knit goods. February 12, 1873, Mr. Hamlin married Georgia A. Newell, a native of Oriskany Falls, who was

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born July 22, 1847, by whom he has one son, Preston N. Hamlin, born October 5, 1875. Mrs. Hamlin acquired her education at the Oriskany Falls school and Caze- novia Seminary.

Rawnsley, William, settled in the town of Lee, Oneida county, in 1838, where he came from Woonsocket, R. I., with his father, William Rawnsley, who was a native of Bradford, England, and came to the United States when William, jr., was only a few years of age. After a residence of a few years at Woonsocket, they came to the town of Lee. Mr. Rawnsley was a cotton weaver by trade, engaging in that occu- pation in England and also at Woonsocket. After settling in Lee, he bought a farm and devoted the rest of his life to that industry. He died March 11, 1861, being eighty-one years of age. His wife, Mercy (Hodgson) Rawnsley, was also a native of Bradford, England, and died in Lee, one year before her husband. William, jr., received his education in Woonsocket, R. I., and was first employed in a cotton fac- tory. After a few years at this service, he settled down to farm life with his father ; continued but a short time, however, when he moved to Trenton, N. J., and spent three years as salesman for a book concern. In 1848 he returned to Lee and bought a farm, upon which he lived one year, when he went to the town of Ava; then to West Branch, where he spent some time as clerk in a store; after this he returned again to Lee and purchased another farm, where he resided for fifteen years. In 1882 he settled at Oriskany falls, where he has resided since. He first married Deborah Peacock, of English birth, who died in 1853; after which he married Caro- line Sexton, of Lee, and she died January 17, 1882. The children were: Elizabeth, born in 1846, and now married to Eri Sherman, of Boonville; Henry, born at Ava in 1850, and is now living at Oriskany Falls; William, born in 1852, also living at Oris- kany Falls, and Horace, born in 1854, a farmer at West Branch, Oneida county.

Wilgus, Elmer T., was born in Bartlett, June 15, 1860, son of Thomas and Martha Wilgus. Thomas Wilgus was a boat owner and farmer, and he died about 1872. Elmer T. Wilgus was educated in Westmoreland, and has always followed farming. He married Anna Scott, of Westmoreland.

Snow, Eugene, was born in the village of Vernon, N. Y., May 31, 1851. His father, Zibeon Snow, was born in 1798 and died in 1858. He was a general merchant and speculator in Vernon, and married Sabrina Larrabee, who was born in Vermont in 1808 and died in Vernon in 1878. Eugene Snow was educated in Binghamton and Aurora, N. Y., after which he returned to Vernon and purchased the Barber farm, where he lived for fourteen years, but upon on the death of his wife's father in 1881, he took possession of the Dodge homestead, where he is now engaged with his son, G. Percy, in the breeding of trotters, road and carriage horses, in which he has been very successful. He owns and has bred some of the finest horses in the State, for one of which, the leading sire on the farm, " Mambritonian," purchased from the famous Woodburn farm, Kentucky, Mr. Snow refused an offer in 1891 of $30,000. Among the many noted horses Mr. Snow has owned and developed are Mambritonian 2:20}; Tony Klock 2:18}; Klick Klock 2:14g ; Prinsonian 2:20}; Billy Hilton 2:20; Nankeen 2:26}, and others. He has now on the farm about sixty head. In January, 1872, he married Algenia A. Dodge, who was born January 12, 1853, daughter of George W. and Sarah (Hougham) Dodge, by whom he had three chil-

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dren: George P., born June 30, 1875; Eunice R., born January 23, 1880; and Doro- thy D., born April 18, 1894.

Warren, Charles K., was born near Newell's Corners, where he still lives, May 3, 1858. His father, Col. William F. Warren, was born at the same place, May 17, 1816, and died there February 22, 1895. Colonel Warren was an active and representative man of the community and left his son a farm of 250 acres. He married Caroline Deck, of Madison, who was born June 6, 1824. The father of Colonel Warren came from Massachusetts and was the second settler in that part of the county, having located on the Warren farm more than a hundred years ago. Charles K. was edu- cated in the district schools and at Knoxboro and then returned to the farm, where he has since remained. January 7, 1888, Mr. Warren married Alice E. French, of Norwich, N. Y., who was educated at Norwich and Knoxboro, living for some time in early life in the latter place. The Warren homestead occupies a picturesque site and the house built nearly 100 years ago is still standing.

Wasmuth, Fred W., was born in Augusta, N. Y., February 18, 1862. His father was born at Frankfort-on-the- Oder, Prussia, October 22, 1826. He was a shoemaker by trade and came to America in 1859. He married Mary L. Baldwin, who was born at Hamburg i 1 1823 and died in Augusta in 1891. Fred W. attended the Augusta Academy and upon leaving school engaged in farming for a time. He then entered into the mercantile business with Wayne C. Russell in 1885, in which he continued for one year, then purchased his partner's interest and conducted the business alone until 1890, when he sold out to Franciscoe & Hurty. He has since been engaged in farming, making a specialty of hops and berries. Mr. Wasmuth married Mary E. Dudley, of Augusta, who was born January 21, 1863, and died June 9, 1892. He has been successively postmaster, deputy sheriff, member of the County Committee, and is now town assessor.

Thayer, Emory R., was born in Springfield, Otsego county, September 17, 1853, son of Julius P. Thayer, who was a carpenter and builder, and a lifelong resident of Otsego county, as were his ancestors. He was born in 1826, and died in 1860. His wife, Lucy H. (Bates) Thayer, was born in Dutchess county in 1828, and is now liv- ing at Westford, N. Y. Emory R. Thayer received his education at the district school and the Westford Literary Institute. Upon coming to Oneida county he first settled in Rome, where he remained for one year, and from there he went to Vernon, where he was employed on a farm, and worked three years in Madison county, at the end of which time he returned to Oneida county and for the next five years rented a farm. October 13, 1875, he married Emnia, daughter of Daniel W. and Elizabeth Eaton of Augusta, by whom he has four children: Robert E., who was born March 9, 1876; Elizabeth E., born January 11, 1879; Maud, who was born March 20, 1883; and Lulu, born July 20, 1884.

Strong Warren C., was born October 30, 1832, and has spent his lifetime in his native town, for many years living in the village of Knoxboro, which is his present residence. His father, Solomon Strong, was born March 1, 1784, and came from Union, Tolland county, Conn., in 1810, aud was engaged in farming in summer and teaching school in winter. He bought a farm situated about two miles north of Knoxboro, where he settled, and spent the rest of his life in that industry. After

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Our county and its people; a descriptive work on Oneida county, New York;, Part 130

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