Stories in Stones: Stories from Oneida County, NY Cemeteries

       Robert S. Bice was born August 12, 1835 in Burne, Schoharie, NY. The family came to Utica two years later. After leaving school he worked in a farm in Marcy, NY. He worked as a farmer for about four years. When he was about 17 he moved to New York City and got a job on a merchant vessel that want around the world, the trip lasted about two years.     When the Civil War broke out Robert S. Bice enlisted in the Navy. He was on vessels on the North Atlantic blockading squadron including the Princeton and North Carolina. He was injured at Fort Fisher was confined to the naval hospitals in Norfolk and Brooklyn.     At the close of the war Robert S. Bice purchased a farm in Whitesboro, which he farmed for four years. He then was in charge of Gilmore's wood yard in Utica for another four years. He later purchased the Lakeview House at North Oneida Lake which he run for another four years. In 1879 he entered the real estate business from ...

    Walter Jerome Green was born October 10, 1842 in Hubbardsville, NY to Charles and Mary Jane Hubbard Green. He attended Cazenovia Academy and Madison University. Walter graduated from Albany University with a law degree in 1864. He only practiced law two years before he joined his father as a partner in his bank which soon changed its name to Charles Green and Son. An important department within the bank was the hop trade. It soon became one of the largest hop dealers in the United States.     Walter Jerome Green got involved in a railroad project in Florida which became known as Jacksonville, St. Augustine and Halifax River Railroad. He became president and sole owner. After it was constructed it shortened the time of transport for oranges between the east coast of Florida and New York by some eight days.     In 1867, Walter Jerome Green married Sarah K. Swartout. They had a son Walter Jr. who was born in 1874 (he became a prominent banker and work...

       Arthur W. Soper was born on July 16, 1838 in Rome, NY to Albert and Esther Soper. He got his education at Rome Academy. When he was 17 Arthur went to work in his father's lumber business. In 1858 he left that business and went to work at the freight offices of the Rome, Watertown and Ogdenburg Railroad. He advanced rapidly and when he left in 1871 he was Assistant Superintendent. He left to accept a similar position with the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railroad. A year later he became Superintendent and later General Superintendent and then General Manager.      In conjunction with George M. Pullman and others Arthur W. Soper organized the Pintsch Compressing Company and the Safety Car Heating and Lighting Company.      Arthur W. Soper was also director of the Citizen's Insurance Company and the Wheeling and Lake Erie Railroad Company. He was a member of a number of clubs and groups including: Union League, New...

      Dr. Theodore Dimon was born in Fairfield Connecticut on September 19, 1816 to Ebenezer and Mary Sherwood Hinmen. He graduated from Yale in 1835. In 1838, he received his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania. He practiced for a year in Stockbridge Mass, he then moved to Utica where he spent a year before moving to Auburn, NY. In 1844 he returned to Utica.     In 1849 Dr. Dimon went as a surgeon of the first company who went to California to search for gold. While in California he was elected president of the San Francisco medical society.       He returned from California in 1853 and settled again in Auburn. For a number of years he was physician at the state prison in Auburn. He resigned in 1861 to join the army. He was surgeon of the 19th New York Regiment which later became the 3rd NY artillery. While at in Newbern, N.C. he was detached and became surgeon of 2nd Maryland regiment which he remained with during t...

      Theodore Williams Dimon was born July 6, 1844 in Utica to Dr. Theodore and Sarah Watson Williams Dimon. The family moved to Auburn, NY in 1852.       Early in the Civil War Theodore W. Dimon accepted an appointment to a position in the State Department under Secretary William Seward (also of Auburn). He resigned his position in 1873. During his last year in Washington he formed a friendship with the Japanese minister Mr. Mori. Mr. Mori offered him a position in the Japanese State Department which he accepted. He went to Japan with Mr. Mori. During their trip there they stopped off in Europe to study military organization of several countries. Sadly soon after their arrival in Japan and before his work there was began Mr. Dimon fall ill and had to return to America. He returned to Auburn in 1874.      Theodore Williams Dimon's  health approved enough that he was appointed to a consulship at Valencia, Spain. That winte...

           George D. Dimon was born March 29, 1848 in Utica to Dr. Theodore and Sarah Watson Williams Dimon. He attended schools in Auburn, NY. When he was 15 he obtained a job at a bank in Auburn, when he moved back to Utica he was able to secure a position at the Oneida National Bank. After being a teller for 15 years he left the bank and entered onto the manufacturing business under the name of Dimon and Disbraw. It only lasted a few years and after the business dissolved he returned to the Bank as discount clerk. In 1890 he had to retire because of ill health. After his retirement he worked as an expert accountant.     George D. Dimon was involved in local organizations. He was president of the Oneida Historical Society (now the Oneida County History Center). He was also president of the Homestead Aid association. Mr. Dimon was also treasurer of the Utica and Mohawk Railroad Company. He was a member of the sons of the revolution.  ...

       Adolphus Irving Simmons was born July 22, 1829 in the town of Marshall, Oneida County, NY. He came from old New England Families. Five of his ancestors came over in the Mayflower. On July 2, 1852 he married Ann R. Budlong (who was born in 1832 to David and Margaret Budlong in the town of Paris). They had six children They moved to Utica in 1861.      Mr. Simmons worked for various firms before starting his own in 1872 as an architect. He drew the plans for many prominent buildings in the county including the jails in Utica and Rome. He retired in 1900.      The Simmons were active members of Westminster Presbyterian Church. Ann was a worker in its Dorcas Society and its Missionary Society. Their pastor Rev. J. Howard Hobbs paid her a fine tribute at the time of her death:     "Few will realize the splendid benevolence of this fine woman, nor will many know of the far-reaching charitable work she has accomp...