Stories in Stones: Stories from Oneida County, NY Cemeteries

      John H. Douglass was born July 30, 1836 to John Dean Douglass. When he was about three years old the family moved to Cincinnati.     When John H. Douglass was not in school he assisted his uncle Stephen A. Perrine, who was an undertaker in Utica. Mr. Douglass was also a clerk in the Post Office. When his uncle moved to New York City he sold his business to John and to John H. Van Ness. The firm continued for 13 years before Mr. Van Ness moved west. John H. Douglass operated it until his death. He had charge of the burial of the inmates of the State Asylum. He took an active part organizing the New York State Undertaker's and Funeral Directors two years before his death. At the last meeting before his death he was elected president.     John H. Douglass was the charter member of the Tiger Hose Fire Department. He hold the office of Foreman for several years. He was also a member of the Utica Citizens Corps. He commanded them for fou...

   Dr. Frederick Lenggenhager was born in 1862 in Switzerland. He came to Utica as a boy. His father run a drug store and was a noted chemist.     Frederick Lenggenhager studied medicine for a year under Ex-Surgeon General William H. Watson before going to Ohio to study. He studied under one of the most distinguished surgeons of the west, Professor Snyder of Cleveland. in 1885, he graduated from Cleveland Homeopathic Hospital. Dr. Lenggenhager took the highest rank in the matter of scholarship ever attained at the institution.     After graduating Dr. Lenggenhager moved back to Utica. He was president of the Oneida County Homeopathic Medical Society. He read papers before the State Society. Dr. Lenggenhager succeeded in curing by intubation the first case of Diphtheritic croup in Utica.     Dr. Lenggenhager was a member or was connected with the following groups: Faxton Lodge of Masons; Utica Citizens Corps; Imperial Council of Roya...

       Frances A. Goodale was born in 1839, in Utica to James and Cynthia Kellogg Rockwell. She was educated at Utica Free Academy and Miss Jane Kelley's Seminary. She married John A. Goodale.    During the Civil War Mrs. Goodale was involved in the work of the local United States Sanitary Commission.     From 1903-1908 she taught English at Packet Collegiate Institute in Brooklyn, NY.     Mrs. Goodale was involved in the founding of the New Century Club, which was the first women's club in Oneida County. She served as its first president. She served five years. During her administration the club house was erected and the club joined the general foundation of Women's Clubs.     When World War I started she devoted her time to the collecting and sending of packages for the relief of the sufferers in Belgium and France.     Frances A. Goodale passed away on March 20, 1934 and is buried in Plot 32B Lo...

      Julia Frances Grosvenor was born in Jan 31, 1848 to Frances (who was the first Librarian in Utica) and Mary Jane Allyn-Grosvernor.     Julia Grosvenor graduated from Utica Free Academy. She was the Valedictorian of her class.      She organized the House of the Good Shepherd. She also acted as a teacher and nurse at the institution.     Ms. Grosvenor took part in the organization of the Homeless for the Aged Men and couples. She served on its board of directors.     She was a charter member and organizer of the YWCA. She served as President of their Board of Directors.     In 1900, Julia Grosvenor organized Travelers Aid to look after and care for travelers.     She headed a committee to raise funds for the erection of the Soldier's Monument in Oneida Square and served as Secretary of the Association which sponsored the erection of the monument.     Ms....

     Ida Jane Butcher was born Jan 16, 1865 to Charles M. and Sarah Morgan Butcher. She graduated from Utica Free Academy in 1882. In 1887, she graduated from Vassar College. She taught in the Cecily Baker School in Utica. She taught the following: Arithmetic; Algebra; and Latin, and later English Composition. She also taught English at UFA. Ms. Butcher was also a private tutor in Latin; Greek; and Math.     Ida J. Butcher was a charter member of the New Century Club, which was a club for Women. She hold many positions including: Recording Secretary; Instructor of the Browning Class; Chairman of the Printing Committee; and had charge of the writing and publishing of the Club's Yearbook. She was connected with all the departments except the music department. At the time of her death she had attended more of the meetings of the club than any other member.     Ida J. Butcher was affiliated with the NYS Federation of Women's Clubs. Served as a me...

       Publius Virgilius Rogers was born Dec 30, 1824 in Antwerp, Jefferson County, New York to Dr. Ralph Rogers. He was educated at schools in Watertown and Antwerp. He attended both the Watertown Academy and Black River Literary and Religious Institute. He graduated from Hamilton College in 1846.     After college Publius V. Rogers went to Adams to study law. He also spent an hour a day as bookkeeper in the Hungerford bank. He left Adams to study law in the office of Judge George C. Sherman.     In the summer of 1848, took part in the survey of the Rome, Watertown, and Ogdensburg Railroad.     In 1849, Judge Sherman organized the Watertown Bank and Loan Co. Publius V. Rogers became a cashier there. In September of the following year he accepted a position as cashier at the Fort Stanwix bank in Rome. In September of 1853 became a cashier of the Bank of Utica. In 1876, he was elected President of the bank, he served until ...

    Author note: this information came from an obituary in which it was hard to read some of.      Miles Chester Comstock was born May 7, 1823 in Hartwick, Otsego Co, NY. He was educated in the district school in Westford, NY. During the summer he worked in the family farm.       In 1840, at the age of 17 Miles Comstock left farming and came to Utica. He accepted a job in a grocery store. The store failed and he returned to the family farm. When he returned to Utica he started working in the store of Elijah G. Peckham. The store was later sold to T.K. Butler. Five years after Mr. Butler brought the store Mr. Comstock was admitted as a partner. In 1855? he organized the firm of Dickinson and Comstock.     In 1868, the manufacturing company of Comstock Brothers was formed. Miles C. Comstock later brought the sugar manufacturing company of Utica and Hard (or Hurd) Brothers of Oneida and incorporated them as the Comstock Manu...