Herkimer County New York Family Sketches
Surnames O-R

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.

M. G. O'Brien Family Sketch

O'Brien, M. G., Ilion, was born in Troy, N. T., September 1, 1846, and after graduating at St. John's College, Fordham, N. T., he entered the wholesale grocery house of Knapp & Walradt in Troy. He afterwards was three years surveying for the Iron Moantam Railroad company in Missouri, Arkansas and Texas. In 1874 he located at Ilion, and was connected with the Remington armory for twelve years. In 1879 he established the insurance and real estate business, which he still successfully conducts. Was elected justice of the peace in 1880 for four years, and elected police justice in 1892. Mr. O'Brien is an earnest Republican in politics. He is executor for several estates and has a high reputation. In 188G Mr. O'Brien married Miss Nellie H. Ryan, of Ilion. They have two sons and one daughter.

Dr. B. Onuf Family Sketch

Onuf, Dr. B., Dolgeville, was born in Jennisseisk, Siberia, July 4, 1863. He was educated in the schools of Zurich, Switzerland, and graduated in medicine in 1884, after which he studied eye diseases eight months at the Eye Clinic, Zurich. The doctor was engaged in the practice of his profession for six years prior to coming to this country, being for two and a half years upon the staff of physicians attached to an insane asylum. After this he became physician on the Rotterdam Lloyd line of steamers in the East Indies, also on the Trans-Atlantic lines. In September of 1890 he settled in Dolgeville, where he is building up an extensive practice. The doctor's sister is a German teacher in the Dolgeville school and academy.

William Onyaus Family Sketch

Onyaus, William, German Flats, was born in England, November 20, 1832, and learned there the trade of gun barrel roller. He came to Springfield, Mass., in 1858, and during the war had charge of the rolling department of the government gun shops there. He came to the Remington gun works after, where he has been ever since. He is one of the most noted men in his line in the world. He was once sent to Liege, in Belgium, to superintend gun-making. Mr. Onyaus has been a Mason over thirty years and a Republican all his life. He married Harriet Langton and has a son, William Langton. Mr. Onyaus married second Adeline M., daughter of Charles Graham, of Whitesboro.

Josiah S. Osgood Family Sketch

Osgood, Josiah S., German Flats, was born in Mohawk, March 29, 1828, and was clerking in a grocery business when ten years old. He then went to New York and was in the hotel business for eight years. He returned to Mohawk and was in business for several years. In 1852 he took an interest in the Osgood House in Ilion, but in 1870 he gave up the business, since which time he has lived retired. He married Fannie Jones. His business operations were very successful, and he retired in 1870.

S. Osterhout Family Sketch

Osterhout, S., German Flats, was born in German Flats, October 1, 1845. He has been connected with farming nearly all his life and is now one of the prominent small fruit growers of the State. His father was Daniel Osterhout, and his grandfather, John, came from Germany. His grandfather, on his mother's side, was a Revolutionary soldier. In 1869 Mr. Osterhout married Abbie Sillinian, and they have two daughters, Mary and Kate. He grows about 50,000 quarts of strawberries annually.

Hugh R. Owens Family Sketch

Owens, Hugh R., Winfield, mason, contractor and builder, has erected some of the finest buildings in this vicinity, including the Baptist church of this place, the First National Bank at Richfield Springs, also a number of fine residences, among which is Cashier McKee's house, at the same place, and a number of residences of this and surrounding towns. He was born in Wales in 1851. In 1862 he commenced his apprenticeship, finished in 1866, and worked there then as superintendent on contracts for his father (Robert R. Owens), also a contractor and builder. April 6, 1869, Hugh R. came to America and settled in Fair Haven, Vt., where he engaged in the same business with his brother. In 1871 he came to Utica. In 1873 he went to Plainfield, and engaged in the same business there. In 1878 he settled in West Winfield, and has been in business here since that time. He married Katie Hughes, September 9, 1875, and they have two children: Fred T. and Herbert E. Mrs. Katie Owens is a daughter of Thomas Hughes, of Plainfield, Otsego county.

John Parkinson Family Sketch

Parkinson, John, of Fairfield, is a native of England, but has been in America since 1850. He was first employed as a farm hand but soon struck out for himself and with great succes. Today he owns a fine farm of 175 acres and thirty milk cows. He rents the farm out and lives in a snug house of his own in Fairfield village. Mr. Parkinson married Charlotte Herringshaw in 1843 and they have two children, George and Mrs. Alfred Childs.

William Peck Family Sketch

Peck, William, Manheim, was born in Manheim February 13, 1811. His ancestors are of New England descent, emigrating there from England, and of Revolutionary fame. Mr. Peck married Polly Silliman, and they have nine children, four sons and five daughters. Mrs. Peck died in 1890. Mr. Peck owns 1,500 acres of dairy land in Herkimer county, which is worked by tenants, besides owning other property. He has been a great traveler, having crossed the Atlantic forty-two times, and visited the principal cities and points of interest in France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Scotland, England, Ireland, Wales, Egypt and the Holy Land, and is thoroughly informed upon ancient history. He is a most entertaining conversationalist.

Roswell H. Popple Family Sketch

Popple, Roswell H., Russia, was born in Russia, October 29, 1845, a son of James, who was a son of William, a native of Rhode Island, born May 18, 1768. The latter married first, Rachael Frink, also a native of Rhode Island, by whom he had eight children: Zachariah, Daniel, Roswell, William, John, Amy, Lydia and Esther. Mr. Popple came to Russia about 1800 and settled one mile west of Grant, near the twin rock bridge. He was at one time assessor, and died in Russia, April 13, 1856. He was offered land where Utica now stands (then a vast swamp, with one log cabin on Corn Hill) at $2.50 per acre. His second marriage was with Catherine Tompkins, of Norway, by whom he had one child, James. His second wife died June 8, 1852. James Popple was born August 20, 1817, and his life was spent on the farm settled by his father. He married Ann Eliza Garlock, born in Montgomery county, March 9, 1816, a daughter of Philip Garlock. Their children were Ann Elizabeth, Emily, Matilda, Roswell II., Lydia, Louisa, William and Alma Eliza, all now living. Mr. Popple followed surveying for many years. In politics he was a Democrat, and for many years was assessor and constable. He died March 13, 1868, and his wife March 24, 1880. Roswell II. is a farmer, a Democrat, and one of the leaders of his party, always taking an active part in elections, and has been inspector, census enumerator, school trustee, and is now secretary of the Grange at Grant, No. 692. For the past five years he has been agent for Listers, of Newark, N. J., the largest manufacturers of fertilizers in the country. February 2, 1882, he married Diana (Rathbun) Gray, daughter of William Gray, an early settler of Remsen, Oneida county. Mr. Popple and wife had four children; Annie, Lydia, Willie and Charles. Annie, the only one living, was born June 17, 1883. July 2, 1889, Mrs Popple died, and July 30, 1890, he married second, Jennie, daughter of Caleb Nichols, a son of Morey Nichols, an early settler of Remsen. Caleb married Ellen Hughes, and had a son and a daughter. They live in Remsen. Mr. Popple is a Democrat and has been inspector of elections. He was drafted in the late war, but did not serve on account of disability. He is a member of Grange No. 692 of Grant. The father of the subject, James, was the mest reliable surveyor of these parts, and his lines and maps are now eagerly sought for.

George Adam Pross Family Sketch

Pross, Geo. Adam, Little Falls, was born in Germany October 7, 1835. He came to this country in 1854, and followed farming for twenty-two years. He had charge of the Fairfield road for seven years, then moved to Little Falls and has done jobbing and contracting since that time. He married Miss Caroline F. Shakinger, and has five children, four of whom are boys. Two of the boys are Pross Bros., grocers, Little Falls. Mr. Pross was overseer of the poor in Manheim for two years. He is a member of the Royal Templars of Temperance, Chosen 'Friends, E. P. M. A., Key Stone of Rochester, Reform Club, etc., and a substantial and esteemed citizen.

William H. Prowse Family Sketch

Prowse, Wm. H., Herkimer, senior member of the firm of Prowse & Thomson, dealers in drugs, hardware, etc., is a native of Troy, N. Y., but has lived all his life in Herkimer. He established the present business twenty-seven years ago in the present stand and the present partnership was formed in 1884. Mr. Prowse's father was an Englishman, and his mother was a native of Herkimer. He married Miss Emma Greene of Rome, N. Y., in 1867. Mr. Prowse is one of the enterprising and successful business men, and is a Mason, a member of the United Friends, and other societies. He has been actively engaged in the same business continuously longer than any other man in Herkimer.

P. Pryne, M.D. Family Sketch

Pryne, P., M. D., Herkimer. The Pryne family settled in Albany as early as 1661, and their descendants participated in the Revolution. Dr. P. Pryne's ancestors were Frans Jansen Pryne, who settled in Albany in 1661. Frans Pryne, jr., born in Albany September 23, 1683; David, Frans, jr's. son; Peter Pryne, David's son; then Frans P. Pryne, who was the father of the subject of this sketch. Dr. P. Pryne was born June 20, 1820, and educated at the schools of Rome and Frankfort. He commenced the study of his profession with Dr. Arba Blair, and continued with Dr. Doolittle. He graduated at Geneva Medical College in 1844, and commenced practice in Herkimer in 1845. Id 1860 he was appointed physician to Sing Sing prison and continued there until 1872, when he returned to Herkimer and practically retired from his profession. He has the finest private geological specimens in the country. He is quoted in English journals as an authority. He married for his first wife Miss Jane Byers, by whom he had two children. His second wife was Miss Mary C. Weber. They have no children. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity.