Our county and its people; a descriptive work on Oneida county, New York;, Part 98

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 98

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).

Hicks, John W., was born near where he now resides, April 24, 1842, son of Will- iam, jr., and Mary (Wright) Hicks. His grandfather, William, sr., came from Eng- land and settled here about 1824; he engaged in pioneer farming, and was known as Judge Hicks, who accumulated considerable wealth and was a large land owner. William, jr., was prominent in all affairs of his town. Jolin W. was one of nine children: Sarah Martha (deceased), Mary E., John W., Annie M., Thomas J. (de- ceased), Agnes L. (deceased), James S. (deceased), George E. and Fred H. He married Harriet A., daughter of George and Nancy Powell, by whom he has one child, William P. He has been elected assessor for the past nine years. He is a member of St. Peter's Episcopal Church at Oriskany, and belongs to the Oriskany F. & A. M., No. 799, and has been junior warden of the Hampton Lodge No. 347, also senior master of ceremonies, and senior deacon. Of the United Friends, he has been chief councilor for four years, and delegate to the Grand Council. He is also a member of the Marcy Grange, Patrons of Industry, and now holds office of county vice-president and past president of the Stittville Lodge No. 315; and of the Grand Orient of Stittville. He is a director of the Black River Fish & Game Asso- ciation, and is also its vice-president. William Hicks married Carrie J. Bolton, and they have one child, Alice Alma.

Ritchie, Thomas, was born in Scotland, September 15, 1819, son of Rev. Daniel and Margaret Ritchie, who settled in Oneida county in 1829, and whose children were Daniel, James, ( harles, Thomas, Isabelle, Margaret, Harriet and Jane. The · Rev. Daniel Ritchie was a carpet manufacturer by trade, and which he followed for the greater part of his life. His preaching he did without reward. Hewas an honest, industrious man, and interested in all things for the good of his fellowmen. His sons, Daniel, James, and Charles, were engaged in business in the Southern and

FAMILY SKETCHES.

Western States, where they reside. Thomas Ritchie married Mehitable, daughter of William and Lois Hill, who settled in Marcy in 1811, by whom he has two sons: Ward T. and Franklin W.

Olney, George B., was born in Western, December 7, 1852, a son of George J. and Harriet (Brill) Olney, grandson of James Olney, who was born October 26, 1783, and who married Lucy Burt, and great-grandson of William and Mary (Myers) Olney, who were among the pioneers of Western, and is a lineal descendant of Thomas Olney, of Hertfordshire, England, who settled in 'alem, Mass., in 1635, where he followed his profession of surveyor, and filled many positions of trust. He was the founder of the Olney family in America. In later life he left Salem on account of religious persecution and went with Roger Williams to Providence, R. I. On No- vember 6, 1793, a deed was executed by Thomas and William Burling, merchants of New York, conveying to William Olney the first real estate owned by the family in Oneida county. It consisted of 1500 acres of land in the tract known as the Thomas Machin patent, in what is now the town of Western, then a part of Herkimer county ; consideration, 600 pounds sterling. This tract joined land laid out for Jelles Fonda. The deed was acknowledged before John Ray " One of the masters in chancery for the State " and is still in possession of the family. George J. Olney, father of George B., was born in Western, February 28, 1821, where he has spent all his life engaged in farming. He was twice married, first to Harriet, daughter of Ezra and Lydia (Parks) Clark, of Western, by whom he had one daughter, Harriet (Mrs. Frank White). His second wife was Harriet, daughter of John Brill, of Saratoga, N. Y., by whom he had three children: George B., Willard, and Minnie (Mrs. Charles Pill- more). George B. Olney was educated in the public schools and Whitestown Sem- inary, and since 1880, has been a member of the firm of Olney & Floyd, manufac- tnrers of canned goods, with factories at Westernville and Delta. December 10, 1879, he married Amelia, daughter of Joseph and Ruth (Carey) Hill, of Western, by whom he had two children ; George J. and Max H.

Curtiss, Hiram L., was born in the town of Camden, February 18, 1859, a twin son of Linus Curtiss (mentioned elsewhere). Hiram L. has been a man of health and vigor, always pushing ahead in life, and was educated in the district schools, where he built a foundation for a useful man and successful farmer. He married Ida E., daughter of Charles F. and Hannah M. Green, of Florence, and granddaughter of Asa Kelsey, the oldest resident in that town, he now being ninety-five years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Curtiss were the parents of four children: Olive M., deceased, Leila E., Christine M., and Ward L. Mr. Curtiss and wife are members of the Cam- den Grange, No. 354, P. of H., also of the Congregational church of West Camden.

Farnsworth, Theron A., one of Camden's prominent business men, was born in Hermon, St. Lawrence county, September 13, 1851. His early life was spent on the farm, and at the age of fourteen moved into the village, where he was educated in the common school of that place and Lowville Academy. Since leaving school he has been in the mercantile and manufacturing business, and is well known in North- ern New York. He became a manufacturer of post-office supplies in 1882, which business he now superintends for the Corbin Cabinet Lock Company, in their branch factory at Camden. In politics Mr. Farnsworth is a Republican, and has held sev-

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

eral government appointments ; was president of the village of Camden in 1893, and is now serving a second term. He is a member of the Masonic, Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias and Royal Arcanum Lodges in Camden.

Dorrance, John G., was born in the town of Florence, Oneida county, December 17, 1837, and is one of the leading business men of Camden. Daniel G. Dorrance, his father, was for many years the leading merchant in Florence, and first settled there in 1832. John G. is one of a family of five children living. He located at East Troy, Wis., in 1856, where he was engaged in the mercantile business until 1865, when he came to Camden. Here he commenced trade again in what was then known as the old " Trowbridge Store," located on the corner of Main and Mexico streets. In May, 1876, he established a private bank under the name of 1). G. and J. G. Dorrance. This bank was succeeded in January, 1880, by the First National bank of Camden. Mr. Dorrance has been cashier of this bank since its organiza- tion. He was married February 5, 1861, to Miss Ellen E. Brown of Oneida, N. Y., by whom he had two children, Daniel J. (teller and assistant cashier in the bank of Camden), and Mrs. Davies, wife of Deputy Attorney-General John C. Davies of Camden, N. Y. In polities Mr. Dorrance is a Republican. In June, 1895, he was appointed by Governor Morton to the office of commissioner of State Prisons for the Fifth Judicial District, for the term of five years.

Flanders, Thomas, was born in Vermont, October 23, 1841, one of ten children of Moses and Maria (Towle) Flanders, of Vermont. Thomas Flanders has resided in this town and Vienna since 1865, and now owns a farm of 100 acres in the town of Annsville, and runs a dairy of thirty cows. In 1861 he enlisted in the 8th Vt. Vols., served for a period of four years, and was engaged in the battles of Cedar Creek, at the siege of Port Hudson, and the battle of Winchester, He married Jane, daughter of George Husted, by whom he had two children: Myrtie and George. Mr. Flanders is a member of Ballard Post, G. A. R., No. 551, of which he was officer of the day for three years, and is also a member of the Masonic frater- nity. In politics he is a Republican.

Lehr, Charles M., was born in Ava, Oneida county, N. Y., November 3, 1854, son of George and Catherine (Yourdon) Lehr, lie a native of Germany, and she of Ava, N. Y. The grandparents came to America when George was three years of age, and settled in Ava, where they lived and died. He was a soldier in the French war. George Lehr was reared on a farm. He was a Republican in politics, and was justice of the peace for twenty years, highway commissioner, assessor, etc. He died in 1878, and his wife in 1871. Charles M. Lehr settled on the farm of 100 acres he now owns in 1881, where he keeps about twenty cows. In 1882 he married Annie, daughter of Owen and Esther Humphrey, of Ava, by whom he had four children: Susan, Myron, Esther and George. Mr. Lehr is a Republican in politics, and has been collector, highway commissioner, etc.

Kilts, Jacob, was born in Ava, N. Y., September 5, 1829, son of Jacob and Eliza- beth (Zolver) Kilts, natives of Germany, who came to America in 1828, and settled in Boonville. They were among the first settlers in Ava, and took 120 acres of land, which they cleared, and engaged in farming. In Germany Mr. Kilts was a cabinet- maker. He died in 1872, and Mrs. Kilts died in 1874. Jacob Kilts, jr., worked for

FAMILY SKETCHES.

thirteen years at the carpenter trade, and has since been engaged in farming. In 1865 he bought a farm of 150 acres in Ava, where he has since resided. In 1861 he married Humility Daniels, by whom he has five children: William A., hotelkeeper at Redfield, N. Y .; Emma J., wife of Byron L. Edgerton, of Annsville, N. Y .; . Homer J, a manufacturer at Rome, N. Y .; Carrie E., wife of Frank Lock, a mechanic at Redfield, N. Y .; and Warren R., who is living at home. Mrs. Kilts died May 25, 1885. Mr. Kilts has been justice of the peace and constable for seven years.

Blue, Malcolm A., was born in Deerfield, N. Y., January 27, 1822, son of Alexan- der and Chiista (McVean) Blue, natives of Scotland. Alexander Blue came to Deer- field with his parents, Malcolm and Flora Blue, in 1803. Mrs. Blue came with her parents, Peter and -- McVean, who settled at Johnstown, Genesee county, where they died. Alexander Blue was a carpenter by trade, but spent the latter part of his life on the farm. He was town school superintendent and road commissioner. Mrs. Blue died in 1822, and Mr. Blue married the second time. He died in 1872. Mal- colm A., at the death of his mother, was adopted and reared by Daniel Mckay, who was an early settler on the farm where Mr. Blue has always resided, except four years in the banking business, and he is now president of the bank at Poland. Mr. Blue has given his attention principally to farming, and has owned about 816 acres of land, 320 of which he has deeded to his sons. He has been supervisor and road commissioner seven years. In 1847 he married Maria, daughter of Isaac and Mary Hetherington (who died in August, 1887), farmers of Deerfield; and Mr. Hethering- ton was a native of England. Mr. and Mrs. Blue have three children: Arch. M. and Grant A., who are both engaged in farming and in the manufacture of cheese, also dealing in stock; and Maria, wife of John K. Walker. The family are Presby- terians.

Carleton, Charles, was born at Clingara, County Meath, Ireland, December 25, 1820. He was the oldest child of James and Eleanor Carleton, to whom six children were born, five of whom came to the United States. His mother's maiden name was Raymond, and she was one of a numerous and prosperous family. His parents were natives of Ireland, followed the occupation of farming there and afterwards came to America. It was Mr. Carleton's fortune to have first seen the light of day in one of the most historic and romantic places in Ireland. The Hill of Tara, the ancient capital of Ireland, was to the north in sight of his home. There remains to the present time there the ruins of the ancient palace of the Ard Ri or the High King of Ireland. Among the evidences of Tara's former greatness is found the ruins of the legislative hall in which laws for the Irish nation were once made; the ruins of the Military School and of the National Court House, which was in its day the court of last resort in Ireland. To the northeast of his home and about three miles distant was the famous Dangan castle, in which the Duke of Wellington was born. To the north was the famous Boyne River. About twenty miles down the stream from Tara is the battlefield were on July 1, 1690, was fought the famous battle of the Boyne., It was there that the Irish army under James II of England received its death blow. It was on the bank of this old stream that Mr. Carleton attended the little country school and with his little companions many times ran away from school and went swimming in the Boyne River. The little ivy covered

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

church which Mr. Carleton attended, tradition had it that it was the church attended by Dean Swift's ancestors. Mr. Carleton came to the United States in 1849 and in 1870 married Henrietta Deering, by whom he had two children: Ella M. and Will- iam. He has always been engaged in the business of lumbering and farming and so has his son. He is now the owner of 700 acres of land.

Syphert, William E., was born in Forestport, N. Y., in 1862, son of William Syphert (Seifert), who was born in Jauer, Germany, in 1821. William Syphert is a miller by trade, and upon coming to America in 1853 he went directly to Hawkins- ville and engaged in working in a saw mill. From thence he went to White Lake and in 1854 to Forestport, where he followed lumbering and farming and ran gang saws in mills for many years. He married Augusta Fredericka Hennich, of Ger- many, who died in 1869. Their children were Augustus, Paulina, Herman, Robert, William E., Charles, and Mary E. William E. was educated in the district schools and at the early age of eleven began life as a canal driver and when a little older he became a steersman, which vocation he followed until eighteen years of age, when he began lumbering and for twelve years rafted spar and pile timber ready for the canal to go to New York city. In 1891 he entered into partnership with Albert Har- rig and engaged in the lumber and long timber business. In the spring of 1895 they erected a pulp wood mill, and saw mill from which they send a boat load a day; they also furnish a large amount of logs for a Utica lumber firm. They own a tract of 2,000 acres of timber land. In 1891 Mr. Syphert married Rosetta E., daughter of Michael and Catherine Fischer, of Buffalo. He is a member of the Masonic frater- nity, Urial Lodge, No. 908, and Mrs. Syphert is a member of the Lutheran church.

Stannard, J. R., was born in the town of Western, May 19, 1853, son of John L. Stannard, the scion of an old Scotch English family, who migrated from Massachu- setts to this county when it was a vast wilderness. Mr. Stannard's mother, Betsey Hill Clark, is the descendant of an old Connecticut family who settled in the Mohawk valley soon after the Revolutionary war. Her grandfather, Ichabod Hill, was body guard to General Washinton and served with distinction throughout that memorable contest, while her father, Ezekiel Clark, was a soldier in the war of 1812. After at- tending several terms at Holland Patent Academy and Whitestown Seminary, Mr. Stannard taught school in Western and Boonville with marked success until March, 1883, when he removed to Boonville and began his career as a merchant, dealing in pianos, organs, sewing machines, musical merchandise, school supplies, books, sta- tionery, etc., a business which he has successfully conducted since and which has assumed large proportions. In politics Mr. Stannard is a Democrat and a great admirer of President Cleveland. He was one of the organizers of the Anti-Snap movement in 1893, and a delegate to the Syracuse Convention in May of that year. After Cleveland's re-election he became a candiate for postmaster and demonstrated his popularity by winning the prize over several candidates, some of whom were as- sisted by some of the ablest politicians in the county and State. He took possession of the office March 6, 1895, and at once entered upon the work of improving the service by putting in one of the finest outfits in the State, one that Boonville is justly proud of. That he will make an ideal postmaster is predicted by those who know him best. April 7, 1881, he married Irene Van Voorhis, of Steuben, and has one son,

FAMILY SKETCHES.

Leland, born January 15, 1894. Mr. Stannard is a charter member of Summit Lodge, No. 246, I. O. O. F.

Wilson, Robert, was born at Thompson, Windham county, Conn., October 16, 1829, son of Robert Wilson, a linen weaver of Irish birth, who came to America in 1818 at the age of forty-two; after spending ten years in the New England States, he settled in Boonville in 1829, and engaged in farming; he died November 2, 1856. He was a man of rare inteligence, and possessed a well cultivated mind. Robert Wilson, jr., is a man possessed of highly respectable abilities, and whose character is one worthy of emulation. He acquired his education with but little aid, by inflex- ible purpose, and untiring application. Bred to the occupation of a farmer, he has always followed that pursuit. He is a member of the M. E. church. In politics he was a Whig, but united with the Republican party at its formation, was supervisor in 1872, and for the last eight years has voted with the Prohibition party. He mar- ried Elizabeth, daughter of Joseph Hayes, September 10, 1851, by whom he had four children, but none survived early infancy.

Clefford, Daniel B., was born in Stephentown, Rensselaer county, N. Y., April 8, 1838, son of Peter C. Clefford and Charlotte L. Clefford, who settled in Rome in 1839. Mr. and Mrs. Peter C. Clefford had nine children: Christopher E., Daniel B., Watie E., Guilford D., Clifton C. (deceased), Chancellor C., Perry C., Lottie and Huldah, of whom the latter seven were born in the town of Rome. Mr. Clefford was a farmer and a public spirited and charitable man and a large owner of real estate in Rome and Vienna; also a farm in Scott township, Johnson county, Iowa. He died December 30, 1893, aged eighty-one years, five months and thirteen days. Daniel B. Clefford married Julia A., daughter of the late Nehemiah and Sarah A. Halladay, January 4, 1859, by whom he had four children, Watie M. (deceased), Julia Blasier, Pearl E. and Clara E. In early life Mr. Clefford taught school in winters but has always been engaged in farming and has made a success at that business and now owns and conducts three farms. He is interested in educational affairs. Though a life long Democrat he never would accept of any town office. He belongs to Vienna Lodge No. 440, F. & A. M., and now holds the office of treasurer, and is vice-pres- ident of Plains Lodge, No. 339, P. of I. of North America.

Jones, William Jay, was born near South Trenton, June 20, 1832, son of Jacob and Mary Jones, who came from Wales about 1818 and were engaged in farming. Their children were Margaret, John, Hannah, David, Thomas and William Jay. Mr. Jones helped to build the Welsh M. E. church, and used to go twelve miles to church on foot. He also cut the first tree on the road where William Jay now lives. Pre- vious to building the church meetings were regularly held at his house for many years. He was a strong anti-slavery man and among the first Abolitionists in the place ; he became a Free Soiler and then a Republican. He wished to see the sin of slavery wiped out before his death, but he died April 9, 1859. His wife died Decem- ber 25, 1870. At fifteen years of age, William Jay started for himself as a laborer on a farm, and is now engaged in farming. He married Mary L., daughter of David Winston, by whom he has three children: Jacob H., David Cephas, and W. Herbert. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Trenton, and of which he has served as trustee, secretary, steward, and treasurer. He is a strong Prohibitionist. His wife, Mary L. Winston, died January 17, 1893.

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

Johnson, Stephen Albert, was born in Constableville, Lewis county, N. Y., May 23, 1840. He attended the local schools, also private schools at Lockport and Fre- donia, N. Y. Being in Philadelphia at the time of the outbreak of the Rebellion, he enlisted in the 3d (afterwards the 72d) Regiment of that State among the first of the three years men; and was in the battle of Ball's Bluff and the battles of the Penin- sula campaign. At the battle of Antietam he was severely wounded and soon after honorably discharged. He then went West and engaged in the nursery business at New Albany, Ind., with his brother, Senator F. C. Johnson, of that State. At the time. of the Morgan raid he was chosen captain of a company in the 8th Indiana Regi- ment and served throughout the campaign. In 1865 he returned to Lewis county, and in June, 1866, he maried Emeline, daughter of Schuyler C. Thompson, by whom he had three children, two sons and one daughter. The eldest son, Franklin C., a young man of bright literary attainments, died at Nice, France, in January, 1895. The younger son, William Schuyler, is now in the bank with his father. S. C. Thompson & Co.'s Bank was founded in 1867. Mr. Johnson became its cashier and has been in the banking business ever since, being now, and since the death of Mr. S. C. Thompson, in 1879, the senior member of the firm. He was for many years a member of the Board of Education of the Boonville Union Free School and Academy, and is one of the wardens of the Episcopal church at that place. Mr. Johnson's ancestry on both the paternal and maternal side is of the Colonial Puritan stock. Thomas Johnson came from Yorkshire, England, and settled at New Haven, Conn., in 1638. His son, William, was one of the original proprietors of Walling- ford, Conn .. founded in 1670, and there the family lived for several generations, being large land owners and prominent in government and military affairs. De- scendants of William Johnson still own land near Wallingford, which has been in the

family since its purchase from the Indians. Jacob Johnson, son of William (1694-1749), was a member of the Colonial Assembly several terms, and was a man of large wealth. Capt. Andrew Johnson, son of Jacob (1702-1757). served during the Indian and French wars; while Capt. Hezekiah Johnson, his son (1732-1810), was a soldier of the Revolution, and served from the Lexington alarm until the close of the war. Belcher Johnson (1767-1837), son of Capt. Hezekiah, removed to New York State in 1790 and settled at Salisbury, Herkimer county, where his son, Horace Johnson, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in 1799, and in 1822 married Eliza Pratt. Shortly after this he settled at Constableville, Lewis county, and en- gaged in the tanning business. He was commissioned captain in the militia by Governor De Witt Clinton in 1826. He died at Boonville, January 10, 1885. Mr. Johnson is descended through both of his parents from the Merriman family of Con- necticut, who for several successive generations were prominent in the Colonial gov- ernment, and held military commissions in the Indian and French wars; also from the Sedgwick family of Massachusetts, the first ancestor in this country being Major General Robert Sedgwick, who was a distinguished and trusted officer under Cromwell, and a charter member and captain of the "Ancient and Honorable Artillery Co., of Boston," the first military company formed upon this continent, and which possesses its identity to this day. In Mr. Johnson's family there is an unbroken line of military service from the Pequot war to the war of the Rebellion. Mr. Johnson is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, also of the "Society of Sons of the American Revolution" and of the "Society of Colonial Wars."

FAMILY SKETCHES.

Chrestien, Theodore, was born in the town of Rome, February 26, 1847, son of Martin and Margaret (Rougert) Crestien. Theodore married Emma, a daughter of William H. and Matilda Carnrile, and they have four children: William Alfred; Kittie, wife of William Brewster of Annsville; Alice; and Edith, all of whom are natives of Oneida county. At the age of twenty-four he engaged in business as a distiller of oil of wintergreen, which he followed ten years, then he went into the canning business, in which he engaged about six years, when he associated himself with the firm of Tuttle & Co., who are still in business. In 1878 he was elected jus- tice of the peace, which office he holds at the present time. He was one year justice of sessions, and served two terms as postmaster under Cleveland's administration. He is a member of Vienna Lodge No. 440, F. & A. M., of which he has been master twelve years.

Brown, James, was born in the town of Floyd, Oneida county, January 29, 1837, son of John and Jane Brown, who came from Dutchess county and settled in Floyd in 1826. Their children were Harriet, Charles Henry, James, Thomas, William H., and Betsey Ann, all natives of this county. Charles Henry was a veteran of the late war. James married Susan Faulkner, daughter of William and Harriet Faulk- ner, by whom he had three children; Hattie Jane, Charles E, and William G. William G. Brown was graduated from Union College in 1895; and is now studying law at Albany. He also spent three years at Cazenovia Seminary. Susan, wife of James Brown, died January 1, 1870. For his second wife James married Helen, daughter of William and Eliza Bowman, by whom he has one child: Nellie E. James and his father followed farming and boat-building, and have been actively in- terested in educational affairs. James has been highway commissioner two terms, and also loan commissioner.

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Our county and its people; a descriptive work on Oneida county, New York;, Part 98

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