Our County and Its People
A Descriptive Work On Oneida County, NY
By Daniel E. Wager, 1896

Family Sketches for Oswego County, N. Y.

The following Sketches have been extracted from the above book, of those that contain names of individuals with ties/connections to Oswego County, NY. 
Below this list are several names with links to sketches of Ancestral Sightings.

ANNIS, ALBERT S., was born in Redfield, Oswego county, N.Y., March 16, 1855, son of Lury and Rebecca Brown Annis, who settled in Oneida county in 1862. Mr. and Mrs. Annis were the parents of nine children: Gardner C., deceased; John M., Volney P., Eleanor, Myron, Henry, Geraldine, Atwell, and Albert S. The latter married Mertie, daughter of John Auchard and a native of North Bay, and they are the parents of three children: Edith, Ola, and Lola. Albert has followed boat building and boating as an occupation. Mr. Annis belongs to Sylvan Beach I. O. O. F. Lodge No. 326, the F. & A. M., No. 440, of Vienna, and at present is master of the Lodge, and has also held the position of junior and senior warden. He was selected supervisor of the town March 3, 1896. (p. 21)*

AUSTIN, DAVID, was born in the town of Richfield, Oswego county, March 14, 1841, son of John Austin, who was born in Vermont, and came to this State when a boy with his parents, settling in Oswego county. When David Austin was two years of age, his father came to Oneida county, and settled in the town of Paris, from which they moved to Marshall, where they continued to reside. He married Lydia Galop of Oswego county, her father, Daniel Galop, being one of the pioneers from Connecticut. David Austin was educated in the district schools of Marshall, and the academy of this place. He has been a prosperous farmer in the town of Kirkland for about thirty-seven years, owning a farm of eighty-two acres. He married Mary Crane of Madison county, by whom he has three children: Norman J., Elmer C. and Edith. Mr. Austin was elected road commissioner in 1894, on the Republican ticket, for a period of two years. (p. 300)*

BAKER, A. E., was born at West Monroe, Oswego county, in 1838, son of Samuel P. Baker, one of the early settlers of Oswego county, who was originated from an old New England family, and was colonel of a militia regiment and justice of the peace for twenty years. A. E. Baker received his education at Mexico Academy. His first business was in 1862, when he came here with James Armstrong and established a knitting mill, which has proved a successful enterprise. In 1867, he married Cordelia, daughter of Capt. J. P. Richardson, the well-known provost-marshal of the early war days. They have two sons: Joseph Richardson and Edwin Carlos, both of whom are graduates of Hamilton College, and who are now reading law, with the intention of making it their chosen profession. (p. 75)*

BATES, CHARLES E., was born in the town of Westmoreland, Oneida county, N.Y., September 26, 1860. He was educated in the district schools, and is a farmer by occupation. October 8, 1881, he married Estella H. Elmer, of this town, by whom he had four children: Harvey, Elmer N., Bessie M., and Viola E. Mr. Bates's father, Harvey Bates, was born in Oswego, N.Y., in 1836. He was educated in the schools of that time, and always followed farming until he became an invalid. He married Julia Emory, of the town of Westmoreland, by whom he had four children: Ida A., Charles E., as above, Alma L., and Mary. Mr. Bates came to this county when a young man. He died March 12, 1893. Mrs. Bates's father, William Elmer, was born in Lewis county, N.Y., in 1824, where he was educated. He married Emily Brownell, of that county, by whom he had six children: George L., deceased, Luella, deceased, Jennie S., Louisa M., Estella H., as above, and William H. The family came to this county in 1865. Mr. Elmer died September 30, 1894, and his wife February 26, 1889. The ancestry of the family on the paternal side is Scotch, and on the maternal side, New England stock. (p. 328)*

BROWN, BRAYTON E., was born in the town of Fowler, St. Lawrence county, N.Y., October 7, 1864, received his education in Spragueville, and remained with his father on a dairy farm until the age of sixteen, when he accepted a clerkship with his uncle, Lester Munson, a general merchant in Sandy Creek. In 1882 he came to Utica and entered the employ of A.L. Owens, a wholesale milk dealer, with whom he remained four and one-half years. In December, 1886, he established himself in business as a wholesale and retail dealer in general dairy products and as a manufacturer of butter, etc. He is a member of Central City Lodge No. 68, I.O.O.F. (p. 346)*

CLARK, JOHN F., was born in the town of Florence, August 2, 1861. He was the son of Thomas Clark, who was born in Albany, July 4, 1835, and came to the town of Florence when one year old with his father, Mathew Clark, who was born in Ireland. It is said that the grandmother of our subject was the first Irish woman in the town of Florence. Thomas Clark, who was a farmer by occupation, and still resides in the town, married Rose Morris, of Ireland, and to them have been born nine children, six of whom are living; Peter, Mary, William, Lizzie, Fannie and John F. Peter and William are proprietors of the Grove Hotel; William is serving his third term as supervisor. The subject of our sketch, John F., was educated in the schools of Florence and for the past twelve years has been one of the leading merchants of the town, doing a general county business. In politics he is a Democrat. In 1888, he was elected supervisor and served three terms, was town clerk two years and is now serving as postmaster. In 1890, he married Anna C. Crowley of Oswego, a Normal School graduate, who was principal of the Florence village school for five years. Two children have been born to them, one of whom is living, Rose Marie. (p. 56)*

COMSTOCK, GASTIN E., was born in Williamstown, Oswego county, May 27, 1823, and was educated in the district schools of Williamstown and Florence after which he engaged in farming, which has been his principal occupation and now owns a farm of 260 acres in the town of Florence. He married Betsey, daughter of Oliver Davis, of Florence, by whom he had eleven children: Roxcy Ann, Herbert G., Perla E., Sylvester D., Ella A., Cora B., Iann A., Allace M., Caroline G. Henry O., Hattie. (p. 36)*

COMSTOCK, IRA MORRIS, was born at Salisbury, N.Y., January 1, 1856, son of Morris W. and Sarah (Rice) Comstock, and grandson of Ira Comstock, moving to Whitestown from Salisbury in April, 1866. With a preparatory education at Whitestown Seminary and Utica Business College, he began to read medicine in 1876 at Whitestown under Mm. M. James, M. D., of that place; attended three courses of lectures at the University of the City of New York, and was graduated February 18, 1879; also took post-graduate instruction at the same institution in 1880. On May 1, 1880, Dr. Comstock commenced the practice of medicine at New York Mills, and has made no change in location since. He is a member of the Oneida County Medical Society. He is visiting physician to Faxton Hospital; assistant surgeon Patriarchs Militant; member of the I. O. O. F.; Oriental Lodge, No. 224, F. & A. M., Utica, N.Y.; of the League of American Wheelmen; and of the Order of United Friends and A.O,U.W.; also medical examiner for several life insurance companies. April 7, 1880, he married Emma L. Bartlett, of Williamstown, by whom he had four children: Morris W., May Asenath, Aletha Emma, and Charles Ward. (p. 270)*

COOPER, HENRY H., son of Samuel and Keziah (Nicol) Cooper and senior member of the wholesale clothing firm of H. H, Cooper & Co., was born in London, England, April 5, 1840, and came with his parents to Quebec, Canada, in 1845. Later the family moved to Oswego, N.Y., where he completed his education. In 1857 he went to Detroit, Mich. and with Joseph Yates engaged in the clothing business conducted as a branch of the firm of C. A. Yates & Co., of Utica. In 1859 he came to Utica and entered the parent house as a salesman. In 1863 he became bookkeeper and salesman for H. J. Wood & Co., wholesale clothiers, and was admitted to an interest in the business in 1866. In 1871 he organized the firm of which he was the head and which is now continued as H. H. Cooper & Co. This concern employs about 700 hands, manufactures and wholesales clothing, and enjoys a trade extending throughout the Northern States. Mr. Cooper is a trustee of the Utica Savings Bank and vice-president of the board of trustees of the Westminster Presbyterian church. (p. 193-194)*

CRANDALL, J. WELLS, was born in Kirkland, Oneida county, N.Y., December 21, 1826, and when seven years of age removed with his parents to Oswego county, where he was educated in the public schools. He has had numerous occupations, mostly farming, until he retired in 1883. He came to Fish Creek in 1883 and erected a fine residence, finishing it in January, 1885. In 1851 he married Cynthia Luke, of Amboy, Oswego county, N.Y., who died July 22, 1884. For his second wife he married Mrs. Lurana M. (Potter) Babcock, of West Monroe. She had three children by her first marriage: Willis G. Babcock, a physician, with a drug store and practice in Cleveland, Oswego county; Alice V. and Gracia R. Babcock, who died at the age of twenty-one years. Mr. Crandall's father, Daniel Crandall, was born in Brookfield, N.Y., was educated there, and was a blacksmith by occupation, conducting a business in Kirkland. He married Martha Wells, by whom he had eight children: Daniel, Pattie, Horace, William, Warren, J. Wells, Charles, and Fannie; only three of them are now living. Mr. Crandall died at the age of sixty-one, and his wife at the age of eight-one years. The family is of New England Stock. (p. 308-309)* 

CRIPPIN, A. E., was born in Decatur, Otsego county, December 13, 1861, son of George and Catherine Crippin. Mr. Crippin was educated in the schools of Otsego and Oneida counties, after which he entered the employ of the New York Mills Manufacturing Company, and is now overseer of the weaving department of No. 2 mill. In 1837 he married Miss Lucy Harington of Kasoag, Oswego county, he is a member of Schuyler Lodge No. 147, I. O. O; F., and Samuel Campbell Council No. 1090, Royal Arcanum; in politics he is a staunch Republican. (p. 257)*

DAVIS, PRATT M., was born in Deerfield, N.Y., December 8, 1849, oldest son of John H. and Ellen M. (Smith) David, natives of Deerfield. The grandparents, Rowland and Margaret (Roberts) Davis, were natives of Wales, and came to America about 1817, settling near Deerfield Corners. Mr. Davis died in 1853, and Mrs. Davis in 1846. The great-grandfather of Pratt M., Jonathan Davis, was a miller and conducted a large grist mill in Wales. In early life John H. Davis was engaged in general mercantile business at Deerfield. This he gave up and engaged in farming until his death in September, 1885, at the age of sixty-four years. Mrs. Davis is still living and resides on the farm. Pratt M. was reared on the farm, and has always been engaged in farming. He conducts the home farm of 110 acres, and also has fifty acres of his own on which he resides. December 3, 1890, he married Mary A., daughter of Charles S. and Mary (Jones) Balcom of Redfield, Oswego county, by whom he has three children: Ella I., born Marcy 10, 1892; Charles R., born September 28, 1893, and Alta Mary, born April 4, 1895. (p. 56)*

GREENE, ALBERT W., M.D., was born in Northamptonshire, Eng., February 26, 1833, son of William and Sophia Greene, natives of that country, and who came to this country when Albert was three years of age, and settled in Fulton, Oswego county, N.Y. William Greene served during the Rebellion in the 147th N. Y. Infantry, participating in many of the important battles of the war. Nathaniel Greene, his uncle, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and at its close settled in Savannah, Georgia; and his grandson was a classmate of Dr. Greene in the medical college. In 1865 Dr. Greene moved to Palermo, Oswego county, and in 1871 was graduated from the Mexico Academy. That same fall he entered Syracuse University, remaining at that institution two years. He subsequently engaged in teaching, an occupation he pursued through seventeen consecutive terms. In 1861 he entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Baltimore, graduating in 1884, and being appointed to a position in the Maryland Woman's Hospital, remained in that position one year. Dr. Green then returned to Palermo and established himself in the practice of his profession, where he built up a very lucrative practice, remaining there until 1894. At that time his health became impaired, so that he retired for a time, and in the fall of 1894 he removed to Oneida Castle, and at once entered upon a successful practice. Dr. Greene while in Palermo was active in the Republican politics of the county, serving three years each as member of the county committee, and the Second Assembly district. In the spring of 1895 he was elected president of the village of Oneida Castle, and is now surgeon of the West Shore Railroad. He married for his first wife, Flora Cross, by whom he had three children: Ralph R., Ray E., and Nina G. His present wife is Carrie E. Snell, by whom he has one daughter, Edna. (p. 163)* 

HAINAULT, REV. FRANCIS J., was born in the city of Oswego, N.Y., August 15, 1855, one of five children of Francis and Helen (Slaven) Hainault, who were natives of Canada, and came to the United States about 1850. Francis J. attended St. Mary's Parochial School, where he began the foundation of his educational life, and afterwards the public schools of Oswego. On account of the closing of the High School in 1872 he became a student of Falley Seminary, Fulton, N.Y., from which he graduated in classics and sciences. From L'Assomption College, near Montreal, he graduated in philosophy at the head of his class in 1875, and was ordained to the priesthood in the Grand Seminary of Montreal, Laval University, on December 21, 1878, receiving the degree of S. T. B. He has filled many prominent charges, among which having been chaplain of prominent Onondaga county institutions, and has been rector of St. Patrick's church, Taberg, N.Y., nearly twelve years. (p. 108)*

HALSTEAD, CHARLES N., was born in Redfield, Oswego county, March 19, 1852, son of Henry and Amelia (Nettleton) Halstead. Henry came here with his father, Timothy, when four years of age, in 1798 or 1799, and settled near McConnellsville. Mr. and Mrs. Henry N. Halstead's children were Henry J., Martha L., Charles N., Frank H., and three deceased. Timothy was in the Revolutionary war three or four years, and Henry served in the war of 1812. Timothy Halstead was the third settler in town, coming from Connecticut to the town of Trenton and from there to Vienna. (p. 14)*

HEATH, WILLIAM, was born in Corsham, Wiltshire, England, September 4, 1818, came to America in 1842, and settled in Rome, Oneida county, where he entered the employ of Merrill & Hayden, druggists and grocers. In the spring of 1845 he came to Utica and was employed in the soap and candle establishment of Thorn & Maynard. In the fall of 1849 he went to Oswego and engaged in business under the firm name of Heath & Powers, which later became Heath, Powers & Co. They carried on a large soap and candle business which was four years later sold to W. K. Powers. Mr. Heath returned to Utica and joined the firm of Maynard & Wright. Mr. Wright subsequently retired and the firm continued as Maynard, Heath & Co., for four years. He then joined in business with J. Touender & Co., under the firm name of Heath & Touender, which continued until about 1885, when he retired to private life. He is a director in the Utica City National Bank and was a ruling elder of the First Presbyterian church and for several years has been one of its trustees. In June, 1851, he married Mary Cornelia Husted, of Clyde, N.Y., who bore him one child, Mary Louisa, wife of Dr. Earl D. Fuller, of Utica. Mrs. Heath died October 20, 1856, and he married second, July 26, 1859, Julia Northrop, daughter of Clark Northrop, of Utica, a descendant of an old New England family of Rhode Island. They have two children: Julia M. (Mrs. John Heath), of Leadville, Col., and Florence A. Utica. (p. 194-195)*

HENDERSON, W.H., was born at Richland, Oswego county, in 1839. During early life he was engaged in farming in the vicinity of his birthplace, and after a tour of the far west, including four years in Northern Dakota, he purchased the Chapman Hotel property at Washington Mills. In 1861 he married Frances Menter, of Richland, N.Y. His father, David Henderson, formerly conducted a hotel at Richland, N.Y. (p. 337)*

KENYON, DR. O. S., was born in the town of Lee, September 20, 1836, son of Joseph Kenyon, who was also born in Lee.  The ancestors came here from Connecticut when the town was a wilderness, and took up farming.  O. S. Kenyon is one of three children from the union of Joseph Kenyon and Julia Douglas, daughter of Dr. S. Douglas, Sandy Creek, N.Y., with whom our subject began the study of medicine.  He has been in practice and also ran a drug store in Taberg since 1868, twenty-eight years.  He married Elizabeth J. Barton of Annsville.  Under the administration of Grant and Hayes Dr. Kenyon was postmaster in Taberg from 1873 to 1881. (p.21)* 

KILTS, JACOB, was born in Ava, N.Y., September 5, 1829, son of Jacob and Elizabeth (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 cabinetmaker. He died in 1872, and Mrs. Kilts in 1874. Jacob Kilts, jr., worked for 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 seven years. (p. 50)*

LEETE, PELATIAH W., was born in Guilford, New Haven county, Conn., May 4, 1815, and came to Verona, N.Y., with his parents when three years of age. He was educated in the public schools, and in early life was a boat builder. He is a natural mathematician, and his main business is that of a civil engineer and surveyor. He has served the town of Vienna as justice of the peace and school commissioner. He has been married twice, first in 1846, to Elizabeth Fuller, and they had one son, Pelatiah W., jr., who is a resident of Sioux City, Iowa. Mrs. Leete died in 1855 and he married for his second wife, Jennie E. Gardner, of the town of Amboy, Oswego county, in 1870, by whom he had one son, Arthur L. Mrs. Leete is station agent, telegraph operator, and express agent at West Vienna, for the past seven years, on the Ontario and Western Railway. This old family is of New England stock, and dates back to England to 1639. William Leete was the first of the family in this country; he became governor of New Haven colony, and when Hartford and New Haven united, was governor of the State of Connecticut which position he held when he died. Mr. Leete is the fifth of the name of Pelatiah, his son the sixth, and his grandson the seventh. (p. 261)*

MAXSON, DR. SANDS CARR, son of John C. and Harriet A. (Rogers) Maxson, was born in Preston, Chenango county, August 6, 1848. His parents moved to Utica about 1890 and died here--the mother in August, 1893, and the father October 1, 1894. Dr. Maxson was reared on a farm and received a public school education in his native town. He took a course in Oxford Academy in Chenango county, read medicine with Dr. S. F. McFarland, of Oxford, now of Binghamton, and was graduated as M. D. from the medical department of the University of the City of New York in 1871. He began the practice of medicine in Leonardsville, Madison county, and except three years spent in De Ruyter continued there successfully for fifteen years. In 1884-85 he took a post-graduate course in diseases of the eye and ear in the Post-Graduate School in New York city and afterward remained for two summers and one winter as instructor, practicing also in the hospitals of the city and being clinical assistant in the Manhatten Eye and Ear Hospital and the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary. In 1886 he came to Utica, where he has become prominent as a specialist in the treatment of diseases of the eye and ear. As an oculist and aurist he has been eminently successful. Dr. Maxson is a member of the Oneida County Medical Society and at present its delegate to the New York State Medical Society, and a member and the president of the Utica Medical Library Association, and was a member of the Eighth International Ophthalmological Congress held In Edinburgh, Scotland, in August, 1894. He was a member of the staff of St. Luke's Hospital for four years and since 1891 has served as eye and ear surgeon to St. Elizabeth's Hospital. He is also a member of Faxton Lodge, F. & A. M. In January, 1872, he married Fanny Estella, daughter of William Munger, of Palermo, Oswego county, and their children are Emma P. (who died April 7, 1885, aged thirteen), Hattie Ivaloo, and Ethel Eola. (p. 186)*

MERRITT, REV. GEORGE, was born at Barrington, Ill., July 15, 1855, son of Mark Merritt, who was born at Hastings-on-the-Sea, England, July 4, 1810, and at twelve years of age went to sea as a sailor, which he followed for twenty years; then emigrating to Chicago, where he engaged as first mate on a boat running on Lake Michigan. After three years he abandoned this and removed to Barrington, Ill., where he purchased a farm and devoted some time to agriculture. After ten years he sold the farm and returned to Chicago, where he engaged in the manufacture of iron and continued in that until incapacitated for work. He died April 1, 1873. June 21, 1844, he married Ann M. Wynd, of Chicago, Ill., who was a native of Scotland, born January 14, 1817, and she died at Chicago, June 14, 1872. George Merritt was graduated from the public school and high school of Chicago, and then entered the Northwestern University, remaining six years, graduating in 1880 in the classical course, and in 1882 in the theological department. His first charge as minister was at Maple Park near Chicago, Ill., and after six months removed to Minnesota, having pastorates at Jackson, Hester, Ortonville, Ada. and Little Falls, successively. In 1867 he was transferred to the Northern New York Conference, and stationed at Oswego Center for one and one-half years. His next charge was at Trenton, N.Y., for two years, and then at Taberg, N.Y., for three years, and finally at Oriskany Falls in 1894. June 13, 1889, he married Mary J. Gormley, of Oswego, a graduate of the Chautauqua University, by whom he has one daughter, Ruth B., born April 6, 1890. (p. 287-288)*

MOREHOUSE, HON. GEORGE C., was born in Fairfield, Herkimer county, N.Y., May 14, 1846. His father, James L., a teacher, died in Oswego county in 1860; the death of his mother, Emeline Crane, a teacher of music in the old Fairfield Seminary, occurred in Herkimer county in 1888. Judge Morehouse was educated in the public schools of Brooklyn, where his parents lived several years. He also attended Falley Seminary in Fulton and the State Normal School at Oswego, and was graduated as B. S. from Cornell University in 1873. In 1874 he came to Utica and read law with Hon. William J. Bacon and H. P. MacKoon, later with Hon. William B. Sutton, and in 1875 received the degree of LL.B. from Hamilton College, being admitted to the bar at Clinton in May of that year. He began the practice of his profession in Utica as managing clerk for Mr. Sutton, and in 1876-77 became his partner under the firm name of Sutton & Morehouse. This continued until 1885-86, when the partnership was dissolved. Judge Morehouse practiced alone until March, 1892, when he was elected city judge which office he held until April 1, 1896. He then resumed the practice of his profession. He has been an active Republican, and served two years as supervisor of the Eleventh ward. He is a member and past master of Oriental Lodge No. 224, F. & A. M., a member and a trustee of Oneida Chapter No. 57, R. A. M., and a member of Utica Commandery No. 3, K. T., and the Scottish Rite bodies, 32d degree, Northern jurisdiction. He is also a member of Fort Schuyler Council, R. A., and Oneida Lodge No. 70, I. O. O. F. In 1877 he married Eugenia M., daughter of Henry Miller, of Trenton, N.Y., who died in 1879. In 1888 he married Mary, daughter of Charles Breen, of Trenton, and they have three sons, Lawrence, Merwin and Russell. (p. 244-245)*

NICHOLS, GEORGE A., was born in Kirkland, February 26, 18-5, on the homestead which was cleared by his ancestors, and has been handed down for five generations. His great-grandfather, Jacob Nichols, purchased this property at a low figure, and he could have purchased the land at the same price where the village of Clinton now stands. His father, Cyrus Nichols, married Mary, daughter of Capt. Chester Parmelee, who served in the war of 1812, by whom he had three sons: C.P., R.L., and George A.  George A. Nichols was educated in the district schools, and is owner of the farm purchased by his father in 1860, and where his father died in 1891. He married Sarah Armstrong of this town, who died December 16, 1890. He married for his second wife Mrs. Flora Searles, of New Haven, Oswego county, widow of Herbert Searles. She had one daughter, Lena, who was married to Wm. C. Burhans, of Oswego county, January 23, 1895. (p. 82)*

PARKS, PERRY, was born on the farm he now owns in the town of Camden, March 14, 1842, son of Marshall F. Parks, who was born in Connecticut. Marshall F. came to Camden in an early day and took up the farm now owned by his son Perry, which consisted of 200 acres, about 125 acres of which were improved. He married Eliza Hall of Connecticut, whose parents were among the first settlers of Oswego county, by whom he had six children: Daniel, Joshua, Hannah, Sarah, Perry and Clara, only four of whom are now living. Perry Parks was educated in the town of Camden, and is now engaged in farming on the old homestead. He married Ella, daughter of Henry Hall, of Annsville, by whom he had one son, Charles, who resides on the farm with his parents. (P.44)*

PARSELL, CHARLES D., was born in Western, December 8, 1858, son of Alanson and Mary A. (Bullock) Parsell; the former was born in Ulster county, N. Y., in 1815, and came with his father to Parish, Oswego county, N.Y., in 1824, and the latter in Norway, Herkimer county, N. Y., in 1825. About 1837, Mr. Parsell settled in Western, where he worked at the carpenter and joiner trade until his death, January 31, 1892. He was twice married, and his first wife was Eliza Shott, by whom he had two children: Martha (Mrs. Silas Ball), and Parisade (Mrs. Russell M. Frazer). His second wife was Mary A. Bullock, by whom he had two children, of whom our subject is the only survivor. Charles D. was reared in Western, and educated in the common schools, Rome Academy and Holland Patent High School. For seventeen winters, he taught school and worked at the carpenter trade with his father in the summer, and since 1882, has been engaged in the manufacture of cheese, averaging about 100,000 lbs. annually. November 22, 1882, he married Lizzie A., daughter of Owen D. and Eleanor (Jones) Jones, of Lee, by whom he has three children: Bessie A., Anson Dudley, and John C. (p. 47)*

PEPPER, EDWIN J., was born in Oswego county, N.Y., February 3, 1845. He married Nancy, a daughter of Thomas and Nancy (Lewis) Paul, by whom he has four children: Cora E., wife of Fred Wickham, Roscoe H., Bertha H., and Arthur M., all natives of Floyd. He studied law in Cape Vincent, N.Y., and which, at the present time, he practices in the justice court of the county; although his chief occupation has been farming. He enlisted August 24, 1863, in Co. G, 20th N.Y. Cav., and was mustered out July 31, 1865, and served as a non-commissioned officer. He belongs to Post Hunt, No. 510 of Holland Patent, and has been commander and junior vice-commander of the same. He is the present justice of the peace and has held most of the elective offices of the town. He is trustee of the Floyd Methodist Episcopal Church and contributed liberally at the rebuilding of the same. (p. 46)*

REESE, O. W., was born in Herkimer county, N.Y., February 1, 1835, son of Moses and Phoebe (Lewis) Reese. Moses Reese was born in Frankfort, Herkimer county, where he was engaged in farming and building, during his lifetime. He died in Rome, 1880, in his seventy-eighth year. Mrs. Reese, his wife, died in the fall of 1884 in her seventy-fourth year. O. W. Reese was educated in Utica, then went to Schuyler, and from there settled in Westmoreland in the spring of 1860. He married Sarah Parks of Herkimer county, by whom he has seven children: Cora A., Mildred E., Georgiana, Willie O., James L., Clarence E., and Lottie Reese. Mildred E. is married and lives in Redfield, Oswego county. Mr. Reese and family are members of the Baptist church of Westmoreland. (p. 291)*

SEAMAN, JEROME M., was born in Oswego, N.Y., in 1846, and is a much esteemed citizen of New Hartford, where he has been a resident for twenty-five years. After acquiring his education at the Dwight & Holbrook Seminary in Clinton, N.Y. he resided with his parents at Clark's Mills, where his father, Hicks Seaman, was superintendent of the Clark's Mills Cotton Manufactory for twenty-five years. In 1862 he went to the war and enlisted as a private in the 146th Regt. N.Y. State Volunteers of Infantry, and by his valiant service and faithfulness he was commissioned by Gov. Horatio Seymour as second lieutenant of Co. G of that regiment, and afterwards he was again commissioned by Gov. R. E. Fenton as first lieutenant of the same company, and at the close of the Rebellion he returned with his company as its acting captain. Although he was present with his company in every battle in which his regiment was engaged from the time of his enlistment he was never wounded or imprisoned. Previous to his residence here he was employed in the cotton mills at Oriskany, which engagement he entered upon after he returned from the war. He has been superintendent of the weaving department of the New Hartford Cotton Manufacturing Company since his residence here and has held the office of trustee of the village several terms, and was president of the village from March, 1891, to March, 1896. In 1871 he married Anna Elizabeth Reilly of this place. They are worthy and efficient members of St. John's Catholic church of the village and took an active part in founding and organizing its congregation. (p. 161)*

SEYMOUR, HENRY A., was born in the town of Redfield, Oswego county. His father, Alphonso H. Seymour, was born in the same town and county, and is a miller by trade, and is now manufacturing shingles in the State of Washington. He married Sarah Allen, by whom he had four children: William, Ella, Bertie, and Henry A., who has conducted a tannery in Florence for thirteen years, in which he is still engaged, making a rough upper leather, and is a thorough business man in this line. He married Olive, daughter of the late William Graves. (p. 29)*

SPENCER, LYMAN C., second son of James D. Spencer, was born in West Monroe, Oswego county, N.Y., March 17, 1841, and came with his parents to Sylvan Beach when he was two years old. His education was received in the public schools, and his early life was spent on his father's farm. He erected the first hotel on Wood Creek outlet on Oneida Lake, on the Vienna side of the creek (it is now known as the Forest Home), which he conducted seventeen years, but it is now conducted by his son-in-law, Frederick B. Randall, of Oneida, Madison county. The Spencer family have done much towards the growth and prosperity of Sylvan Beach. September 2, 1865, Mr. Spencer married Marian Keohane, who was born in England, by whom he had four children: Alice E., Lillian F., L. May, and L. Ernst. Alice E. married Frederick B. Randall, of Oneida, N.Y., and they have four children: Lyman F., Harriet M., Spencer B., and Marian A. Mrs. Spencer's father, James Keohane, was born in England. He married Marian Scammel, of London, England, by whom he had nine children: P. Henry, Marian E., Peter, Nellie, Catherine, Anna C., Eliza, John D., and Theresa. Mr. Koehane died September 2, 1867. Mr. Spencer is a member of Sylvan Beach Lodge, No. 326, I. O. O. F., of which he has been treasurer four years. (p. 89)*

SPENCER, REUBEN J., oldest son of James D. Spencer, was born in West Monroe, Oswego county, N.Y., August 27, 1838, and came to this town with his parents when about four years of age. He was educated in the public schools, and is a real estate dealer, and assists his father in superintending and developing the same at Sylvan Beach and vicinity. April 27, 1864, he married Amy Maxfield, of this locality, by whom he had one son, James D., who died in infancy. Mrs. Spencer died in 1883, and November 5, 1890, he married for his second wife Inez E. Poppleton, of this town, by whom he had one daughter, Ada M., born April 10, 1892. Mr. Spencer is a member of Sylvan Beach Lodge No. 326, I. O. O. F., and has also been president of the village since it was incorporated in 1887. Mrs. Spencer's father, James Poppleton was born in this town in 1822. He was educated in the district schools, and was a farmer by occupation and later a grocery merchant. He married Mary Kelly, of this town, by whom he had three children: Ada E., Inez E., and John F. Mr. Poppleton died in 1856, and Mrs. Poppleton married Newton Poppleton, and they had two children: Mary E., and Matilda. Mrs. Poppleton died in 1890. (p. 89-90)*

STONE, WALTER C., was born in the town of Mexico, Oswego county, N.Y., December 27, 1847, the oldest son of Benjamin S. Stone, who was born in Vermont and came to Mexico in 1825, where he has been engaged in the hardware trade for many years. Mr. Benjamin S. Stone is now at the head of the firm of B.S. Stone & Co. Walter C. was educated in the Mexico Academy, from which he was graduated in 1867. He has been engaged in the newspaper business for about twenty-five years; He purchased the Canastota Herald in 1871, which he edited until 1873, when he came to Camden and established the Advance, a local paper in that village. Since 1878 he has also conducted a stationery and book store. In 1872 Mr. Stone married Sarah C. Hosley, of Canastota, by whom he had four children: Benjamin H., Ralph W., Robert C., and Bessie. Benjamin H. is in business with his father. Mr. Stone is secretary of the Camden Opera House Company, has been a member of the Board of Education and is now serving his third term as city father. He is a member of the K. of P. and the Royal Arcanum. (p. 28)*

STEVENS, FRANKLIN, was born in Camden, Oneida county, N.Y., August 18, 1813. He obtained his education in the district schools and has since been engaged in many occupations. He was a merchant in Cleveland, Oswego county, N.Y., during the war. He has had much experience as a hotel man and has conducted the Lake Beach Hotel at Sylvan Beach, N.Y., for the past thirteen years. In 1834 he married Mary R. Potter, of his native place, by whom he had three children: Ellen, who married C. C. Cady, now of Boston, Mass.; Welthena, who is at home; and one deceased. Mr. Stevens's father, William, was born in Connecticut and came to this State when a young man. He married Marinda Pond, of Camden, N.Y., by whom he had five children: Henry, Menzo, Franklin, Gilbert, and Welthena. Mr. Stevens was town clerk of Cleveland for one year. (p. 258)*

STORM, ARTHUR C., born August 30, 1872, in Florence, Oneida county, is a son of William J. Storm, who was born there in 1820. William J. is a retired merchant, and has served as postmaster, town clerk, etc. He married Sarah McFern, and their children are Andrew J., of Watertown; Lincoln A., of Utica, Lucy (Mrs. H. S. Owens), of Williamstown, Oswego county; Lina (Mrs. Fred Osborne), of Camden; Lizzie, of Florence; and Arthur C., of Utica. Arthur C. Storm was educated in the public and high schools of Florence and was graduated from the Rochester Business University in 1890. He was bookkeeper and manager for John F. Clark, general merchant of Florence, till the spring of 1893, when he came to Utica and started his present business as a dealer in groceries and provisions. In 1896 he built a commodious block on the corner of Bleeker and Milgate streets. He is a member of Skenandoa Lodge, I. O. O. F. (p. 218-219)* 

TAFT, GEORGE H., was born in Oswego county, son of Nathaniel and Lydia (Simpson) Taft. He enlisted in 1862, in Co. A., 110th N.Y. Vols., and served until the end of the war. He served in the Nineteenth Army Corps under General Bands, and after the war he took up his trade as builder and mason, which he has followed ever since. In 1872, he came to Waterville, and with his brother did a great deal of important building all over the county, including the opera house and Ayers blocks at Earlville, the opera house at New Berlin, N.Y., and the County Home at Rome, etc. He is a prominent Grand Army man, and is a Royal Arch Mason. He has been commander of the post eight years, and trustee of the village of Waterville. Alphonse Taft, secretary of state under Garfield, was a member of the family. In 1868, he married Helen M. Peaslee, by whom he has two children: Fred P., and Vira. Fred P. Taft is a physician in Rothsay, Minn. (p. 79-80)*

TOWSLEY, DR. WILLIAM DEALTON, was born in Oneida county, December 14, 1856. In 1857, his parents moved to Sandy Creek, Oswego county, N.Y., where he spent his boyhood days on the farm and attended the district schools and later became a pupil in the Union High School of Sandy Creek, where he remained one year, and then entered Pulaski Academy, where he spent three years. After teaching school two winters at Port Ontario, N.Y., he entered the office of Dr. Frank S. Low, of Pulaski and began the study of medicine. In 1878, he entered the University of New York City, from which he was graduated with honors March 8, 1881, and began practicing at South Richland, N.Y. In the spring of 1887, he located in the thriving village of Camden, where two years later he erected a fine residence at No.135 Main Street. In June, 1881, he was elected a member of the Oswego County Medical Society, and in 1887, a member of the Oneida County Medical Society. While a resident of South Richland, he was postmaster and coroner of the county. April 27, 1881, he married Jennie, the only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Nelson Calkins, of Dexter, Jefferson county, and they have one daughter. Dr. and Mrs. Towsley have been members of the Methodist church for many years. (p. 61)*

WALTERS, JAMES N., was born in Russia, Herkimer county, November 27, 1824, son of William and Fannie Walters, whose children were: James N., David A., Susan Smith (deceased), Celia Newman, William W., and Irwin M., all natives of Herkimer county. James N. married Mary E., daughter of Frederick E. Kiesinger, of Oswego, by whom he has two children: William J., of Guthrie, O. T., and Charles F. of Prospect, N.Y. James N. started for himself as a millwright in Pearl Mills of Oswego in 1847. In 1848 he built the lumber mills of Hinkley and Ballou at Hinkley, N.Y. and at its completion assumed the position of superintendent, which position he held until 1890, since which time he has lived retired at Prospect, N.Y. He is actively interested in the town and county affairs, has held the office of postmaster many years, and was elected supervisor of Russia, Herkimer county, in 1866, 1867, 1868 and 1869. (p. 35)*

WHEELER, FRANK E., is the only son of Russel Wheeler, who was born in Rome, N.Y., August 7, 1820, and died in Utica January 5, 1895. George Wheeler, father of Russel, was born in Glastonbury, Conn., in February, 1791, came to Oneida county with his father, and died on the homestead near Rome September 2, 1882. He had one daughter and seven sons, of whom Russel was the third. Russel Wheeler came to Utica in 1838 and entered the hardware store of John Mairs, where he remained four years. In 1842 he became bookkeeper for Joel C. Bailey, who had just purchased the Chester Dexter foundry on Columbia street. In 1844 he formed a partnership with Mr. Bailey, as Bailey, Wheeler & Co., which continued until 1855, when Mr. Wheeler bought his senior partner's interest. In 1865 he secured that of S. Alonzo Bailey and in 1887 he took his son, Frank E., into the business; two years later Francis Kernan, jr., became a partner, but on January 1, 1890, the Wheelers again became sole owners, the firm name being Russel Wheeler & Son. They manufacture stoves, furnaces, heaters, etc., and employ from 150 to 200 men. Mr. Wheeler was alderman in 1849-1850, a director in the Oneida National Bank, a trustee of the Savings Bank of Utica, for many years vice-president of the Utica Steam Cotton Mills, the Globe Woolen Mills, the Utica Willowvale Bleaching Works, and the Utica and Black River Railroad Company. He was also for many years a trustee of Colgate University. He was an extensive traveler, a man of unswerving integrity, and an influential, respected citizen. August 5, 1845, he married Amanda, daughter of Joel C. Bailey, of Utica, who died at Saratoga Springs, N.Y., August 29, 1884, leaving one son, Frank E., who was born in Utica in 1853. November 10, 1887, Mr. Wheeler married, second, Mrs. Katharine K. Anderson, of New York. Frank Wheeler was graduated from Yale College in 1876, and for several years has managed the business of the firm. In 1878 he married Louise Vanette, daughter of Hon. Cheney Ames, of Oswego, N.Y. (p. 369-370)*

WHITE, I. J., was born in Oneida county, N.Y., May 2, 1846, a son of the late Israel White, who was born in the town of Western, Oneida county, N.Y. Israel White came to the town of Annsville when twenty-two years of age. He married Abigail F. Taft, by whom he had six children. His ancestors came from Massachusetts. I. J. White was educated in Annsville and the Whitestown Seminary. He then followed farming until 1887, at which time he entered into partnership with Frank White, establishing a corn canning factory at Blossvale. They continued in partnership until January, 1895, since which time I. J. White has conducted the business alone. He also owns and conducts a general merchandise store in Blossvale, and owns a factory at Williamstown, Owsego county, N.Y. Mr. White is now erecting a hotel at Blossvale, which will contain twenty rooms, and will also run a livery. He married Etta O., daughter of James Ellis, of the town of Annsville, by whom he has two children: I. G. and Abigail O. Mr. White was supervisor of the town in 1882-83 and was elected member of assembly in 1885. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity. (p. 33)*

WILSON, CHARLES M., was born in New York Mills, January 25, 1849, son of Matthew, a native of Glasgow, Scotland, and Annie (Young) Wilson, a native of Paisley, Scotland. Charles M. attended the public school of New York Mills, and then entered the mills in 1859. He has been engaged with the New York Mills Company ever since, having served during the administration of three generations, and in nearly every department of the several mills of the company. In the lower or No. 1 Mill he started the first loom, and he also started the first Lyall positive motion loom in the No. 3 Mill. He is at present assistant superintendent of the No. 2 Mill. Mr. Wilson married Irene Comstock of Williamstown, Oswego county, N.Y., by whom he has two sons, Charles Herbert, and Edward Comstock Wilson. He is an ardent and influential Republican, but has always declined to become a candidate for political office, though he has served nine years as a trustee of the school. He is a member of Oriental Lodge No. 224; Oneida Chapter No. 57, F. & A. M; and Utica Commandery No.3. (p. 120)*
 

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, Town of Oconomowoc, 
WAUKESHA COUNTY, WISCONSIN 
US GenWeb Wisconsin
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For more information on the names listed below, please see the website link below.  http://www.linkstothepast.com/waukesha/biosoconomowoc.html

GEORGE W. FULMER, born in Oswego Co., N. Y. 
GEORGE L. KERN, married to Miss Phebe A. Goodell, Co., a native of Fulton, 
Oswego Co. N. Y.
GEORGE VILAS, born at Oswego, Oswego Co., N. Y.
LOUISE C. WILLIAMS, her mother, Phebe Miller, was born in Oswego County, N. Y.
 

"THE BOOK OF DETROITERS
A Biographical Dictionary of 
Leading Living Men of the City of Detroit"
USGENNET American History and Genealogy Project
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For more information on the name listed below, please see the website link below.  http://www.usgennet.org/usa/mi/county/tuscola/det/detshe-sim.htm*

SHEEHY, George Beatty, born, Oswego, N.Y.