Stories in Stones: Stories from Oneida County, NY Cemeteries

      George W. Beatty was born on May 7, 1851 in Cherry Valley, NY. When he was four his family moved to Albany. He was educated at a private school until he was 11, when financial circumstances made him leave and go to work. He became employed at a retail clothing store where he worked for two years. After the retail clothing business he went to work in the hardware business. He became a traveling salesman for Pruyn and Son, his boundaries were between Albany and Binghamton. He stayed with them for five years before moving to Detroit where he found success in the same field of work.     George W. Beatty married Emma Bush in 1875. They had one son.     George W. Beatty came to Utica in 1877 and became an employee of oil merchant O.C. Thayer. He soon was practically on charge of the business. When Mr. Thayer sold the business to Standard Oil in 1896, Mr. Beatty became manager of a large territory which included: Oneida, Madison, Montgome...

       George W. Wrightson was born in 1842 in Yorkshire, England. He came to this country when he was three years old.     When he was 15 years old George W. Wrightson was employed by the New York Central Railroad as a fireman on a freight but he soon advanced to be a fireman on a passenger train.     George W. Wrightson was one of the fireman in the train that smuggled Abraham Lincoln into Washington D.C.     George W. Wrightson was promoted to engineer in a passenger train. In 1865, he was one of the engineers who carried Lincoln's body in its way to Springfield (different articles say he was engineer in the trip from New York City to Albany other articles says it was the trip from Utica to Syracuse).     George W. Wrightson drove the first "crack train" on the West Shore from Ravena to Syracuse. Also drove the first Continental West Shore train which was one of the fastest railroad locomotives.  ...

     Elizabeth Luce was born in 1871 in New Hartford, NY to Lynott Bloodgood and Anna Root. In 1897, she married Henry Winters Luce (who was born in 1868). Mr. Luce was a Presbyterian Missionary, who helped to institute the cooperative system among protestant groups who founded educational institutions in China.     After their marriage they went to North China.  During that time the area was in a state of revolt against intruders from the Occident, missionaries were even killed. During the Boxer Uprising the Luces fled from Shantung to Korea in the nick of time because a few hours later American Residents were slaughtered.      The Luces braved the hardships of the time and stayed on to help establish schools and colleges that later became valuable ties between China and the West. Henry W. became Vice-President of Cheeloo University at Tsinan.     During their time in China Elizabeth helped in organizing medical and ...

      Wesley W. Burrows was born in 1829 in Egypt (near Oriskany), NY. He graduated from Rome Academy. In 1849, he went west to prospect for gold.     Around 1853 Mr. Burrows went to Memphis, Tennessee. While there he was employed as a boss carpenter on of the largest slave farms in the south. He oversaw about 50 slaves. He gained a reputation as a kind and able overseer.     When Wesley Burrows returned to Utica he went to work for the NY Central Railroad as a fireman. He soon became an engineer and ran an engine on the NY Central until 1876. He also drove for the Illinois Central and in 1876 became an engineer for the Delaware, Lackawanna, and Western Railroad. He worked there until he retired in 1895.     Wesley Burrows married Anna Filkins. They had three children.            Wesley W. Burrows passed away on Feb 10, 1917. He is buried in Plot 35 Lot 2673 of Forest Hill Cemetery in Uti...

       Dr. George Seymour was born in DeRuyter, NY on Oct 5th, 1839 to David Tompkins and Hanna Dodge Seymour. He spent his early boyhood in West Winfield, NY before moving to Pulaski, NY.     While continuing his studies George Seymour taught school. He studied medicine under Dr. F.S. Law of Pulaski. He went to Ohio and studied and taught school for a year. He graduated from the Medical College of the City of New York.     During the Civil War Dr. Seymour served as Assistant Surgeon with the Army of the Potomac. After the war he had a practice in Pulaski until 1877 when he moved to Utica where he became a very successful General Practitioner.       In 1881, Dr. Seymour was sent as a delegate to the State Medical Society (became a permanent member in 1884). He served as President of the Oneida County Medical Society. He also was one of the incorporators of the Utica Medical Library Association.    ...

      Van Rensselaer Weaver was born Jan 21, 1854 in Deerfield, NY to George F. Weaver. He was educated in Deerfield School and the Advanced School in Utica.     For five successive years starting in 1880 Van Rensselaer Weaver served as Town of Deerfield Supervisor. He was held it again in 1892 and 1893. He was later elected to a term of three years as Sheriff of Oneida County. Mr. Weaver also served as a member of the Oneida County Building Commission. During his time the new courthouse was constructed. He served on several important committees. In 1908, he was appointed United States Marshall for the Southern District of New York.     Van Rensselear Weaver married Laura A. Owens. They had four sons.     He passed away on Oct 5, 1911 and is buried in Forest Hill Cemetery in Utica.        

     Dr. William LeGrange Ralph was born June 19, 1851 in Holland Patent, NY to George and Mary C. Ralph. When he was 12 his family moved to Utica. He was educated in Utica Schools and Whitestown Seminary. William L. Ralph graduated from Columbia College where he studied medicine. He started his own practice. Because of heart trouble he to abandon active work. He began to study heart disorders.     After retiring from his practice Dr. Ralph turned to his attention to the field of Ornithology. He studied the birds around Oneida County. He located several rare species. Dr. Ralph made trips to the Montezuma Marshes, Florida, and the Adirondacks to study birds.     In 1901, Dr. William L. Ralph was elected to the American Ornithologists Union. He helped Maj. Bendire with writing "Life Histories of North American Birds". Maj. Bendire mentioned Dr. Ralph's name more than anyone else. When Maj. Bendire passed away Dr. Ralph took up his work.  ...