Stories in Stones: Stories from Oneida County, NY Cemeteries

    Dr. Rose Coxon was born Feb 17, 1879 in Leeds, England to William F. and Adeline Hohmann Coxon. In 1889, the year after her father’s death the family moved to United States and lived with her maternal grandparents at 80 Court Street.     Rose attended Philadelphia Dental College. At that time women made up only approximately 1% of dental students. She was the Secretary of her Freshman Class. She graduated in 1905. In her practice in Utica, NY, Rose Coxon became an early proponent of preventive dentistry. During the early 1900s, more money was earned from fixing dental problems than cleaning teeth. The consequence was a prejudice against cleaning teeth. Rose was a forerunner to the modern practices of today by realizing  the importance of a healthy mouth.     Dr. Coxon opened her first practice at 80 Court Street in 1905. Over the years she had offices in different locations in Utica. She shared offices with different dentists (do not know if they w...

      John E. McLoughlin was born Aug 10, 1852 to Robert and Mary Morrison McLoughlin in County Donegal, Ireland. Came to AMerica and settled in New Hartford. Later moved to Oriskany.      John E. McLoughlin found work in the Burrstone factory in New York Mills. Later became a spinner at the Lowery and Williams Stocking Factory in Utica. He later started working for William Taylor and made pulse warmers and mittens.      John E. McLoughlin married Cornelia Pratt. They had two children.      John E. McLoughlin and Thomas Hanford organized the Hanford Scotch Cap Company (later became Mohawk Valley Cap Factory). In 1921, the name was changed to the McLoughlin Textile Corporation.      John E. McLoughlin was an officer of the Associated Industries of New York State. He was director of both the United Baking Co. and Oneida National Bank (in 1925 became chairman of its board).      John E. McLoughli...

       Wallace B. Wilcox was born Aug 17, 1852, to Benjamin and Sarah Wright Wilcox in Hopkinton, NH. They came to Utica in 1864. He went to the Advance School and School at Willowvale.     When Wallace B. Wilcox was young, he went to work at the shoe store of Sylvester Harringer. In 1869, went to work for Engraver, B. F. Hannas (or Hannus). W.B. Wilcox soon brought the business from him. He continued it until 1887, when Mr. Wilcox brought the Jewelry business of Seldon Collins (which occupied part of the same building).     Wallace B. Wilcox was a member of the following: New York State Retail Jewelers Association and its local branch; Oneida Historical Society (now the Oneida County History Center); Chamber of Commerce; Utica Auto Club; and Faxton Lodge.     On June 4, 1879 Wallace B. Wilcox married Alice Everest. They had two daughters.     Wallace B. Wilcox passed away on Jan 13, 1914. He is buried in Plot 33 Lot 3050 of Fo...

       Henry Dwight Williams was born Jan 31, 1815 in Utica. He moved to Michigan where he worked as a clerk in the Bank of Michigan in Detroit. Later went to Ohio where he worked at banks in Cleveland and Massilon. In 1842, Henry Dwight Williams moved to New York City. In 1864, returned to Ohio and organized a bank at Ravenna.      In 1869, Henry Dwight Williams went to China, where he worked in customs service. He was stationed at Canton and Swatow. At Swatow he was commissioner of customs, he held that position until 1870 when he left China. He returned to to New York State and in 1887 moved back to Utica.      Henry Dwight Williams married Martha Moyer.      Henry Dwight Williams passed away on May 18, 1897. He is buried in Plot 20A Lot 1522 of Forest Hill Cemetery.     

       Benjamin F. Lewis was born Nov 11, 1831 in Wales to Edward and Mary. He came to the US in 1847. He first settled in New York City and found employment at Baker and Godwin book publishers. There he learned the printer's trade. Benjamin F. Lewis later went to Philadelphia where he worked in the same industry. A year or two later he returned to New York City.      Benjamin F. Lewis came to Utica in 1859. He got a job in the printing department of the Utica Morning Herald. In 1865, he was given the job of foreman of the Hearld's composing room.      In 1893, Benjamin F. Lewis left the Herald to become managing editor of Y Drych, the leading welsh publication in the US.    Benjamin F. Lewis  was twice married to Ellen Morgan and Mary Davis/Davies. He was survived by six sons and three daughters.       Benjamin F. Lewis passed away on June 3, 1897 and is buried in Plot 20B Lot 900 of Forest Hill Cemete...

       Arthur Jeremiah Sweet was born on Dec 20, 1879. He graduated from Cornell University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.      Arthur J. Sweet was a pioneer in street lighting. He served as lighting engineer for the Pennsylvania Turnpike. He also worked for various Westinghouse interests.      Around 1941-42, Arthur J. Sweet joined the Civil Aeronautics Administration. He worked in the Technical Development Division. At the time of his death he was working on a new lighting system for landing Airplanes in bad weather.      Arthur J. Sweet and his wife Dea had two sons: Hubert and Arthur Jr.       Arthur J. Sweet passed away on April 7, 1945 he is buried in the family lot at Forest Cemetery (Plot 33 Lot 2655)    

       James Rockwell Sheffield was born Aug 13, 1864 in Dubuque, Iowa to Frederick W.H. and Sarah Kellogg Sheffield. They later moved to Utica, NY. He attended Utica Free Academy and Williston Seminary. In 1867, he graduated from Yale. James R. Sheffield attended Harvard Law School for a year before continuing his studies in Washington D.C. while serving as Iowa Senator William B. Allison's private secretary.       In 1893, James R. Sheffield was admitted to the Bar. He practiced law in New York City. Also in 1893, he was elected to the New York State Assembly. He served one term. From 1895-1898 he was a member of the NYC Board of Fire Commissioners (was President 1897-1898).       Theodore Roosevelt twice offered James R. Sheffield appointments to the federal bench but he declined.       In 1924, thanks to the efforts of Charles Evens Hughes, President Calvin Coolidge appointed James R. Sheffield as Ambass...