Stories in Stones: Stories from Oneida County, NY Cemeteries

      W. Fred Allen was born Sept 1, 1847 to Benjamin Allen. W. Fred left Utica Free Academy in 1865 to work for his father's stone and sidewalk business. In 1868, he became a member of the firm.     W. Fred Allen was director of some other local enterprises such as: LaTosca Knitting Co.; Second National Bank; and Ritesize Knitting Co.     W. Fred Allen was a warm advocate of the New Hotel in Utica (Hotel Utica). He was president of the Utica Hotel Co. from its organization.     Mr. Allen was member of several associations such as the Utica Chamber of Commerce and Utica Homestead Aid Assoc.     Like his father he was an avid curler. He played for 40 years. He was a member of the rink which went to New York and won the Gordon Championship. He represented the Utica Club many times at the sessions of the National Curling Club.  In 1892, he built the covered rink at Rutger Street. In 1909, W. Fred Allen was...

      George Benjamin Fairhead was born on Jan 8, 1835 in Norwich, England to James and Elizabeth Harvey Fairhead. In Nov 1840 George Fairhead along with his mother and sisters arrived in America to meet his father who had secured employment in New York Mills. George worked in the cotton mill for nine years beginning at the age of 10. He studied at Whitestown and Cazenovia Seminaries. He later became a teacher.     On July 27, 1862 George B. Fairhead enlisted in Company D of the 117th NY Inf he served until June 8, 1865. He was promoted to corporal, sergeant, sergeant-major and lieutenant. On October 27, 1864 he was severely wounded but he recovered and was able to return to his regiment.      On March 9, 1863 he married Hannah Ackroyd. They had two sons Elbert J. and George E.     George B. Fairhead entered the ministry as a Methodist minister on April 30, 1868. He served the following churches: Brookfield; Steuben; ...

       Walter Schiller was born March 27, 1884 to Charles H. and Caroline Young Schiller. He graduated from Utica Free Academy. He worked for the Gas and Electric Company for two years. He then started a battery business. Later radios were added to the business. Mr. Schiller was the Philco distributor for both the Utica and Albany territories.      In 1907, Walter Schiller formed an electric car company. It was first located at Court and Broadway. Soon it was moved to Dr. Watson's stables on Cornelia Street. When the business grew Mr. Schiller purchased the round house at Francis and Noyes Streets. The business stayed there before it moved to 2007 Genesee Street.     Walter Schiller originated the idea of establishing electric charging stations along established routes for the cars.     Walter Schiller served as President of the Automobile Dealers Association. He was active in the management of their automobile shows....

       Edgar B. Odell was born in Junlius, Seneca, New York in the year 1857. His family moved to Phelps, Ontario, New York. He graduated from Cazenovia Seminary in 1876. After graduating he lived in Colorado for two and a half years. After Colorado he worked for his father in Phelps. Sometime later he moved to Utica.     When Edgar Odell moved to Utica he became a bookkeeper at Roberts and Hoag. He later became partner in the business. When Mr. Hoag retired it became John A. Roberts and Co. Mr. Odell retired from the business in 1905. After his retirement he spent nearly a year traveling abroad.     After traveling abroad Mr. Odell became associated with the J.B. Wells and Son Dry Goods Firm. He became secretary and treasurer of the firm. During his time there the whole block was taken over and remodeled making it the largest store in lower Genesee Street. Mr Odell retired from there in 1916.     Mr. Odell was also direct...

      Robert Dodd was born in New York City in 1842. He was educated in the city before coming to Utica as a young man. He had various occupations before entering politics. He was a Republican. In 1877 he started working in the County Clerk's Office. He resigned during the tenure of A.J. Bromley. During much of the same time he served as county coroner. When he retired from public life Robert Dodd was Chief Court Attendant of the County.      Robert Dodd was a member of the Oriental Lodge F&A.M. of which he was a past master.     In 1876, Robert Dodd married Jane A. McDonald they had a daughter. Robert Dodd died in 1921 and is buried in Forest Hill Cemetery.

     Benjamin Allen was born Jul 22, 1818 in Selston, Nottinghamshire, England. When he was 12 his family came to America. The ship they were coming over in was wrecked off the coast of Massachusetts near Martha's Vineyard. They came to Utica shortly after. They brought a farm on Deerfield Hill which they farmed for a couple of years before coming back to Utica.     Benjamin Allen learned the trade of stone cutting. He cut stone on the enlargement of the Erie Canal from Cohoes to Lockport.     1845 was an important year for Benjamin Allen. He got married to a woman by the name of Ann. He also started a business for contracting for the construction of plank and stone sidewalks. Later he was joined in the business by his sons W. Fred and George.      Benjamin Allen was also director of the Second National Bank for 12 years. He was the first Republican nominee for the Assembly from this district (which he lost) and tried agai...

       Louis E. Marquisee was born in the Welsh Bush Rd near Utica. He graduated from UFA. He and his brothers operated Millinery and Cloak Businesses in Utica and Syracuse. Louis and his brother Ammis ran the the store in Syracuse they named Marquisee Brothers and Co. while their half brothers ran Williams Brothers and Co in Utica. From 1869 to his death he mostly lived in Syracuse.     For the last 20 years of his life Louis E. Marquisee was a florist. He originated a variety of Carnation he named the Marquis which became very popular throughout the land.     Louis E. Marquisee was a gifted writer of poetry as well as a cultured elocutionist.      In 1869 Louis E. Marquisee married Josephine Eaton and they had a daughter Anita who became an accomplished violinist.     Louis E. Marquisee passed away on Nov 24, 1908 in Syracuse. His three half brothers also died that same year. He is buried at Forest Hi...