Stories in Stones: Stories from Oneida County, NY Cemeteries

     Amos B. Stafford was born in Syracuse in 1839. When he was young he moved to Utica. He became a bookkeeper for Theodore Butterfield who owned a livery. He later became partners with Theodore's father John on the Overland Mail which was used to carry mail from St. Louis to San Francisco. Mr. Stafford later moved to Fayetteville, Arkansas to became a station agent for it. He was there from 1858-1861 when it ended because of the Civil War.      After the Overland Mail system ended he joined Colonel Leeper in treating with the Native Americans on the plains. He also conducted a livery on Devereux Street in Utica.       Amos B. Stafford married Josephine Chubbuck. He passed away on Sept 28, 1906. He and Josephine are buried in Plot 21A Lot 2471 of Forest Hill Cemetery in Utica.    

     Harry E. Devendorf was born in 1859 in Delevan, Wisconsin to Lucien B. Devendorf. The family moved to Cedarville, Herkimer County, NY when he was young. Came to Utica when he was 17 and attended school.     After his schooling was over Harry E. Devendorf worked for the Christian Leader Newspaper. At the same time he studied shorthand and became an expert Stenographer. He was employed as a reporter by the following newspapers: Utica Daily Republican and the Watertown Dispatch. He was the city editor for the Amsterdam Times and the Watertown Dispatch. Mr. Devendorf came back to Utica to became managing editor of the Utica Sunday Tribune. He was editor for eight years. While he was employed by the Tribune he was also correspondent for the Associated Press and news of Utica and Vicinity for the Rome Daily Sentinel. He also did much work in the way of Special Correspondence for New York City Papers.     In 1896, when James S. Sherman was...

      Frank Hooker Doolittle was born Aug 15, 1859 in Belmont, Alleghany County, NY. When he was about a year old the family moved to Chittenango, Madison County, NY. Sometime later they moved to Mohawk, Herkimer County, NY.     Frank H. Doolittle was educated at the Polytechnic at Chittenango; and Genesee Wesleyan Seminary. When he was either 15 or 18 (hard to read in Obituary) he started teaching school to get funding for his own education.     After Frank H. Doolittle left school he started working at the National Mohawk Valley Bank at Mohawk as a clerk. A year later he moved to Lowville and started work as a bookkeeper at the Black River National Bank. Two years later he moved to Utica where he was a shipping clerk for the J.M. Childs and Co for two years. After Utica he moved to Kansas City, MO where he got a job in a large plumping warehouse store. He got Typhoid Fever two years later and returned to Utica where he went back to wor...

      William Joseph Schuyler was born July 9, 1861 in Westmoreland, NY to Joseph K. and Anne Williams Schuyler. He attended schools in Westmoreland and Utica.     William J. Schuyler studied medicine under the direction of Dr. Willis E. Ford of Utica. He then entered the Medical Department of the University of the City of New York. Mr. Schuyler graduated from there in 1885. After graduation he became a member of the staff of the Charity Hospital at Blackwell's Island. Dr. Schuyler stayed there for a year and a half before spending a year on the staff of Bloomingdale Asylum. He then worked at Butler Hospital for the Insane at Providence R.I. for a year before coming back to Utica.     When he returned to Utica Dr. Schuyler opened his own office. He was house surgeon at St. Luke's Hospital for a number of years. Dr. Schuyler was also a member of the staff of the General Hospital and visiting surgeon to the House of the Good Shepherd. ...

     Dr. Gilbert A. Foster was born on June 3, 1803 in Litchfield, Herkimer County, New York. He was educated at Paris Hill Academy. He leaned the trade of machinist at Willowvale. For some years Mr. Foster was employed in superintending the construction of the machinery at the New York State Prison in Auburn.     Gilbert A. Foster moved from Auburn to New Hartford. In 1827, he married Orpha Bogue. They had three children. They moved to Utica in 1832.       After moving to Utica he entered the practice of dentistry. His skill in mechanism helped him greatly to improve the rude methods in dentistry at the time. He was one of the first to devise and manufacture teeth.     Dr. Gilbert A. Foster passed away on Dec 7, 1877 and is buried in Plot 12A Lot 52 of Forest Hill Cemetery in Utica.

      Frederick Gillmore was born in Utica to Charles Dexter and Mary A. Lewis Dexter on Feb 23, 1873.     After he was done with school Frederick Gillmore got a job at a wholesale clothing store in Utica. In 1891, got a job as a lineman in the office of the City Surveyor.     In 1903, Frederick Gillmore was appointed clerk to the Board of Assessors. Two years later he was elected to be on the board. In 1906, he was elected sheriff and was the first sheriff to occupy the new quarters at the court house. During his last year as sheriff Frederick Gillmore run for mayor and won. After his term is Mayor was up he declined renomination. For a little while he was connected with the Lewis-Wellar Company.     In 1923, Frederick Gillmore run for Mayor again and won. Was reelected in 1925 by the largest plurality given to a mayoral candidate at that time. During his administration many important civic improvements took place includi...

      George Austin Clark was born Jul 21, 1826 in Sauquoit, NY to Chester D. and Hannah Avery Clark. His maternal grandfather Rev. David Avery was a noted chaplain of the American Revolution. He served from Bunker Hill to Yorktown. Rev. Avery assisted in funeral services of Gen. Warren.     George A. Clark attended local schools including Utica Academy. After leaving school he served as a clerk for five years in Dr. Peckham's Drug Store.     In 1849, George A. Clark went to California during the Gold Rush with a company of 32. He was a member of the Utica Mining Co. He worked on the north fork of the American River. He was quite successful. He returned to Utica in 1853.     When George A. Clark returned to Utica he started working at his father's store. They made and sold buckskin gloves and dealt in house furnishing goods. He later brought his father out. Later stopped manufacturing and brought from other dealers. He als...