USA > New York > Oneida County > Our county and its people; a descriptive work on Oneida county, New York; > Part 141
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MeElhinney, Daniel E., was born in Marshall, Oneida, county, N. Y., November 24, 1853. His father, William J. McElhinney, was born in Ireland, and came to this country in 1848, settling in Marshall, N. Y. He died in February, 1890, aged seventy- three years. His wife, Margaret, survives him, being now sixty-three years of age. In early life Daniel E. followed the occupation of farming with his grandfather, the late Daniel Shields, in the town where he was born. He was educated at the com- mon schools of that place, and afterward taught school there and at Sangerfield for four years, engaging during vacation in clerking and canvassing for the sale of books, continuing his clerkship for some time. In 1891 he engaged in the mercantile business at Oriskany Falls, conducting a general store under the firm name of D. E. MeElhinney & Co., which he continued until in November, 1893, when he was appointed postmaster. Mr. McElhinney has occupied many important town and village offices, and is now chief of the Oriskany Fire Department, in which he takes a great interest.
Doolittle, Hon. Charles A., was born in Utica September 22, 1849. Hon. Charles H. Doolittle, his father, was a son of Dr. Harvey Doolittle, of Herkimer, and was born in that village February 19, 1816. He was graduated from Amherst College in 1836, read law with Simeon Ford, of Little Falls, and later with Denio & Hunt, of Utica, and was admitted in 1839. He soon became one of the foremost lawyers in Central New York. In 1869 he was elected a justice of the Supreme Court and ably filled that office until his death, which occurred at sea, May 21, 1874. He was a member of the common council of Utica in 1839, 1844, and 1845, and mayor of the city in 1853. He was also president of the Oneida County National Bank, a manager of the Utica State Hospital, and a vestryman of Grace church. He mar- ried Miss Julia T. Shearman, of Rochester, N. Y., and their children living are Hon.
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Charles A., Mrs. A. Coxe, William S., Julius T., and Miss Isabel, all of Utica. Charles A. Doolittle was graduated with the degree of A. B. from Amherst College in 1872 and received the degree of LL. B. from Hamilton College in 1875, after read- ing law in Utica with Adams & Swan. He was admitted to the bar at Syracuse in 1875 and began practice as a member of the firm of Adams, Swan & Doolittle. He was appointed United States commissioner of jurors by Judge Blatchford, served as mayor of Utica in 1883 and 1884, and as a director in the Oneida County Bank and an original director of the American District Telegraph Company of Utica, now the Central Telephone Company. He was a vestryman of St. Paul's church, Utica, and is a charter member of Fort Schuyler Club.
Keith, Myron, was born in Madison county, January 9, 1825, son of John and Sarah (Mason) Keith. His grandfather, John Keith, came from Connecticut, and was a Revolutionary soldier ; and his grandfather, Ezra Mason, was a native of Massachu- setts. Mr. Keith engaged in farming in Oneida county for thirty-four years. In 1852 he married Sabra L. Kinney, by whom he has two children Wayne V. Keith, who married a Miss Gruman, and Nettie Keith. Mr. Keith was justice of the peace for sixteen years, a longer period than any other man in Marshall.
Vale, J. Palmer, was born in Munnsville, Madison county, October 20, 1852, son of John and Sarah A. Yale. Jolin Yale died October 4 1884, and Sarah A., his wife, is still living at the advanced age of seventy-eight. J. Palmer Yale studied law for three years from 1876 to 1879 with S. II. Babcock of Utica. He then went to Wisconsin and engaged in farming until 1883, in which year he came to Waterville, and he resides on a farm that has been in the Yale family for seventy five years. In 1883 Mr. Vale married Mary A. Carpenter, by whom he has two children; Isabelle and Charles.
Bartlett, Dr. Howard G., was born at Lee Center, Oneida county, November 5, 1863, a son of John Bartlett, who was also born at Lee Center, July 26, 1832. The ancestors were from Massachusetts and Connecticut, and came to this county about 1820. John Bartlett married Dolly N. Hodge, by whom he had two children: Minnie L., wife of James A. Corey; and Howard G., who remained on the farm with his father until he was seventeen years of age, and attended the district schools. He was graduated from the Clinton Grammar school, after which he began the study of medicine, and in 1885 entered Bellevue College, where he remained until 1888. In 1891 he was graduated from Long Island Hospital, and began the practice of his profession at Oriskany, N. Y., where he remained until 1894, since which time he has been located in the village of Clinton. He married Anna Luther, of Cazenovia, N. Y
Pratt, Charles T., was born at Clark Mills, N. Y., September 25, 1859, son of Henry and Julia (Carleton) Pratt. He began for himself as a machinist in Clark Mills, and after spending three years there, he was employed as foreman in the shop of the Utica Cotton Mills at New Hartford, N. Y., for five years; after which he had charge of the Hunter & Babcock Mfg. Co.'s mills at Washington Mills, N. Y., for two years. After spending two years at Albany, he went to Nashville, Tenn., tak- ing charge of the mechanical department of the Lewis & Babcock Mfg. Co., and in 1890 organized the Pratt Chuck Co., of which he is president. Mr. Pratt designed
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all the fine machinery with which the shops are equipped, and has eleven different patents on drill chucks, as well as many on different devices. In 1887 he married Julia Durrenbeck.
Hermant, Ernest T., was born in France, February 23, 1840, son of Cassimere and Clementine Hermant, natives of France, who came to Utica in 1856 and thence to Deerfield, where they reside, he at the age of seventy-eight, and she at the age of eighty. He is a wheelwright and blacksmith, and for a number of years carried on the business at Deerfield with his son Edward T., who still runs the shop, Mr. Her- mant having retired a few years ago. Ernest T. was educated in France, and Will- iams's private school at Utica. He engaged in farming for three years, selling out in 1873. In 1884 he bought seven acres, to which he has added six acres, and all of which he cultivates as a market garden. He carried on a greenhouse business at Deerfield from 1885 to 1894, when he rented his business to Mr. Soller. September 11, 1870, he married Mary, daughter of George Pfluger of Deerfield, a native of Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Hermant have four children: Flora, Theodore C., William E., and Leo M. He is a member of Skenandoa Lodge, No. 95, I. O. O. F., and also of the Church of the Redeemer at Utica, N. Y.
Davis, George, was born in West Turin, Lewis county, N. Y., July 23, 1828, and came with his parents to this town when thirteen years of age. He was educated in the common schools, and afterwards engaged in farming which he followed until he retired. December 27. 1857, he married Lavina A. Swan, of Lenox, Madison county. Mr. Davis's father, Jonathan Davis, was born in New Jersey in 1798. He was educated there, and was also a farmer. In 1822 he came to this State and located in Lewis county. He married Mary M. Allen of West Turin, by whom he had two children: George, as above, and Ann S., now Mrs. Bowers of Whitesboro. Mr. Davis died February 23, 1876, and his wife January 17, 1888. Mrs. Davis was the sixth in descent from Samuel Allen of England. Her father, Ebenezer Allen, was born in Connecticut in 1769, and came with an ox team and cart in company with James Allen, in 1796, through the Mohawk Valley to Utica, which city then had only nineteen log houses. Mrs. Davis's sister, Lavina, married William Guest, of New London, and resides on the Davis homestead with Mr. and Mrs. Davis. Mr. Guest is a member of the Masonic lodge of Canastota, No. 331, F. & A. M. Mr. Davis's grandfather, Samuel Davis, was born in Kentucky in 1768. He married Mary, daughter of Governor Gordon of that State. Mrs. George Davis's father, Alonzo Swan, was born in Stephentown, Rensselaer county, N. Y., June 4, 1803. He married Phoebe Earl, by whom he had eight children, two of whom died in infancy: Alonzo E., Emily B., Mortimer R., Martha E., Lavina A., as above, and John A. Both father and mother are dead. The ancestry of the family is Welsh and Scotch.
Cochran, John M., is a native of Oneida county, where he has resided, and all of his business life has been spent in Oneida village. He was born in Durhamville, N. Y., in 1859, and was educated in Oneida until sixteen years of age. His father, Rev. Andrew Cochran, was born in Chautauqua county in 1817, and was for thirty-five years pastor of the Presbyterian church at Oneida Castle. He was a man whose christian character made him beloved and revered by all who knew him. He built
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up a flourishing society and in 1884 erected a new church edifice, which was dedi- cated the "Cochran Memorial Church." Mr. Cochran prepared for the ministry at the Princeton Theological Seminary, and began his labors when thirty two years of age, his first charge being at Durhamville. His wife, Catherine More, of Durham- ville, is now living at Oneida Castle. Rev. Mr. Cochran died in 1886. After receiv . ing his education, John M. Cochran engaged as clerk in Oneida with Randall & Barker, dry goods dealers, and remained in that position for a period of twelve years, and at the end of that time he had saved enough to purchase the business from the partners, and which he has since conducted, building up a prosperous trade. He married Marilla, daughter of C. A. and Adelia Wells, by whom he has one son, C. Wells Cochran, born February 11, 1895.
Candee, J. W .- The late William Candee was born in Sangerfield, N. Y., May 16, 1831, and was a lawyer by profession. He married Lucia Newberry, of Detroit, Mich., by whom he had four children: Lucia Clark, wife of W. S. Hawkins, Kate Louise, Julius Warner and W. 11. Candee (deceased). Mrs. Candee's father, Julius Newberry, was a merchant of Detroit, Mich. The family all belonged to Sanger- field but Julius and Oliver, who moved to Detroit, Mich., where Oliver was a cele- brated boat builder. He built the Michigan, the largest steamboat at that time on the lakes. He participated in the Black Hawk war and the war of 1812. Walter Loomis Newberry was born in Connecticut in 1804 and was one of the founders of the Young Men's Library of Chicago. Amasa Stoughton Newberry was a well known agriculturist of Sangerfield, and served in the State Assembly. He was also vice-president of the Waterville Bank before it became a national bank, and he died April 15, 1858. Julius Warner Candee, the only representative of the family, is a young man of twenty-two years, who resides with his mother. He was edu- cated at the St. John's Military School and at schools at Linwood, and is a member of the Pickwick Club and his college societies. William Candee died in March, 1886.
Gorton, F. T., M. D., was born in Brookfield, Madison county, N. Y., October 22, 1843, son of Thomas Rogers and Prudence (Treat) Gorton. His great-grandfather, Samuel Gorton, settled in Brookfield in 1776, and was an officer in the Revolutionary War. F. T. Gorton was educated at Whitestown and Cazenovia. He attended medical lectures at the Michigan University and was graduated from the University Medical College of New York City in 1871, after which he commenced practice in Waterville and established a high reputation in medical circles. He is a member of the Oneida County Medical Society, and has been coroner of the county two terms. He has also been village trustee two terms, and was United States pension exam- iner from January, 1872, until October 1, 1893. Dr. Gorton married Alida C., daugh- ter of C. A. Budlong of Cassville, N. Y., by whom he has one son and two daugh- ters.
Maher Brothers .- The six brothers who comprise this enterprising firm are a part of Oneida county, interested in its progress, alive to all its interests, and active in every movement projected for its material advancement. All are natives of Carlow, Ireland-the senior partner, John L. Maher, being born L'ecember 1, 1856; William, September 21, 1860; James P., December 31, 1862; Thomas J., June 5, 1865; Edward J., October 20, 1868; and Laurence P., September 29, 1869. The death of a re-
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spected father in 1870 left eight small children, among whom were two daughters, one being Sister Mary Laurence, now of the Convent of Mercy, Greenbush, N. Y., the other the wife of Dr. H. E. Brown, of Utica. This presented a difficult task to a devoted mother with moderate means. After a short business training in Dublin John L., in 1874, came to America, where his uncle, the late Edward Maher, well and favorably known to the older residents of Utica, was engaged in the clothing trade. Securing ready employment he steadily forged ahead, and in 1880 formed a copartnership with his uncle under the firm name of E. Maher & Co. In 1878 James P. joined his brother and on the death of their mother in 1881 all the remaining chil- dren came to Utica. Soon after the death of Edward Maher in 1866 the six brothers established the present firm of Maher Brothers, first at 44 Genesee street and in 1893 at 56 and 57 Franklin square. Here they have one of the largest and finest clothing establishments between New York and Buffalo, occupying four stories, or an area of more than 20,000 square feet. Their business has grown to very large proportions and covers several branches, including those of manufacturing and jobbing. Other stores are being established by the firm in adjacent cities, leaving the one in U'tica as a center. Their business has been conducted from the first along those honorable and progressive lines which insure success and obtain the best practical results, and theirs is to-day one of the representative institutions of the county. But it is as pub- lic spirited and enterprising citizens that each member of the firm has acquired a reptuation that is as commendable as it is permanent. Imbued with a laudable patriotism for their adopted country they have on several occasions exemplified that spirit which is dear to the hearts of native-born Americans. Their effort during the recent State encampment of the G. A. R. was noteworthy, and the Utica Daily Herald of May 19, 1896, said: "Probably the finest collection of relics of the war for the Union and the war for Independence ever displayed in this city is that arranged by Maher Brothers at their clothing establishment in Franklin Square. The firm is famous for its patriotic spirit and always takes advantage of opportuni- ties to prepare for the people valuable displays on occasions like the encampment. The present exhibition is the best ever prepared by the firm and should be noticed by every one of the thousands who will fill Utica to overflowing to-day." The same day the Observer said: "To the thoughtfulness of Maher Brothers is due the credit for the collection and display of the rarest and most interesting relics of the late Rebellion and of Colonial days ever seen in this part of the State." The Press said: " It is a far larger and better display, in historic value, than the one heretofore made by the same firm. The decorations on the outside of the store are the hand- somest in the city." Space will not permit of mention of the numerous historic articles collected and displayed on this and other occasions, but suffice it to say that most of them have a local valne and an absorbing interest. Two uncles of the Maher Brothers were in the Union army during the Civil war, one being killed in battle, the other dying of fever contracted in service. Five of the brothers are mar- ried and have families, and all enjoy eminent distinction as representative and enter- prising citizens
McTiernan, William, was born in Ireland in July, 1847, and came to America in 1870, settling in Utica, where he first engaged in railroading. Two years later he visited his native country for a few months and returning to Utica entered the en-
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ploy of Wood & Mann, proprietors of a large machine shop. Later he was steward of St. Joseph's Hospital about four years. In 1880 he engaged in business for him- self as a dealer in groceries on the corner of Bleecker and Second streets. About three years later he sold out and under the firm of Mooney & McTiernan engaged in the brewing business, which they continued about two years. In 1894 he started his present grocery store on the corner of Bleecker and Wetmore streets. In 1884 he was elected alderman of the Fifth ward and served two years. He was health com- missioner under Mayor Goodwin for three years and in 1885 was elected a charity commissioner for three years. In 1880 he married Annie Dempsey, of Utica, and they have four children: Charles, William, John, and Mary.
Milgate, Henry E., was born in Utica, September 9, 1853, and is a son of George H. Milgate, a native of England, and a farmer, who died here about 1884. He was educated in the Utica public schools, and about the age of seventeen went to Rome and engaged in the millinery business, which he continued about two years. He then returned to Utica and opened a fish and poultry market with his brothers, Will- iam T. and Ellsworth W., under the firm name of Milgate Brothers. They con- tinued in business about eight years, or until December, 1895, when they sold out. About 1880 the firm also purchased of the Snyder estate a large gardening and hot house supply business in Steuben street, and of this H. E. Milgate became sole pro- prietor in 1895, the firm dissolving. Mr. Milgate was married in 1879 to Wilhelmenia Hienrich, of Utica, and they have two children: Walter H., and Raymond G.
Lynch, Anthony V., came from Eaton, Madison county, to Utica in May, 1872, and for a few years was engaged in various business occupations. He was superin- tendent in Hon. S. S. Lowery's Knitting Mill from 1878 to 1881, and then started a furnishing goods business, which he still continues, the present firm being Lynch & Kelly. In 1885 he formed a partnership with Charles G. Duffy, under the firm name of Lynch & Duffy, and engaged in the manufacture of Scotch caps, continuing until Mr. Duffy's death in 1887. Since then the business has been successfully continued under the style of the Lynch Scotch Cap Company. They manufacture Scotch caps, tam o'shanters, toques, etc. Mr. Lynch was one of the original members of branch 63, C. M. B. A., and its first president, and is also a member of the C. B. L., and the A. O. H. In 1885 he married Theresa M. Gaynor, sister of Judge William J. Gaynor, of Brooklyn, and they have one son, A. Vincent Lynch, born August 23, 1887.
Jones, Dr. Herbert Gordon, was born in Utica, July 26, 1857 and is a son of John Francis Jones, who came here from Wales, England, with his parents, Cadwallader and Ann Jones, when young, and died here in 1875, aged forty-six years. John F. was a stock raiser and provision dealer, and married Jane, daughter of Herbert Williams, of Steuben, Oneida county, who died in 1873. Of their six children the subject of this sketch was the eldest. Dr. Jones was educated in the Utica public schools and academy and spent two years in Whitestown Seminary. Later he was a pupil in John Williams's private school in Utica. He read medicine with Dr. Ed- win Hutchinson in Utica and was appointed house surgeon to St. Elizabeth's Hos- pital, a position he held two years. The partnership continued until Dr. Hutchin- son's death in 1887, since which time Dr. Jones has practiced alone, giving special attention to surgery and to the treatment of diseases of the eye and ear. After two
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years as house surgeon to St. Elizabeth's Hospital he was appointed (in 1882) attend- ing surgeon to that institution, which position he held five years, when he resigned to accept the appointment of surgeon to St. Luke's Hospital, and still serves in this capacity. He has been surgeon of the West Shore Railroad since 1884 and medical director of the order of United Friends since 1890. He was elected coronor of Oneida county in 1884 and served two terms. He is a member of the Utica Medical Library Association, a member of the Oneida County Medical Society and its treasurer since 1886, a member of the Medical Society of the State of New York, a member of the National Association of Railway Surgeons, and a member of the New York State Association of Railway Surgeons. He was a delegate from the Oneida County Medical Society and the American Medical Association in 1887 and 1888. In the order of United Friends he has been since 1888 imperial trustee in the Imperial Council, aud for four years previous to that was the first representative of the Grand Council of New York in the Imperial Council of the United States. He was one of the active promoters and organizers of that order in 1881 and has always taken a prominent part in its growth and welfare. Dr. Jones is also a member of the Utica Maennechor and a member of Faxton Lodge No. 697, F. & A. M., Oneida Chapter No. 57, R. A. M., Utica Commandery, No. 4. K. T., aud the Scottish Rite Bodies, and Central City Consistory of Syracuse, Northern Jurisdiction. He has been one of the surgeons to the Masonic Home in Utica ever since its inception and was very active in securing the location and obtaining subscriptions, being a member of the subscription committee. He has read many valuable papers on surgery and kindred subjects before the Oneida County Medical Society and the Utica Medical Library Association, and several of them have been published in the New York Medical Journal and the Philadelphia Medical Times. June 15, 1882, Dr. Jones married Katherine E., daughter of Henry D. Perry, of Utica, and they have three children: Harold S., Mildred K., and Stuart G.
Howarth, Frederick E., was born in Utica August 13, 1866, and is a son of John Howarth who came from England about 1834 and for several years was engaged in the manufacture of cement pipe. He was educated in the Utica public schools and was graduated from the advanced school in 1881, and then became a clerk for Howarth & Ballard, druggists, with whom he remained nine years. In 1891 he organized and incorporated the Utica Cabinet Company, capitalized at $10,000, and has since been its secretary and manager. This company manufactures roll-top desks, office sup- plies, and wood novelties, and utilizes the works formerly occupied by the Utica Fur- niture company on the corner of Broad and Gilbert streets in East Utica. Mr. Howarth is a member of the Utica Citizen Corps, of Faxton Lodge F. & A. M., and of Imperial Council R. A. He was married September 12, 1894, to Miss Nellie L., daughter of Micajah Pinkney, of St. Paul, Minn.
Fuller, Asa O., born August 3, 1836, in Rome, Oneida county, was the youngest of five children of Orrin I. Fuller, a native of New England, who came to Rome at an early day. Orrin I. Fuller was a farmer and deputy sheriff, and was drowned at Albany by the breaking of a drawbridge in 1840. His children were Mrs. Cordelia Bush, of Utica : John T., who died in California ; David, who died in Utica ; and Mrs. Jane A. Harvey, and Asa ()., of Utica. Asa O). Fuller engaged in butchering for about three years, and then learned the trade of silversmith in Utica. Later he en-
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tered the employ of the New York Central Railroad and continued in that capacity for several years or until he lost his right arm and left hand. He subsequently be- came a contractor on railroads and later engaged in heavy trucking and city express business in Utica, and still continues in both enterprises, carrying on also large con- tracting interests. He did all the excavating for the New Masonic Home, the Sken- andoa Cotton Mills, and Mohawk Valley Mills extension, and also put in the machinery of these two establishments. He is an active Republican. July 19, 1871, he married Mrs. Fannie A. Kellogg, daughter of Tracy Wade, of Utica, and they have four children: Cora, Orrin O., Fannie Amelia, and Lucina.
Flume, Frank V., son of George and Mary Flume, was born in Baden, Germany, March 8, 1843, and came to America with his parents in 1849. The family first set- tled in Schoharie county, but moved thence to Montgomery county about 1858. There his father died in 1862. His mother resides in Fort Plain, N. Y. Mr. Flame was educated in the public schools and first engaged in farming and later in a saw mill. In 1878 he removed to Utica and became a clerk in the grocery store of J. Parker's Sons, with whom he remained three and one-half years. He then learned the carpenter's trade, which he has since followed. He was one of the first members of the carpenter's union and served as its secretary for a short time. September 15, 1870, he married Angeline, daughter of Frederick and Naomi (Dunster) Martin, of Tenterdon, county Kent, England. They have one son, Truman Frederick, born August 3, 1871, and now engaged in the insurance business in Rochester, N. Y.
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