USA > New York > Onondaga County > Syracuse > Syracuse and Onondaga County, New York : pictorial and biographical > Part 11
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Tebi S. Chapman
are members of the Central Baptist church, in which he has served as deacon for fifteen years and at the present writing he is chairman of the finance committee.
In politics a stalwart republican, he was elected to represent his district in the general assembly in 1894-5, during which time he was chairman of the committee that investigated the affairs of the city of Syracuse. In man- ner he is entirely free from ostentation or display, yet there is not about him the least shadow of mock modesty. He readily recognizes his opportuni- ties and his duties, utilizes the former and fully meets the latter. He knows that man's best development comes not through the concentration of one's energies upon selfish ends and a deep and sincere interest in his fellowmen and their welfare has prompted his active co-operation in various movements which have contributed to reform, progress and improvement.
J. Bracts
Thomas Jefferson Leach
T HOMAS JEFFERSON LEACH neither inherited his reputation as a banker nor had it thrust upon him. He earned it, step by step, round by round, until he occupied a foremost place in the banking world, with a reputation for integrity and the confidence that inspired such men as William Kirkpatrick, desiring to leave a fortune for memorials, to name Mr. Leach as executor to carry out the wishes of the dead. Mr. Leach is a native of Onondaga county, being born in Cicero, April 8, 1830. His father was a native of New York state, an early set- tler of Cicero and a general merchant and business man. The New York nativity was complete for Mr. Leach's mother was Dorcas Deming, also a native of New York state. To this family were born three children, two sons and a daughter, of whom Thomas J. Leach is the only one now living. In the schools of Cicero Mr. Leach studied until his eighth year, when the family moved to Brewerton, where he again knew the joys which are chiefly reminis- cent of the "little red schoolhouse." Three years divided equally between Joseph Allen's famous old school in Syracuse and a school in Boston, Massa- chusetts, completed the school days of Mr. Leach, but not his education, for business introduced him to the greatest education of all, the study of men and events, of which he was ever the student for the benefit of those who trusted him.
For a short time Mr. Leach assisted his father in business in Brewerton, and in 1846 moved with his parents to Syracuse to reside permanently. This was one year before Syracuse became a city, and in its growth he has played no uncertain nor hesitating part, always building with those other famous men who had real pride in home for the better and more beautiful city. The Leaches first lived in a house in East Willow street rented from Captain Cody. Mr. Leach's father died as the result of an accident in 1847. He was building a house and went to a lumberyard located where the old Greenway brewery stands to purchase some lumber. He made his purchase and loaded his lumber, when a plank blew upon him, dislocating his neck. After the death Mr. Leach settled upon the estate and finished the house in North Salina street, where the subject of this sketch has since lived.
Mr. Leach's first services in this city was as a clerk for Williams & Babcock, who kept a general store at the corner of Park and Salina streets,
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Thomas Jefferson Teach
where he received one hundred and fifty dollars a year for his services and boarded himself. Salt was the principal industry of the Salina end of the future Syracuse, and it was to salt that Mr. Leach directed his attention, and his first individual business enterprise. He purchased two salt blocks at the foot of Court street, with Edward B. Judson, long president of the First National Bank, and Coddington B. Williams. Mr. Leach ran these salt blocks two years and earned a salary of fifty dollars a year and board, for looking after and attending to the blocks.
Then began Mr. Leach's career as a banker, and there was no lower place for him to begin than that of clerk, running errands, serving notices and making himself generally useful at a very small salary. This was in 1850, and there were but three people in the historic old Bank of Salina, where he was first employed. Of the thirteen directors of that time and the numer- ous stockholders Mr. Leach is the only one living. The Bank of Salina was the leading financial institution of those days. David Munroe of Camillus was the president and Cornelius L. Alvord, brother of the late Lieutenant Governor Thomas G. Alvord, the cashier. At that time Salina and Syracuse were about even as regards the general value of business transacted. This was the period of Salina's greatest prosperity. Mr. Leach worked up in the bank, first as bookkeeper and then as teller, leaving the bank in 1859, one year before it was closed up.
When Mr. Leach left the Bank of Salina it was to accept the position of cashier of the Salt Springs Bank of Syracuse, which position he held for thirty-nine consecutive years. As a banker Mr. Leach has been conspicuously shrewd and successful, and to his knowledge of the financial work was due in large measure the conduct of the affairs of that well known bank. No banker stood higher in the confidence and esteem of his business associates and the financial world. Upon January 19, 1898, Mr. Leach was elected president of the Salt Springs Bank, which position he occupied for two years. At this time Mr. Leach was president of the Associated Banks of Syra- cuse, or the Clearing House Association. No other record for banking service made in Syracuse equals that of Mr. Leach, and he could rightfully lay claim to the distinction of being the oldest bank cashier and of having the longest continued service of any bank officer in the city.
Among the historic enterprises with which Mr. Leach was connected was the Salina & Central Square Plank Road Company, of which he was long secretary and treasurer beside being a trustee. This plank road com- pany was organized in 1844 to build the road from Salina to Central Square, a distance of seventeen and one-half miles. It was the first plank road ever built in the United States and is still in use between Salina and Cicero. Dirt and swamp roads, which were well nigh impassable, existed before the laying of this plank road, which immediately became a great boon to the farmers of the north. As a boy Mr. Leach brought loads of wheat from Brewerton
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Thomas Jefferson Leach
to the red mill in Syracuse, which stood on the site of the old high school building in West Genesee street. This plank road was one of the few enter- prises of the sort which remunerated the stockholders.
Besides being connected with many public enterprises, Mr. Leach is a director of the Onondaga Historical Association, a long-time member of the Citizens' Club, a trustee of the Oakwood Cemetery Association, director of Chilled Plow Company, trustee of the Onondaga Coarse Salt Association, president and trustee of the Salina Coarse Salt Company and trustee of the Salt Springs Solar Coarse Salt Company. He is a member of the May Memorial Church (Unitarian) and was long upon its board of trustees, and one time president of the board.
Mr. Leach retired from active business when he left the Salt Springs Bank, but still manages his own varied interests. Among the large estates of which he has been executor was that of William Kirkpatrick, who left many thousands for monuments in public parks. The burden of this work was cheerfully taken up by Mr. Leach, whose efforts have resulted in most artistic and lasting memorials.
In 1854 Mr. Leach married Miss Mary L. Williams, daughter of Benja- min F. Williams, of Salina. The marriage took place in the house in which Mr. Leach lives at the time of this writing. To Mr. and Mrs. Leach were born four children: Kate D., deceased; Lucia M., now Mrs. Charles M. Crouse, of this city; Belle Louise, who married Walter M. Woodward, of Albany, deceased; and Jennie Stewart, who died in infancy. Mrs. Leach died September 12, 1906.
Although Mr. Leach's banking career extended into the period of so-called "high finance," those conservative methods of which he had learned the value in more careful days were rigidly adhered to, and the spotless reputa- tion and confidence of the business world were never injured. Mr. Leach was of the "old school" in candor, courtesy and honesty. Such lives cause regret for the passing of the "old school" of gentlemen in business.
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4. W. Smith
H
URLBUT WILLIAM SMITH, youngest son of Lewis Stevens Smith and Eliza Ann (Hurlbut) Smith, was born at Center Lisle, Broome county, New York, June 24, 1865. He attended school there and in 1884 removed to Syracuse and took employment in the gun manufacturing plant conducted by L. C. Smith. As a young man Mr. Smith developed a fine ability for the handling of office detail and accounts and became treasurer of the first typewriter company established by L. C. Smith, continuing capably in that capacity until the organization of the L. C. Smith & Brothers Typewriter Company, of which he is treasurer. He also is treasurer of the United States Transportation Company, the L. C. Smith Transit Company, and American Transit Company ; secretary-treasurer of the Skahen Steel Company; president of the Austen Manufacturing Com- pany of Oswego, New York, manufacturers of perfumes; secretary of the Amphion Company, of Elbridge, New York, makers of automatic piano play- ers; and one of the proprietors of the Smith-Lee Company of Oneida. He is a director of the National Bank of Syracuse; director of the Syracuse Chamber of Commerce; trustee of the Hospital of the Good Shepherd; director of the Syracuse University Athletic Governing Board; and chairman of the Syracuse University Navy.
Outdoor sports in which Mr. Smith is particularly interested are auto- mobiling and trap shooting. He is president of the Automobile Club of Syracuse, member of the touring committee of the American Automobile Asso- ciation, and is president of the New York State Sportsman's Association. Among other clubs to which Mr. Smith belongs are the Citizens', Century and Heidelberg Clubs of Syracuse, the Onondaga Golf and Country Club, the Syracuse Yacht Club, the Masonic Temple Club, and the Masonic Temple Club Gun Club. He is a trustee of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. He is a thirty-second degree Mason, a member of the Grotto, a trustee of Ziyara Shriners Temple at Utica, New York, an Elk, a Knight of Pythias, and a member of the Royal Arcanum Council.
Mr. Smith in 1889 married Miss Mina R. Glazier, of Syracuse. Their handsome home in West Onondaga street is a popular meeting place for the younger members of Syracuse society.
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Maurice AGraves
Maurice A. Grabes
M AURICE A. GRAVES is numbered among those men whose retirement from business represents the success which has attended their efforts in earlier years in active business endeavors, enabling them to rise from a comparatively humble place to one of prominence in the business world. His keen discernment and marked enterprise have long been recognized as salient char- acteristics in his career and yet his life has never been narrowed by concentration of his energies upon one line of labor. On the contrary, he is known as a broad-minded, public-spirited man who has kept in touch with those concerns of vital interest to his city and state, laboring entirely for public progress in many ways and especially for the moral development of the community.
A native son of the Empire state, Maurice A. Graves was born in West- moreland, April 23, 1846, and is a representative of one of the old colonial families of English ancestry whose members at the ancestral home in Eng- land were connected with the royal army and navy. In colonial days a branch of the family was established in Connecticut about 1636 and Ben- jamin Graves, great-great-grandfather of Maurice A. Graves, imbued with the spirit of liberty which actuated the colonies in 1775, enlisted for service in the American Army with the Connecticut troops. He was one of the defenders of Fort Griswold at Gratton and was wounded at the massacre by the British under the traitor Arnold and soon after died of his wounds. His son, Benjamin Graves, who was then sixteen years of age, at once enlisted and served for six years, a defender of the rights for which the colonies were contending and which resulted in the establishment of the republic. His son, Benjamin Graves, wedded Mary Stark, a niece of the famous leader of the Vermont troops who rallied his forces to victory with the cry, "Boys, we win today or Mary Stark will be a widow tonight." Ben- jamin Graves removed from Connecticut to Westmoreland, Oneida county, New York, making the journey on foot. He soon returned to New England and with a yoke of oxen again traversed the district between his old Con- necticut home and Oneida county, where he settled at a very early period in its development. He made frequent trips to Salt Point when the site of Syracuse was largely a swamp. He served in the war of 1812. His death occurred March 23, 1868, when he was eighty-four years of age. His
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Maurice 2. Brabes
eight children included Abial S. Graves, who resided at Westmoreland dur- ing his active business career and afterward retired to Camden. He was a member of the Eighty-first New York Volunteer Infantry from July, 1862, until the close of the war of the Rebellion. His death occurred January 3, 1905, when he was eighty-three years old. He wedded Elizabeth Brockett, a daughter of Eli Brockett, who removed from Connecticut to Herkimer county, New York, served with the rank of captain at the battle of Sacketts Harbor in the war of 1812 and died in August, 1871, at the age of eighty-five years.
It will thus be seen that Maurice A. Graves is a representative of two of the oldest pioneer families of the Empire state. While spending his boyhood days in his parents' home he mastered the branches of learning taught in the public schools of his native town and in September, 1865, when a young man of nineteen years, he came to Syracuse to enjoy the better business opportunities offered in city life. His first position was that of bookkeeper in the old Fourth National Bank and when his connec- tion with that institution had covered three years he became bookkeeper for the wholesale tea and coffee house of F. H. Loomis, where he also remained for three years. He afterward occupied different responsible posi- tions and in 1879 became bookkeeper for John Crouse & Company, the largest wholesale grocery establishment in central New York. His ability being recognized, he was made financial manager after six months' connection with the house and given entire charge of the collecting department, filling that position until the firm went out of business in February, 1887. He continued as confidential man to John and D. Edgar Crouse until the death of the former on the 25th of June, 1889, and with the latter until his demise, November 10, 1892. In the meantime he closed up the estate of John J. Crouse, the business of John Crouse & Company and the estate of the late John Crouse, all involving extensive interests in Syracuse and elsewhere. By the terms of the will, he became one of the executors for D. Edgar Crouse and was largely engaged in settling up the estate in connection with Jacob A. Nottingham for several years thereafter. During his residence in Syra- cuse, as opportunity was offered he has become connected with various busi- ness enterprises. In 1892 he was active in organizing the Cosmopolitan Build- ing & Loan Association and from the beginning served as treasurer and director. He was also one of the projectors of the Manufacturers' Lloyds (fire insurance) of New York and in 1895 he purchased from the George F. Comstock estate the Comstock farm of one hundred and five acres, lying just east of the university, much of which he divided into building lots. This tract has since been greatly improved, making it one of the finest resi- dence districts of the city. It is known as University Heights and is one of the largest pieces of city real estate which one man alone ever attempted to develop. Here, in 1895, on the most elevated point of the tract, Mr. Graves erected a handsome residence, its attractive style of architecture making it
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Maurice A. Grabes
one of the most pleasing features in the landscape. A valuable library of about two thousand volumes indicates the literary taste of the owner, whose reading has covered an extensive range and made him the equal in mental culture of many who have had every opportunity for university education.
An important chapter in the life history of Mr. Graves covers his mili- tary service as a member of Company I, Eighty-first New York Volunteers, with which he continued from the 8th of September, 1862, until December, 1864. He was then transferred to Company I of the Tenth Veteran Reserve Corps, which was stationed in Washington during the last year of the Rebel- lion, guarding the White House, war department and other public buildings. Mr. Graves was present at the time of Abraham Lincoln's second inauguration and took an active part in the exciting scenes which followed the presi- dent's assassination. He has in his possession the drum that sounded the call for the first troops on that occasion and he also participated in the funeral obsequies and in other events, including the grand review, when he was stationed with his drum corps opposite the grand stand to salute the regimental colors as they passed. He was honorably discharged July 26, 1865, and since September of that year has resided in Syracuse.
On the 17th of January, 1872, Mr. Graves was married to Miss Chris- tina Reed, a daughter of Philetus Reed, of Syracuse, and they became the parents of a son and two daughters: Nathan R., Alice R., and Helen B. Mr. Graves and his family have been deeply and actively interested in church work in Syracuse. His efforts have been effective and far-reaching and have been characterized by the utmost zeal in his efforts for the upbuilding of the church and its kindred interests. For a long period he served as a deacon and trustee of the Dutch Reformed church in James street and for some time was engaged in Sunday school mission work in connection with the Young Men's Christian Association. About 1882 he was elected super- intendent of the Sunday school of Rose Hill Mission and served in that capac- ity for twelve years. Largely through his efforts, this mission, in 1886, was reorganized as the Westminster Presbyterian church and Mr. Graves was elected one of its first trustees, holding the position for some time. He has also long been an elder in the church and has cooperated in its various activities. He was for several years a member of Syracuse Presbytery and in 1894 was elected a delegate to the general assembly held at Saratoga. He is identified with the Citizens' Club; Post Root, G. A. R .; Masonic Club; Anglers Association; Syracuse Lodge, No. 501, F. & A. M .; Central City Chapter, R. A. M .; Central City Commandery, No. 25; Central City Consis- tory, S. P. R. S., Thirty-second degree; the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite; Ziyara Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine; and Kedar Kahn Grotto, No. 12, Veiled Prophets. All these indicate the nature of his interests aside from those already cited. Although retired from business, he stands today a strong man-strong in his honor and his good name and in what he has accomplished,
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Maurice A. Brabes
not only in the life of individual gain but for the benefit of his fellowmen, in whom his interest is deep and sincere. His record is one worthy of admira- tion and is considered one of the most valuable assets of contemporaneous history in Syracuse.
Famil Mathat
Daniel Ropes Lathrop
D ANIEL NOYES LATHROP, well known in commer- cial circles in Syracuse for many years, was born at South Montrose, Pennsylvania, September 9, 1835. He was but six years of age when his father, Daniel Lathrop, died and soon afterward the widowed mother brought her family to Syracuse, where her death occurred in 1873. Daniel N. Lathrop, entering the public schools, largely acquired his education in the old Putnam school but necessity urged his en- trance into business life when he was yet a young lad and he began providing for his own support as a clerk in the grocery store of O. S. Sumner at the corner of Warren and Fayette streets. On the 9th of September, 1852, he engaged with Ira H. Cobb, a dealer in crockery, at a salary of one hundred dollars per year. The value of his service, however, led to an increase in wages and he continued with Mr. Cobb until the 14th of May, 1856, when he began clerking for S. P. Pierce, with whose house he was long identified, continuing there up to the time of his enlistment for service in the Civil war and resuming his position after his return from the south.
Mr. Lathrop had some military experience ere he joined the volunteer army, for in 1856 he became a member of the Fifty-first Regiment, Davis Light Guards, under Captain Chandler, and in 1861 was commissioned second lieutenant, in 1862 as first lieutenant and in 1863 as captain. On the 5th of September, 1864, Mr. Lathrop enlisted from Onondaga county, having in connection with Lieutenant Theodore M. Barber raised Company D of the One Hundred and Eighty-fifth New York Volunteers. He was mustered into the United States service at Syracuse on the ISth of September, 1864, as captain of Company D with Colonel Edwin S. Jenney in command of the regiment and when the regiment was mustered out it was under com- mand of Colonel Gustavus Sniper. While at the front Captain Lathrop par- ticipated in the siege and assault on Petersburg and the battles of Poplar Grove Church, Burgess Farm, Hickford Raid and the engagements at Boydton Road, Hatchers Run, Watkins Farm, Quaker Road, Gravelly Run, Five Forks and the fall of Petersburg. He was also present at Appomattox when Gen- eral Lee surrendered and took part in a number of minor engagements and skirmishes. Captain Lathrop shared in all of the marches and military movements of his command until March 29, 1865, when he was severely
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Daniel Ropes Lathrop
wounded in an engagement on Quaker Road near Five Forks below Peters- burg. He was then taken to the hospital at City Point and subsequently, by order of General Grant, had his choice of going home or to the hospital at Washington and, being unfit for duty, after thirty days he was honorably discharged in June, 1865. On the day on which he was wounded their color sergeant was also wounded and the flag finally fell into the hands of William H. Tyler, of Captain Lathrop's company, who was instantly killed at the captain's side. Captain Lathrop then seized the colors and rallied the regiment and when he was wounded relinquished the flag to Colonel Gus- tavus Sniper, who led the troops to victory. For his acts of bravery in the face of the enemy Captain Lathrop was commissioned brevet major.
When the war was over and he had sufficiently regained his health Cap- tain Lathrop again entered the employ of S. P. Pierce, who was afterward succeeded by S. P. Pierce's Sons and for many years he remained buyer and business manager of the house. In this connection he became widely known in the commercial circles of Syracuse and central New York.
On the 3d of February, 1862, Captain Lathrop was married to Miss Harriet A. Litchfield, of Syracuse, and unto them were born five children: William A., born December 20, 1862; Jennie E., who was born January 6, 1866, and died May 4, 1884; Frank B., born July 21, 1870; Charles C., who was born May 27, 1872, and died January 15, 1895; and Harriet L., who was born September 7, 1878, and died the following day.
Captain Lathrop was very prominent in Masonic circles. He was for seventeen years secretary of Syracuse Lodge, No. 501, F. & A. M., was identi- fied with all the Central City bodies and became a thirty-second degree Mason. His political allegiance was always given to the republican party, which came into existence about the time that he attained his majority. He cast his first vote for John C. Fremont and in antebellum days was a stanch advocate for abolition principles and an active worker on the underground railroad. Ere Danforth was annexed to the city he served as treasurer of the village for eight years and in 1901 he was elected city assessor of Syra- cuse. The same loyalty which he displayed upon southern battlefields when he followed the old flag to victory was ever manifest in his life in days of peace. It was one of his strongly marked characteristics and was manifest as well in his business life, as was indicated by his long connection with one house. He enjoyed the full confidence of those whom he represented in com- mercial life and his ability in commercial lines contributed in large measure to the success of the company. He died on the 3d of September, 1906.
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