Our county and its people; a descriptive work on Oneida county, New York;, Part 79

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 79

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()UR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

from Hamilton College in 1819, became a prominent lawyer, and at the time of his marriage and the birth of his son, Dr. Flandrau, was a law partner of the celebrated Aaron Burr in New York city.

Dr. Thomas Macomb Flandrau passed his youth in Georgetown, D. C., and was educated in the private schools and academies of Georgetown and Washington. He studied medicine with Dr. Benjamin S. Bohrer, and was graduated from the National Medical College of Washington, D. C., in March. 1848. After practicing his profession a short time in Georgetown he removed to his father's home at Whitesboro, Oneida county, N. Y., but on January 1, 1853, settled in Rome, where he was in partnership with Dr. Arba Blair for two years. In 1856 he went to Brock- port, N. Y., and remained there until 1862, when he again took up his residence in Rome, where he has since lived. August 23, 1862, Dr. Flandrau was commissioned surgeon of the 146th Regiment, N. Y. Vol. Inf., with rank of major. This regiment was known as the Halleck Infantry and also as the 5th Oneida, and many of its officers and men were citizens of Rome. Ile remained with the organization about a year, when he was promoted to the position of surgeon-in-chief of the 3d Brigade, 2d Division, 5th Army Corps. On the 7th of June, 1861, he was agai: promoted to the surgeoncy-in-chief of the 2d Division, 5th Army Corps.

The 146th Regiment is entitled to honorable mention in the history of Rome. Lieut .- Col. Jesse J. Armstrong, Adjutant Edward Comstock, and Capt. William A. Walker, besides many of its brave soldiers, were residents of this city, and having been organized on the camp ground in West Dominick street all its officers and men felt a profound interest in the city of its birth. The regiment participated in every battle fought by the Army of the Potomac from the first battle of Fredericksburg in December, 1862, to the final surrender of the Confederate army at Appomattox in April, 1865. It distinguished itself as well by its bravery as by the fearful slaughter of its rank and file in many engagements, especially in the Wilderness, where Col. David Jenkins and Major Henry Curran were left dead npon the field with a large number of men. As surgeon, Dr. Flandrau was present in all of its twenty-five battles, and fortunately escaped sickness and wounds during his three years' service at the front. He was discharged at Syracuse, N. Y., in July, 1865, and was made brevet lieutenant- colonel of U. S. Volunteers, holding a commission to that effect " for meritorious services in the field," signed by President Andrew Johnson, and the great secretary of war, Edwin M. Stanton. The Medical and Surgical History of the War contains the record of many of his surgical operations.

In 1865 Dr. Flandrau purchased his present residence in East Dominick street and ever since then he has been actively engaged in the practice of his profession in Rome. He is a member of the Oneida County Medical Society and the American Medical Association, and has attended several International Medical Congresses, the last in 1890 at Berlin, Germany, when he made an extended tour through France, Switzerland, England, Scotland, and Ireland. For many years he has been a mem- ber of the Board of Health of Rome and for twelve years a member of the Board of Education, of which he has served as president during the last three years. He has served as physician to the Central New York Institution for Deaf Mutes of Rome since its organization in 1874. He is medical director of the Rome Hospital and was prominent in its foundation and establishment, making the plans and designs for

C. C. REID, M. D.

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BIOGRAPHICAL.

its construction. His plans were adopted with very slight modification by the archi- tect, George Schillner, who brought them to their final development and is entitled to the credit of its external decoration.

Dr. Flandrau ranks high among the eminent physicians and surgeons of Central New York, and during his long and active practice has won the confidence and respect of a wide circle of warm friends and acquaintances. He has always taken a keen interest in the religious, social, and educational advancement of his city, con- tributing generously to these and kindred objects, and encouraging every worthy project which promises benefit to the community. He has been a member of the Protestant Episcopal church for forty years and for over twenty years has served as vestryman and warden of Zion church, Rome.

In 1854 Dr. Flandrau was married in Brockport, N. Y., to Miss Clarissa J. Foote, a native of Vernon, Oneida county, N. Y., who died May 1, 1890. She was a woman noted for her energy, tact, and charitable sentiments, and contributed largely to the building and success of the Rome Hospital, where her name and good work are com- memorated by a handsome brass tablet erected by the ladies of the institution. She left three daughters: Miss Elizabeth M. Flandrau and Mrs. Dr. H. C. Sutton, of Rome, and Mrs. George Ethridge, (f New York city.

CHRISTOPHER C. REID, M. D.

CHRISTOPHER C. RIED, M. D., was born in the town of Westmoreland, Oneida county, N. Y., November 1, 1838, and is the sixth in a family of fifteen children of James and Rebecca (Robinson) Reid, who were born of Scotch parentage in the north of Ireland. James and Rebecca Reid, after their marriage in their native country, came to America about 1837 and first settted in Kirkland, this county, but subsequently moved to a farm in Westmoreland. Mrs. Reid died in 1879, aged about seventy years. Mr. Reid's death occurred in Albion, Oswego county, in November, 1887, at the age of eighty seven. Thirteen of their children attained maturity. James Reid and his brother Christopher constituted the family of William Reid grandfather of the subject of this sketch.

Dr. C. C. Reid left home at the age of nine years to live with his uncle Christopher in Kirkland, N. Y., where he was reared on a farm. He was graduated from Whites- town Seminary in 1862, and while attending that institution began the study of medicine with Drs. Henderson, father and son. After his graduation he went to Albany, read medicine under Dr. William Bailey, and was graduated with the de- gree of M. D. from the Albany Medical College in 1864. The same year he com- menced the practice of his profession in the town of Western, Oneida county, where he remained until 1870, when he moved to Rome, where he has since resided, enjoy- ing a wide and successful professional business.

Dr. Reid is a member of the Oneida County Medical Society and was one of the founders and has always been a member of the New York State Medical Associa- tion. He is the first president of the Rome Medical Society, which he was largely instrumental in organizing in February, 1895. For twenty consecutive years, or

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

since 1876, he has acted as examining surgeon for the N. Y. C. & H. R. R. R. Co. his labors in this capacity extending along the entire line and frequently outside the State. He is consulting physician to the Rome City Hospital, a director in the Rome Brass and Copper Company, and was one of the originators and the first presi- dent of the Washington Street Opera House Company, serving as president two terms during the erection of the handsome opera house in 1889 and 1890. He joined the Masons in Vienna and is now a member of Rome Lodge F. & A. M. and Rome Commandery K. T. In 1879 he visited Europe and traveled extensively over Great Britain and the Continent, visiting not only the chief points of general interest, but many hospitals and medical institutions.

Dr. Reid was married on April 4, 1893, to Miss Katherine Melissa Spencer, daugh- ter of Harvey D. Spencer, of Rome, N. Y.

JOSEPH I. SAYLES.

DESCENDANTS of the Sayles family in America trace their lineage to John Sayles, (1) and Mary Williams, his wife, who were married in Rhode Island in 1650, settled in Providence, and are buried in the Easton burial ground in Middletown near Sachuest Beach. He was born in Scotland in 1633, his father being of Scotch and his mother of Irish parentage, and died in 1681. His wife, who was born in 1638 and died also in 1681, was a daughter of Roger Williams, first governor and founder of the Rhode Island colony, and Mary, his wife. Mr. Sayles was made a freeman in 1655, and held the offices of commissioner, town clerk, warden, town treasurer, auditor, deputy, and councilman. His posterity in a direct line to the subject of this sketch is as follows: John (2), born August 17, 1654, deputy, tavern keeper, died August 2, 1727; Richard (3), born October 24, 1695, died in 1775; Israel (4), born March 17, 1726; Israel (5); Benjamin B. (6), who married Polly Strong; and Joseph I. (7). The foregoing, prior to Benjamin B. Sayles, lived in Rhode Island, where many of the name occupied responsible positions in business, social and official life, manifesting at all times great patriotism and individual ability, and becoming sub- stantial and useful citizens. Isael (5) came to Norwich, N. Y., early in 1800, and there Benjamin B. (6) was born and learned the trade of blacksmith. Benjamin B. Sayles moved to the town of Plymouth, Chenango county, and followed farming many years. He had four sons and one daughter.

Joseph I. Sayles, youngest son of Benjamin B. and Polly (Strong) Sayles, was born in Plymouth, Chenango county, N. Y., October 2, 1843, and remained on the parental farm and attended the district schools until he reached the age of seven- teen. He inherited in full measure the sturdy characteristics of his New England ancestry, and supplemented these by early acquiring those habits of industry and perseverance which ir ark the successful man. April 29, 1861, he enlisted in Co. H, 17th N. Y. Vol. Inf., as a private, and served with the Army of the Potomac from its organization till after the siege of Yorktown, participating in all the engagements on the peninsula. At Chickahomony Swamp he was taken sick and sent to St. Elizabeth Hospital at Washington, where he was honorably discharged August 9,

JOSEPH I. SAYLES.

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BIOGRAPHICAL.

1862. Returning home he resumed his common school education and soon began to read law in Norwich, N. Y. He was graduated from the Albany Law School in 1866 and in December of the same year was admitted to the bar at Albany. Im- mediately afterward he commenced the practice of his profession in Lee Center, Oneida county, where he served as justice of the peace and where he remained until 1870 when he moved to Rome. Here he formed a copartnership with Hon. M. D. Barnett, which continued until the latter's election as district attorney in 1876. Mr. Sayles's next partnership was in 1887, when the present firm of Sayles, Searle & Sayles, was organized by the admission of D. F. Searle and A. F. Sayles.

Mr. Sayles has been a lifelong Republican, casting his first vote for Abraham Lincoln for president in 1864. He represented the Fifth ward in the common council three years, has been a member of the Rome Water Commission four years, and in March, 1894, was appointed by Gov. Levi P. Morton one of the managers of the State Custodial Asylum at Rome for six years, being chairman of the executive com- mittee of that institution. He was a charter member of Skillen Post, No. 47, G. A. R., and for ten years officiated as its commander. He was also department commander of the G. A. R. for the State of New York, with rank of major-general in 1885, and judge advocate of the department three terms. In 1891 he organized and has since served as president of the Jones Elastic Enamel Paint Company of Rome. He is heavily interested in real estate, both at home and elsewhere, and has for many years been closely identified with the city's growth and prosperity.

But it is as a trial and criminal lawyer that Mr. Sayles stands out the most prom- inently in his career. Without the adventitious aids which wealth, family influence, and scholastic attainments can give he has, by courage, industry, perseverance, in domitable will power, and his own unaided ability, worked his way from a rustic school boy on the farm to the front rank in his profession as a trial lawyer, so that he stands to-day among the foremost criminal lawyers in the State. He is emphatically and in the fullest sense a self made man. It is as a jury advocate, and the more especially as a criminal lawyer, that he has won his greatest triumphs and established his widest reputation. His shrewdness and tact in the management of trials, his acquaintance with human nature which enables him to judge how oral testimony will strike and impress the average juror, his experience and familiarity with the practice and intricacies of criminal law, and above and better than all his skill in the examination of his own and the cross-examination of unwilling and evasive witnesses all thoroughly equip him for a trial lawyer in both civil and criminal trials, and make him a formidable and most dangerous antagonist. He has tried causes in every county of this State but two, and has defended between thirty and forty prisoners (the trials taking place in nearly a dozen different counties) for capital offenses, and in none of them has the prisoner been executed, and in only one was there a convic- tion for the higher offense, and in that case the judgment was reversed and the prisoner subsequently acquitted. It is said of him that "he is a natural trial lawyer."

On the 2d of June, 1873, Mr. Sayles was married to Miss Sarah Castle, a daughter of the late Hon. John J. Castle, of Lee, who in 1852 was member of assembly from Oneida county. She died July 7, 1877, and in 1878 he married Mrs. Carrie M. Bond, daughter of George Potter, of Lee, by whom he has two children: Josie Irene, born

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January 10, 1880, and General George W., born February 22, 1882. The first born, at the age of thirteen, wrote a book, worthy of one double her years, which was printed for circulation among her own immediate acquaintances and friends.

EDWARD COMSTOCK.

HON. EDWARD COMSTOCK, son of Hon. Calvert and Eliza Mann (Sill) Comstock, was born in Rome, N. Y., April 30, 1842. He first decided npon a legal career and read law, bu' abandoned this to become lieutenant and adjutant in the 146th N. Y. Vols. in the war of the Rebellion. Ile was with the 146th N. Y. Vols. in the battle of Fredericksburg and Gettysburg. Afterward he was on General Ganard's staff, commanding division of cavalry attached to General Sherman's army in the advance from Chattanooga to Atlanta. Returning to his home in Rome he engaged in business with his father as a lumber manufacturer. In 1876 he established himself in the wholesale and retail lumber trade, with which he has since been identified.

Mr. Comstock is a prominent and an influential factor in the Democratic party, and like his respected father has always taken a keen interest in the welfare and prosperity of the city of Rome. lle was twice elected mayor, and is now a member of the Board of Education.

CALVERT COMSTOCK.

HON. CALVERT COMSTOCK was born in the town of Western, Oneida county, July 2, 1812, and died in Rome, N Y., October 10, 1877. He was early dependent upon his own resources for both a livelihood and an education, and at the age of sixteen be- gan teaching school. In the intervals of this occupation and farm labor he prepared himself for college and in 1831 entered Hamilton College, where he spent two years. There he was one of the founders of the Alpha Delta Phi Society. Compelled by circumstances to relinquish collegiate life he began the study of law with his cousin, Ichabod C. Baker, in Whitesboro, and in 1835 was admitted to the bar. He then formed a co-partnership with Mr. Baker, which continued until 1838, when he re- moved to Rome to fill a vacancy in the firm of Foster & Stryker, occasioned by the removal of Hon. Charles Tracy to Utica. The firm became Foster, Stryker & Com- stock and so continued until January 1, 1841, when Judge Henry A. Foster retired upon a re-election to the State Senate. The firm of Stryker & Comstock continued till July 7, 1846, when Bloomfield J. Beach became a member. In August, 1847, Mr. Stryker retired and Comstock & Beach continued until January 1, 1855, when Mr. Comstock retired permanently from the law, and at the earnest solicitation of his friends in the Democratic party removed to Albany to take charge of the Albany Argus, then the State organ of the Hunker wing of the Democrats.

As a lawyer Mr. Comstock distinguished himself in his profession, and during his twenty years of active practice won a high reputation among both associates and

CALVERT COMSTOCK.

EDWARD COMSTOCK.

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clients. He was eminently successful-a man of honor, candor, courtesy, ability, and integrity, of discriminating judgment, sound common sense, and great love of justice. In 1845 he was appointed district attorney and by election held that office until 1850, when his extensive law business compelled him to resign. He was a member of assembly in 1845, and in connection with the State Constitution of 1846 won a state-wide reputation. He was chairman of the select committee on that sub- ject, and took the ground that under the constitution of 1821 the Legislature had no right to submit to the people the question of calling a constitutional convention. On this point he made an elaborate report, the law and facts of which stood unchal lenged. He framed such amendments to the constitution as in his judgment were demanded, and urged their adoption by the Legislature and subsequent submission to the people, but he was beaten by a combination of Barnburners and Whigs. In the end his judgment was vindicated, for lawyers and statesmen conceded that the constitution of 1846 was inferior, as a whole, to that of 1821. Mr. Comstock had a large journalistic experience. From 1838 until the close of the campaign of 1840 he had charge as editor of the Rome Sentinel. In 1847 he became a partner in the firm of A. J. Rowley & Co., in its proprietorship, the editor being his brother Elon. In July, 1852, Calvert and Elon Comstock purchased the plant and established the Rome Daily Sentinel, which they successfully conducted until 1855, when they sold it to D. E. Wager and D. C. Rowley. Calvert Comstock then went to Albany and succeeded Edwin Croswell as editor of the Argus. The Atlas, then edited by Will- iam Cassidy, represented the other wing of the Democratic party. Shortly after- ward the uniting of the two factions brought about the consolidation of the two pa- pers and Messrs. Comstock and Cassidy continued in partnership until the former was compelled in 1866 to retire, his constitution having suddenly and completely broken down under the strain of constant labor. He returned to Rome and spent the remainder of his life.

Mr. Comstock always manifested a lively interest in the advancement and pros- perity of Rome. He was influential in the construction of the various plank roads which in 1848 were built from the city in several directions. He was largely inter- ested in the building of the Rome, Watertown and Cape Vincent railroad and for twenty years was a director of the Rome, Watertown and Ogdensburg Railroad Company. He was president of the Boston, Rome and Oswego Railroad Company, a projected railroad intended to take advantage of the completion of the Hoosac tunnel, and personally superintended the entire survey of the line. About 1849 he purchased, in connection with Hon. Edward Huntington, a large tract of land in Rome from George Clarke and brought it into market as building lots. He was chiefly influential in securing the charter for the city of Rome and in 1870 was elected the first mayor. He also served for many years as president of the Board of Edu- cation.

April 27, 1836, Mr. Comstock married Miss Eliza Mann Sill, eldest daughter of Gen. Theodore Sill, of Whitesboro, the law partner of Thomas R. Gold. Mrs. Com- stock died in 1868, leaving four daughters and three sons, all of whom survived their father.

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CAPT. JAMES S. ABEEL.

CAPT. JAMES STILLIE ABEEL was a lineal descendant of (1) Christopher James Abeel, who was born in 1621 in Amsterdam, Holland, whence he came to this country in 1657 and settled at Fort Orange (now Albany), where he engaged in trade as agent for the Dutch West India Company. The line of descent from that patroon to the subject of this memoir is (2) Johannes, (3) David, (4) James, (5) John N., and (6) James S. Johannes Abeel (2) was the second mayor and for several years recorder of the city of Albany, holding the first named office two terms. David (3) was a merchant and for some time assessor of New York city. James Abcel (4) was a colonel in the Revolutionary army and served through the war as deputy quarter - · master-general on the staff of General Washington, under General Greene. It was largely through his exertions that the troops were provisioned and the army main- tained during the historical winter at Valley Forge, and a number of letters bearing his name are still extant. He married a daughter of Dr. John Neilson, a physician of Belfast, Ireland, who came to New York and practiced his profession with success. Rev. John Neilson Abeel (5), son of Colonel James, was born in New York city in 1769, was graduated from Princeton College in 1787 and read law with Hon. William Patterson, LL. D., in New Brunswick. Later he studied theology, became a tutor in Princeton, and was licensed to preach in 1793; two years after he became one of the min- isters of the collegiate church (Dutch Reformed) of New York and remained there until his death in 1812. In 1804 Harvard College conferred upon him the degree of D. D. Dr. Abeel was a trustee of Queen's and Columbia Colleges and in 1804, with eleven other citizens, founded the New York Historical Society. He married, January 29. 1794, Mary Stillie, who died January 13, 1826. She was a member of an old and re- spected Swedish family of Philadelphia before the days of William Penn, when that city was known as New Stockholm and the State of Pennsylvania as New Sweden. Of their five children two daughters died in infancy; the others were James S. ; Neilson, born in 1797, married Caroline Lawrence, and died in 1827; and Gustavus, born June 6, 1801, graduated from Union College in 1823 and from the Theological Seminary in New Brunswick in 1824, and died in September, 1887.

Capt. James Stillie Abeel was born in Philadelphia, Pa., November 15, 1795, and re- ceived his education in the grammar and select schools of New York city under Arthur Stansbury and John Borland. Upon the death of his father in 1812 he entered the counting house of Robert Lenox, but soon entered the United States army and was assigned to duty on the Niagara frontier in the war of 1812-15. May 3, 1813, he was made third lieutenant, and on February 20, 1815, President James Madison commis- sioned him first-lieutenant in the 23d Regt. Inf., to rank from October 1, 1814, at which time he and Gen. J. A. Dix were the youngest officers on the force. He was present at the sortie on Fort Erie and the taking of Fort George and was wounded at the battle of Lundy's Lane, where it was subsequently supposed his voice became impaired. At the close of the war in December, 1815, he was retained as second lieutenant with brevet of first lieutenant in the reorganized army and transferred to the 4th Artillery. April 20, 1818, he was made first heutenant of artillery, his com- mission signed by President James Monroe, being dated July 10, 1820. September 1, 1829, he was brevetted captain for ten years' faithful service in one grade, by Presi- dent Andrew Jackson, to rank from April 20, 1828.

THOS. G. NOCK.

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During this period he was stationed at Newport, R. I., Portland, Me., New York city, and Old Point Comfort, Va. In April, 1828, he was placed in command of the arsenal at Rome, N. Y., where he remained until December 31, 1834, when he re- signed. At this time he had been ordered to rejoin his regiment and proceed to Florida, but the health and care of his family compelled him to send in a resignation. He then engaged in farming near Trenton Falls until January 6, 1838, when upon the recommendation of Generals Scott, Wood, and Worth, he was appointed military storekeeper to succeed Capt. Samuel Perkins, deceased, in charge of the Rome arsenal, his commission being signed by President John Tyler and dated May 30, 1844. He held this post until May 7, 1855, when he turned over the arsenal to Capt. D. B. Sackett for a recruiting station. Captain Abeel was then in command of the Detroit U. S. arsenalat Dearborn, Mich., till April, 1863, when he returned to Rome and had charge as military storekeeper of the arsenal here until February 16, 1870, when he was placed on the retired list. Except the brief period spent in farming he served for fifty-seven years in the military service of the U. S. government. He died in De- cember, 1871, being at that time the oldest commissioned officer of the army.

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Our county and its people; a descriptive work on Oneida county, New York;, Part 79

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