Herkimer County New York Family Sketches
Surnames C-D
Transcribed by Jeffrey Tooley
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Herkimer County New York Family Sketches extracted from the History of Herkimer County, New York, by Hardin, George Anson, 1893
Frank E. Carden Family Sketch
Carden, Frank E, Little Falls, was born in Little Falls, December 5, 1866. He received a good education, after which he clerked for several years and railroaded. On March 15, 1889, he and his brother, Harry Garden, bought out the bottling establishment of Smith & Collins, since which time they have most successfully conducted the business under the firm nam« of Garden Brothers. They are equal owners in the establishment, and are both energetic and enterprising young business men. They employ men and run teams and deliver the bottled goods all over Herkimer county.
Thomas G. Carran Family Sketch
Carran, Thomas G., Litchfield, was born in this town and owns a dairy farm of 160 acres. He was collector of the town in 1874. He is a son of Henry and Philenda Carran, who had four children, of whom two are living: Thomas G. and Mary E. Two died: Francis M., who enlisted in Company B., 121st New York Volunteers. He was first corporal of his company, he was wounded in the battle of Chancellorsville May 3, 1863, and died in the hospital June 5, 1863. The other son was William H., who died September 16, 1874, in his twenty-eighth year. He was educated at the Winfield Academy, read law with R. 0. Jones, of Utica, and was admitted to the bar. After that he taught the Boonville Union school nearly three years, and then went to New York city, in practice first with the Gazzan Collection Company, after which he formed a co-partnarship with Mallory & Ritler, which firm existed until his death. The father, Henry Carrau, was a native of the Isle of Man, and came to this town and settled near Cedar Lake, about 1830. He died December 1, 1852, in California, aged about thirty four years, after being there only ten days. The mother, Philender Carran, was a native of this town, having been born on the same farm where the son and daughter now live. She was a daughter of Thomas Goodier, a son of Rev. Aaron Goodier.
Henry Caruthers Family Sketch
Caruthers, Henry, Russia, was born in Russia, N. Y., November 12, 1824, a son of William, a son of Henry, a native of Scotland, who married Jane Davidson and had one son, William. In 1818 Mr. Caruthere and family came to America and settled in Russia, where he erected a log house and there resided until his death in 1852. His wife died in 1838. William Caruthers married Margaret Smith, a native of Scotland, by whom he had six sons and three daughters. He was assessor and commissioner of highways. He died in 1875, aged seventy-two, and his wife in 1869, aged sixty-seven. Henry Caruthers married Cynthia H. Woodin, by whom he had four children; Elma S., deceased; Frank W.; Retta M., deceased; Libbie J. Frank is with his parents and Libbie is Mrs. Heidel and resides in Los Angeles, Cal. Mr. Caruthers owns a farm of 250 acres and keeps a large dairy. He is a Republican. He and family are Free Will Baptists. The father of Mrs. Caruthers was Isaac J., a son of Isaac Wooden, a native of New Haven, Conn., who came to Russia about 1813, where he died April 13, 1841. His wife was Rebecca Micks, by whom he had three sons and three daughters. She died July 29, 1852. Isaac Wooden, jr., was born in Connecticut in 1795. When eighteen years of age he came with his parents to Russia. His wife was Sylvia Cory, a native of Russia, by whom he had five children He was captain of militia, and died September 24, 1881, at the age of eighty-five.
John L. Cary Family Sketch
Cary, John L., German Flats was born in 1830 and has lived in Mohawk forty years. He was for many years a heavy shipper of grain from Buffalo to New York. When thirty-eight years of age he married Miss Mary Kirkland, and they have three sons, Samuel, assistant superintendent of the Erie canal for Herkimer county; Charles Floyd, mail clerk on the New York Central; and George B., who lives in Chicago. Mr. Gary's father, Samuel, was a native of Oneida county and his grandfather also Samuel, came from New Hampshire.
B. P. Casler family Sketch
Casler, B. P., Little Falls, although a young man, is one of the leading merchants of Little Falls. He is a native of this town, and ever since the age of thirteen has been connected with the dry goods business. He was with Burch & Co. for eight years, and then formed a partnership with J. H. Casler six years ago. Their business is one of the largest and best in the place. Mr. Casler is a member of the Royal Arcanum, the Red Men and Odd Fellows, and is a member of the Presbyterian church. In politics he is a Democrat. The Casler family is one of the oldest and best known in Herkimer county, several of the Caslers of a century ago having taken a prominent part in the Revolution. Mr. Casler married Anna L. Chester of this town.
George H. Casler Family Sketch
Geo. H. Casler, Warren, was born June 5, 1835, in the town of Warren, and is a son of Adam Casler, whose father was also Adam, a pioneer of Minden, Montgomery county. Adam, jr., was born October 30, 1802, and after his marriage came to Warren, where he lived until a few years before his death. Then he went to Columbia, where he died October 24, 1863. His wife was Barbara Snyder, who was born October 26, 1803, and died April 22, 1872, at the home of her son, George H. She bore him ten children: Lucinda, born August 26, 1824; Catherine, born June 12, 1826; Almira, born June 30, 1828; Charity, born August 9, 1830; Betey M., born June 21, 1833 (died at the age of two years); George H., born June 5, 1835; Diana, born March 25, 1836; James M., born March 20, 1838; Julia, born February 16, 1840 (died in childhood); Mary J., born December 4, 1842 (died at the age of eight years). Geo. H. Casler at the age of nine, was bound out to Geo. M. Cleeland, until twenty-one, for $150 and schooling. He worked out by the month until married and then rented farms on shares until 1867, when he bought one hundred acres where he now lives. He now owns three hundred acres. He is a Republican and has held the office of collector for one year and poormaster for thirteen years, of which he is now servmg. He married, November 2, 1856, Betsey, daughter of Isaac and Leah (Bronner) Maxfield, and has had three children: Myron J., born November 8, 1858, and married first, Libbie Shaver, who bore him two children, Willie and Georgie, and second, married Alice Guyer, who bore him one child, Edna Blanche. Charles E. was born December 81, 1860. He married Estella Ecker, who bore him two children, Ray and Lee, and Libbie Leah, born May 15, 1869.
Philo W. Casler family Sketch
Casler, Philo W., Little Falls, was born in Brooklyn, N. Y. He received his education in the Polytechnic Institution there, and in 1873 started a produce business in New York city. After five years successful operations in this line he came to Little Falls and inaugurated his extensive brickyards and lumber business, in which he furnished constant employment to about twenty-five hands and five teams. Mr. Casler was elected master of the County Grange in January of this present year. He lives on a valuable farm one and a half miles south of the village. Mr. Casler's wife was Mrs. Martha Hopson, of Salisbury Center, by whom he has had two children.
Byron E. Chapman Family Sketch
Chapman, Byron E., Little Falls, was born in Little Falls August 21, 1854. He received his education in the academy of this village, after which he was for eight years an assistant in the Little Falls post-office. Immediately after severing his connection with this department, he established in August, 1872, his pressent lucrative news and stationery business. Mr. Chapman married Hattie A. De Witt, of Chittenango, and they have two children. Mr. Chapman's ancestry is New England, the record of the family dating beyond Revolutionary times.
John Chester Family Sketch
Chester, John, Little Falls, was born in Aberdeen, Scotland. Early in life he was a flour miller, serving as foreman in the Buxburn Flouring Mills of Aberdeen. He came to this country when twenty-three years of age and engaged in paper-making in Little Falls. After seven years he left this business to engage with the Saxony Knitting Company, with whom he remained twenty-one years, holding the position of overseer of spinning. On June 23, 1892, he left the mill and bought his present meat and provision business. Mr. Chester is a Mason, Knight of Honor, etc. He is now member of the board of education for some time, and has served the village as trustee. He is also a stockholder and member of the Little Falls Co-operative Association. His wife was Margaret Byron of Little Falls, by whom he has had twelve children, eight of whom are living.
W. Christman Family Sketch
Christman, W., Herkimer, is a native of this country and was engaged m farming for many years. Then he followed the trade of carpenter and mason for some time, and then took up shoemaking which he still follows. In 1858 he married Miss Helen E. Petrie. and they have seven children living, three sons and four daughters. Two of the daughters are married, one being the wife of Victor Barnes, and the other H. L. McKeever. There have now been six generations of this family in this county and the name is a well-known one in this part of the State.
Henry Churchill Family Sketch
Churchill, Henry, Herkimer, is a native of New Tork, and took a university course at Yale College, graduating with honors. In 1866 he came to Herkimer from Gloversville and entered into the manufacture of paper with his brother-in-law, the Hon. Warner Miller. He has since that date given the greater part of his time to the prosecution of his manufacturing enterprise, but is also president of the First National Bank of Herkimer, in which he takes a great interest and just pride.
Henry Clive Family Sketch
Clive, Henry, German Flats, is a native of England, and traces his ancestry to the celebrated Lord Clive. He was born February 11, 1844, and came to America in 1864. He has been in the Armory for many years and is a Mason, and a member of the United Friends. In 1861 Mr. Clive married Emma Wall and they have ten children. The Olives were among the first gunmakers of England.
Stephen Clive Family Sketch
Clive, Stephen, German Flats, was born in Birmingham, Eng., June 20, 1840. He came to America in 1863. In 1852 be began to learn barrel making and was a master mechanic in this line when he came to this country. He started to work in this country in Trenton, but went to Yonkers in 1864 to make carbines for the government. He next went to work in New York in sporting goods; then to the Winchester Arms Company, and finally came to the Remington Armory in June, 18G7. He contracts for boring and straightening the gun barrels. Mr. Clive is a prominent Mason. In 1858 he married Catharine Jones and they have three children. Mrs. C. A. Hollenbeck, Albert A. and Alice M. Clive, having lost two grown up sons, Gilbert E. in 1890 and Stephen A. m 1891. Mr. Clive's father was Stephen Clive and his grandfather was Benjamin Clive, one of four brothers, leading gun makers of Birmingham, Eng. Mr. Clive was the first person of his name to settle in America.
Anson G. Cloyes Family Sketch
Cloyes, Anson G., Frankfort, was born in Frankfort August 3, 1844, he being one of eight children of Silas and Abigail W. (Brown) Cloyes. His grandfather was Luther Cloyes, who was born in Framingham, Mass., and settled here in early life. Anson C, the youngest son, married in 1869, Adelia N. Harvey, by whom he had five children: Jessie E. (deceased), Gilbert S., Ada L., Homer E. and Bessie M. (deceased); the mother died when they were young. He later married Mary E. Fish of Utica, by whom he had one son. Mr. Cloyes is an enterprising farmer, his farm buildings being notable for their size, number and convenience, one barn being 119x 45 feet. He has recently built a horse barn 60 x 40 feet with all the modern conveniences, an ice house with a capacity of 200 tons, a tool house 36 x 22 feet, a piggery 25 x 20 feet, a poultry house, etc. He has a dairy of fifty cows, producing on the average 300 lbs. of butter per week. A fine creamery is soon to be built. His farm consists of 275 acres, which is beautifully situated, overlooking the city of Utica and commanding an extended view of the Mohawk and Sauquoit valleys.
Henry R. Coe Family Sketch
Coe, Henry R., Middleville, came from Connecticut with his wife, Lydia, a daughter of Thomas J. Sturgis, about the year 1837. Their children were as follows: Helen Alexander, wife of Herman Alexander; Louise, wife of James Morris; and Albert S., all residents of Middleville. He worked for Smith & Stow as foreman in their chair factory for a number of years, when he purchased an interest in same, which he continued until his death. May 2, 1875. He was an active Democrat, and held the office of justice of the peace. His wife is still living at the age of seventy-five years. His son, Albert S., was educated in the school at Middleville, and at the age of fifteen entered the employ of V. S. Kenyon as clerk, continuing for two years. He then bought a half interest in the chair manufactory of his father, which he continued until the latter's death. In 1887 he commenced the letail furniture business, also undertaking, which he has since followed. He married, February 25, 1875, Ida L., daughter of Anson and Laura Morey. She died in May, 1882, and he married second, Hattie Crossett, by whom he had five children: Lena L., May E., Bessie, Charlie, who died December 19, 1891, aged two years and four months; and Hazel. Mr. Coe is a Democrat, having been justice of the peace and justice of sessions, which latter position he now holds. He was charter member of the Royal Arcanum Council 1335, of which he has been treasurer since its organization.
E. J. Coffin Family Sketch
Coffin, E. J., Little Falls, attorney at law. was born in Herkimer, of English and Irish parentage, in 1847. He received his education at Whitestown Academy. After graduation he took a short course in engineering, and in this capacity assisted in the Morristown extension of the Utica and Black River Railroad. After the completion of this road he entered the law office of Hon. A. M. Mills, of Herkimer. He was admitted to the bar June 13, 1879. He then entered the office of Judge Hardin, justice of the Supreme Court, with whom he remained three years, since which time he has been actively engaged in the practice of his profession. He has served one term as corporation attorney of the village of Little Falls.
Truman Cole Family Sketch
Cole, Truman, Fairfield, one of the enterprising young men of Herkimer county, is a native of Fairfield, and a son of Justice A Cole. He manages 213 acres of dairy farm, and a herd of forty-five cows. He was educated at Fairfield and Fort Plain, and then spent two years in the study of law in the office of Mills & Palmer, Little Falls. He then took up farming, which he has successfully followed. Mr. Cole is a broad-minded man, and is held in much esteem. He is at present one of the assessors of Fairfield, and is a member of the Grange and of the Grange Mercantile Association of Little Falls.
Dennis Collins Family Sketch
Collins, Dennis, grocer, of Little Falls, is a native of Ireland, but came to America in 1848 when quite young, and his life affords a fine example of the success that inevitably results from the union of ability and honorable methods. He began life as a clerk, and now owns the fine Collins block opposite the Metropolitan Hotel, and the block in which Pepper's and Williams' stores are located, besides bank stock and stock in the Superior Furnace Company. He began his present business in 1867. In 1865 he was town collector. In 1868 he married Margaret Hearn, and they have six children. Mr. Collins is treasurer of the Little Falls branch of ihe Irish National League and is a Republican in politics.
Henry C. Cooper Family Sketch
Cooper, Henry C, Norway, was born in Cold Brook, Herkimer county, February 6, 1828. His father, Charles Cooper, emigrated from Tolland county. Conn., with his father, Sylvanus Cooper, and mother, Mary Meacham Cooper, two brothers, Wm. G. and Anson, and two sisters, Rosannah and Roxana, and settled in the town of Russia about 1816. Rosannah and Roxana both died of consumption in Cold Brook in early womanhood. William G. married Eunice Congdon, emigrated to Port Leyden, Lewis county, raised a family of six children, three sons and three daughters, where he died aged eighty-two. Anson married Esther Hall, moved to North Bay, Oneida county. His children, one son and four daughters, still reside there. He died in North Bay aged seventy-seven. Sylvanus Cooper died in Cold Brook in 1861, at the age of eighty-four. His wife, Mary, also died there, aged seventy-six. Charles Cooper married Margaret Thompson, the daughter of Hugh and Elizabeth Thompson. Charles Cooper was a mason and farmer by occupation. He died in Cold Brook, July 6, 1889. His wife survives, aged eighty-nine Hugh Thompson was a native of Ireland and emigrated to this country before the adoption of the constitution, was mnrried at Schenectady, resided for a few years at Johnstown, moved from there to Russia in 1806, where he died in 1848, aged eighty-three. His wife, Elizabeth, survived him several years, dying at the age of eighty-six. His family consisted of eight children: five sons, William, John, Jessie, Henry and Archibald; three daughters, Jennett, Jemima and Margaret, all of whom are dead except the latter. The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm and educated in the common and select schools of his native town and Fairfield Academy. At the age of seventeen he commenced teaching school and followed that three years. May 4, 1854 he married Jane M. Richards, who bore him five children: Wendell P.; Adalbert R., who died at the age of fourteen; Lillie, who died in infancy; Etta M., and Charles W. Mr. Cooper is a farmer by occupation. Early in life he was a Garrisonian Abolitionist and when the Republican party was organized united with that party and remained with them until 1868. In 1872 he voted for Horace Greeley, in 1876 for Peter Cooper, in 1880 he was presidential elector for Weaver, in 1884 and 1888 and 1892 he voted the Democratic tickets. He has held numerous town offices. He resided in Russia until 1859 when he went to Norway where he has since resided.
Otis N. Crandall Family Sketch
Crandall, Otis N., Winfield, was born in Independence, Allegany county, October 27, 1825, and came to this town with his father. Almond Crandall, who was born July 11, 1801, a son of Col. Nathaniel Crandall, who was born August 9, 1771, in Massachusetts, and settled in Winfield before 1800. He died October 31, 1838. His wife, Olive Grey, was born July 1, 1776, and died November 3, 1838. Their son Almond died December 17, 1876. His wife was Lorinda Cook, born September 6, 1803, and died August 9, 1871. Her father, Otis Cook, was born October 26, 1769, and died June 2, 1856, aged eighty-six years. Otis Crandall married Flora F. McKee October 7, 1858. She is a daughter of Samuel McKee, of Winfield, and they have three children: May C, Almond and Myron M. died August 9, 1871. Her father, Otis Cook, was born October 26, 1769, and died June 2, 1856, aged eighty-six years. Otis Crandall married Flora F. McKee October 7, 1858. She is a daughter of Samuel McKee, of Winfield, and they have three children: May C, Almond and Myron M.
John B. Croak Family Sketch
Croak, John B., Winfield, was born in Carlow county, Ireland, August 13, 1838. He came to Frankfort in 1848 and to Winfield in 1852, where he worked at farming until 1856, and since that at mason work until December, 1863, when he went to Washington in the quartermaster's department, remaining there until the spring of 1864. He was drafted in the fall of 1863 and paid $300 commutation. In the spring of 1864 he returned to Winfield and worked at his trade in that town, and Rome, Utica and other places as a contractor and builder, and did quite an extensive business. In 1885 he was appointed postmaster of West Winfield, which he held until June, 1889, when he returned to his trade He married Nancy Rice in 1869, and they have four children: William T., George H., Maggie and Julia. John B. Croak is a son of Martin and Margaret (Maher) Croak (both deceased), The former died in Dakota, and the latter died on the ocean of cholera, June 23, 1848.
Cornelius Cronkhite family Sketch
Cronkhite, Cornelius, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, came from Dutchess county, N, Y., in 1786, and purchased for one hundred pounds a tract of land from the Abraham Lansing patent. He lived here improving his land and following agricultural pursuits until his death. He was the father of six children, three sons and three daughters. He was succeeded by his two sons, Henry G. Cronkhite and John C. Cronkhite, Henry C. Cronkhite, the father of James H. Cronkhite, receiving for his share 109 acres, to which he added 18 acres. Henry C. was drafted in the war of 1812 and served by sending a substitute in Sackett's Harbor. James H. Cronkhite was born February 11, 1823, and succeeded to 127 acres of land, to which he has added 75 acres of beautiful dairy land adjacent to the village of Minden. He married Miss Margaret Moyer of this town and they have had three children, two of whom survive, one son and one daughter. Mr. Cronkhite has served twenty-one years successively as justice of the peace. At the present writing he has retired from active agricultural pursuits.
Jonas Cronkhite Family Sketch
Cronkhite, Jonas, Danube, was born November 12, 1836. He succeeded to the old homestead upon which his grandfather Cornelius settled in 1786. This was originally part of the Lansing patent. Cornelius, upon his death, left the land to his son, John C. Cronkhite, father of Jonas, to whom it descended. The farm contains 118 acres of fine dairy land, upon which Mr. Cronkhite has erected a magnificent residence. He married Ann McKenzie, and they have one son, Grant J., who married Kitty Seeber, and they have one son, Ralph. Jonas Cronkhite has served as inspector of elections, commissioner of highways, etc.
George Fenner Crumby Family Sketch
Crumby, George Fenner, Newport, was born in Newport, September 14, 18 —, a son of David and Julia E. Fenner. David D. was born at Troy, N. Y., March 13, 1816, and settled in the town of Norway when two years of age, with his parents. Here he lived until the age of thirty. He was a merchant at Norway and Newport until 1859, when he moved to St. Paul, Minn., and was engaged in the livery business for eight years. He then returned to Newport and followed farming and milling until his death, March 31, 1889. His marriage occurred May 17, 1852. His two girls were George F., born September 14, 1855, and Charles B., who was born September 17, 1866, a graduate of the Eastman Business College, and one of the promising young men of the day. George F. attended the public schools at Newport until sixteen years of age, when he entered Fairfield Seminary, from which he graduated in 1874. He was valedictorian of his class. He then taught school at Dansville, N. Y., for one year, when he entered Hamilton College and graduated in 1879 as valedictorian of his class. He was admitted to the bar and commenced practicing in New York city. After several months he returned to Little Falls and formed a co-partnership with R. H. Smith. In 1882 he entered into partnership with Hadley W. Jones, which lasted until his death, July 27, 1887, aged thirty-one years. He was school commissioner in 1881, and that same year received the nomination for assembly on the Democratic ticket. He was president of the village of Little Falls at his death. October 4, 1882, he married Lillian Gardrer, and they had two children, Bessie and Mabel.
Daniel F. Cunningham Family Sketch
Cunningham, Daniel F., Little Falls, one of the youngest but most enterprising business men of Little Falls, is a native of Ireland, but has been in America since 1881, and during these eleven years he has been wonderfully prosperous, the result of enterprise, industry and superior abilities. His business in groceries, shoes and meats occupies three stores on Ann street, and is fully stocked. Mr. Cunningham is a member of the Hibernian Society, and is a prominent Democrat, having been secretary of the local organization here. In October, 1887, he married Jennie McGurt, of Little Falls. He is highly regarded in the social and commercial circles of Little Falls.
Thomas Cunningham Family Sketch
Cunningham, Thomas, Mohawk, was born in New York city June 7, 1829, and has been a resident of Mohawk since 1834, then called Bennett's Corners. He has been engaged in the mercantile business all his life up to 1889, when he was appointed postmaster of Mohawk by President Harrison. He is a Mason, a member of Utica Commandery, and an elder in the Reformed church. He is also a member of the Oneida Historical Society and the American Numismatic and Archaeological Society of New York. He was married in 1856 to Miss Celestia E. Chase, of Mohawk. They have had five children; four are living, three daughters and one son: Mrs. M. J. Wightman, Margaret A., Katharine C, and Andrew D., the latter of whom is a civil engineer. He is a graduate from the United States Naval School at Annapohs, Md., and the Troy Polytechnic. Mr. Cunningham is quite an antiquarian and has a valuable collection.