Stories in Stones: Stories from Oneida County, NY Cemeteries

    Pratt Giles Smith was born in June 1858 in Deerfield, NY to Giles and Elizabeth Cole Smith. He attended Advanced School and Academy in Utica and Whitestown Seminary.       In 1873(or 8 it was hard to read in the obituary) Pratt G. Smith worked in Troy, NY as a salesman in a Hardware and Seed store. He later went into partnership with M.C. Chapin of Poultney, VT and manufactured and sold dairy supplies. Pratt G. Smith later brought Mr. Chapin's interest and took his brother-in-law Milton T. Jones as partner. They moved the business to Utica and opened a store in the Mosher Building on Bleecker Street. The partnership continued for 16 years. They later moved the business to North Genesee Street. The firm dissolved in 1902. Mr. Jones took the retail business in selling seeds and agricultural implements. Mr. Smith continued the rennet extract and cheese color business. In 1915, Pratt G. Smith sold his equipment and retired.      Pra...

       Alexander Mathieson Fraser was born Sept 13, 1820 in Glasgow, Scotland. From 1834-1842 he worked in a Cotton Mill in Glasgow. In March of 1843 he married Jane Buchanan, that same month he started for the United States. He first settled in Lexington, Missouri, where he remained for about five years then because of Jane's health he returned to Glasgow. When he returned he went back to work at the same cotton mill. Jane died in 1855.     Alexander M. Fraser returned to the United States in 1864 this time with his family. They left New York City and intended to settle in Ottawa, Canada but was impressed with the appearance of Utica they decided to settle here. He worked at the lower mill at New York Mills from Jun to October 1864. 1865-1873 worked in the Utica Steam Cotton Mills most of the time as overseer in the dressing room. In 1873, Mr. Fraser returned to New York Mills and worked a number of years in the dressing room.     In 18...

      Col. Benjamin R. Robison was born in New York City in December 1825. He graduated from Mechanic's Institute in New York City. He studied Medicine under his father for a year before joining the firm of Platt, Start & Ingoldaby, Importers of English Heavy Hardware as a clerk. Mr. Robison stayed with the firm for around five years before entering the Commission Business with a Mr. Cooper.    After the Commission Business Benjamin R. Robison went to Amsterdam, Holland as supercargo of a ship. He was gone two years. When he returned he entered the shipping business for himself. He owned a sailing vessel called the Strafford, he sailed it everywhere doing business in about every port in the civilized world. Benjamin R. Robison got shipwrecked sailing from Leghorn with a cargo of Italian Marble (which at the time of his death was in the Merchant's Exchange Building in New York City).    Benjamin R. Robison was married twice. First in 1846, he m...

      Charles Webster Hutchinson was born July 4, 1826 (the same day that John Adams and Thomas Jefferson passed away as well as the 50th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence) in Providence, Rhode Island. The family moved to Utica the following year.       After leaving school Charles W. Hutchinson became employed at the office of the Syracuse and Utica Railroad Co. as a clerk from where he resigned in 1847 to become teller in the Fort Plain Bank. After three years there he came back to Utica to take charge of the interests of his father and Horatio Seymour in the firm of E.K. Browning and Co. A few years later he conducted the business in his own interest. He stayed there until 1865 when he disposed of his interest. For the the next three years he and his wife (the former Laura Clark Beckwith whom he married on Oct 9, 1851) traveled around Europe.     Charles W. Hutchinson was a director of the Utica Mechanics Association...

    Alfred H. Munson was born to Edmund and Sarah Gardinier Munson in Brownville, NY on Feb 14, 1846. The family later located to Utica where his father established the firm of Hart and Munson manufacturers of mill stones. In 1864, Alfred H. Munson graduated from Utica Free Academy. The year before he graduated he and his 2 brothers took the place of Mr. Hart when he retired. In 1872, Edmund Munson passed away and the sons formed the firm of Munson Brothers. In 1891, the firm was engaged in the foundry business. Their firm closed in 1914.     Alfred H. Munson was a member of Oneida Historical Society (now the Oneida County History Center). He was an early member of the Utica Homestead Aid Association and was one of its trustees since Dec 1885. He became Vice President in either 1893 or 1895 (could not read in Obit).     Mr. Munson was also a member of the Utica Citizen Corps, he served in its ranks until it went into the National Guard. He wa...

      James L. Lowery was born June 24, 1837 in County Down, Ireland. In 1840, the family came to America. They settled in Oriskany, NY. He was educated in Whitesboro, NY.       Mr. Lowery learned the machinist trade in the Oriskany Valley Woolen Mill. He went to Seneca Falls to work until 1853 or 1859 (it was hard to read in the Obituary) when he came to Utica, where he became chief mechanic in the Steam Woolen Mills. James L. Lowery left that position to partner with his brother Samuel S. Lowery in establishing a knitting mill. In 1865, the partnership was dissolved when Samuel retired. For two years he was partners with his younger brother Joseph S. The plant burned. Their brother William joined them in a cotton waste business which was located first on Columbia Street before moving to Broad Street. It was know as Lowery Brothers.     In 1873, James L. Lowery married Emily Marklove. They had eight children.     Jam...

     Henry Rumrill Beebe was born in Utica on Nov 22, 1878. He graduated from Utica Free Academy and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (with a degree in Civil Engineering). During Summer vacations from college he worked for the City Engineer's office. He served one year with the US Geological Survey stream-gaging in New York and Southern Michigan.     In 1905, Henry R. Beebe formed a partnership with Frank Beach of Troy. They constructed a mile long interceptor sewer. That project was one of the steps taken by Utica in the extensive New York Central development. It made Utica one of the most important railroads points east of Buffalo.     Henry R. Beebe served as Commissioner of Public Works from 1910-1911. In 1912 he reentered the construction field with A.A. Parker. They carried out extensive contracts for New York Central in Utica including passenger and freight subways; and the temporary station and approaches which were in use while the p...