Oliver Burden - Syracuse Attorney, Counsel for Teddy Roosevelt in the libel suit brought by William Barnes, U.S. District Attorney for Northern NY under Harding & Coolidge. Born in Nelson 1873
Henry Qexter - Boston Sculpture who made busts of many famous Americans of his time. Born in Nelson in 1806. Died in Cambridge in 1 876
Crosby Gaige - Theatrical producer in NY City, became a millionaire and lost most of his money on the stock market. Then he became a well known expert on cooking with spices and was on the radio doing cooking shows. Born in Nelson in 1881, he died in 1949 and is buried in Nelson Rural Cemetery.
Ashbel Welsh - Civil Engineer who was the first to adapt telegraphy to railroad signaling. Born in Nelson 1809 and died in Lambetville NJ in 1892
Dr. Levi- P. Greenwood was born in Lebanon September 26, 181 6 and studied in Hamilton, graduating from the Fairfield Medical College. He settled in Erieville in 1 840 and during his long term of practice met with unusual success. From my boyhood acquaintance and from the fact that he was a friend of the family I feel at liberty to set down here what 1 remember of his long and useful life.
Speaking of himself he said: "I was d----d poor when I came to Erieville. I had on good fair clothing, a heavy pair of new leather boots, my medicines and that is about all. Dr. Heffren was here so I was not starting out alone. 1 visited my first patients on foot for quite sometime and in the fall I set mink traps along the streams taking a few furs, the money which was a welcome addition to my meager fees. I finally got a horse but liked to have lost it as 1 failed to make my payments. However things began to go better for me. There was a man in the community bedridden with rheumatism,who sent for me to come and see him. He had received medical attendance but it had continued to grow worse. 1 applied myself to this case with all the skill I could command and after a time he became very much better. From there on my work began to increase and soon developed into a large practice."
After about 20 years of practice the doctor concluded he could do better elsewhere, and announced to the inhabitants of Nelson and Erieville he was going to move away. Unknown to him almost the entire inhabitants of Nelson and Erieville made him a surprise party and all descended upon him one evening. For a time the house and yard w-ere full -of people. Refreshments were served and at the close of the repast one of their number made a very earnest appeal to the doctor in behalf of the people of the community, urging him not to leave them. The Doctor gazed on the multitude of faces and was visibly affected, "I did not know I had so many friends," was the only remark made.
From that time on his practice was all he could wish. Dr. Carpenter was with him for sometime and later Dr. Ransom who continue-d with Dr. Greenwood for many years, finally moving to Syracuse. Dr. Greenwood continued on alone and kept up an office practice but not driving so much.
For many years he acted as correspondent for the Democratic Union, a paper published in Oneida. He often wrote some spicy articles signing himself "Robinhood." On one occasion he wrote a rather sarcasticarticie which hit his brother-in-law rather hard. (Ie few days after the paper containing the article appeared, he observed the brother-inlaw approaching his office. Without waiting for him to come in he opened the door and confronted him face to face. In loud, angry, and unprintable language this brother-in-law upbraided the doctor for the libelous article he had written and caused to be made a public affair. The Doctor was not slow in coming forward and replied in such a taunting and insinuating tone of voice that his adversary made a grab for him, but the Doctor was not there. Reaching up on a shelf back of the door he took down a glass jar containing a tumor pickled in alcohol and threw it at the breast of his opponent and without looking to observe the success of his shot stepped back into the office in quest for more ammunition. When he again returned to the door he had a big yellow cuspidor in both hands. He saw the retreating figure of his brother-in-law well on his way towards the road. shedding little momentoes of the tumor jar along the way.
Dr. Greenwood was well, and favorably, known over a large part of New York State and his advice and council were often asked. He took great interest in public affairs, and was a lifelong Democrat.
Soon after establishing himself in Erieville he married Miss Susan J. Blair who died in Erieville in 1 890. Mrs. Marian Norton-Styks, his second wife, outlived him.
On a cold wintry day in December,1892 he was called to see a patient at Earlville. He was met at the train by a conveyance which carried him to the home of a patient. The roads were choked with snow and the trip back to the railroad was slow. On reaching home, he complained of feeling very cold, developed pneumonia and died a few days later, aged 76 years.
William Richards immigrated, from Wales, with his father, Edward, and the rest of the family in 1 840, settling near Oriskany, Oneida County. In 1853 they moved to the Town of Nelson and settled on what was recently the Don Church property in East Nelson on Hugh's Road. On that property they built a small cheese house where the family probably learned the cheese making process.
As the family grew, William eventually bought what is now the Sevier farm and later the Adolph Lyga place. As his business ventures expanded he acquired up to 1400 acres of land and and had ownership in at least 7 cheese factories in Nelson and Fenner.
William and his wife Margaret had nine children, who were named, for the most part, after famous people.
Their eldest, Nelson, was named after Lord Heratio Nelson, England's naval hero. The next son, Wellington, was named after Arthur Wellesly, better known as the Duke of Wellington. Their third son, Edward, was named after his paternal grandfather Edward Richards. Newton, the forth boy born, was named after Sir Isaac Newton, a famous English scientist. The fifth son, Milton, was named after John Milton, writer of "Paradise Lost". Washington Lincoln was number six to come into the family and was named after our most famous presidents. Margaret Elizabeth was their only daughter and was named after her mother. Everett B. their eighth child died at nine years and their ninth and last was John who was named after his uncle John Richards.
Mr. Richards was an enterprising man and engaged in several different pursuits. Not only was the cheese making business high on his lists of business ventures, he would have husking bees in the fall where women of the community would get together and husk corn for a percentage of the crop. Before Christmas they would get together again and feather hens and turkeys. The dressed fowls were packed in barrels and shipped to NY City. During the summer months when the horses would be busy doing farm work, he would cover the town of Nelson on foot, buying butter and other products from farmers. He was a merchant and would buy most anything except hops. He did that once, lost his investment and never ventured into that enterprise again.
Before the railroad passed through Nelson and Cazenovia the nearest railroad station was in Canastota. All the farm products were drawn there and it was said that the oldest son, Newton, at the age of 11 , and the next one Wellington, aged 9, would start at 2 AM on a cold winter morning to take a load of products to Canastota to meet the early morning train.
At each fall, sometime in September, when the ministers of the Welsh circuit came to hold the Gymanfa at the Congregational Church, Mr. Richards would send two teams hitched to lumber wagons, fitted with 3 spring seats each, to Canastota to pick up as many as 15 ministers.
At a later time in life, he bought the general store in Nelson and got Wellington to go into business with him. William died in 1 894 at the age of 74.
Wellington Roland or "Wiley" as we all knew him, was a well known and highly respected person; he was was educated in the district schools and Cazenovia Seminary. In his early manhood he assisted with the farm work and cheese making during the summers and teaching in the district schools during the winter months. After his father acquired the general store in Nelson Flats he made Wiley the manager. The W.R. Richards store at Nelson soon became famous as a good place to trade. A full stock of groceries, boots, shoes, cloth, work clothes, some drugs and hardware were kept on hand. For the young folks, Wiley's candy counter with its assortment of chocolate drops, peanut bars, penny sticks and pepsin gum was a great attraction. For the sportsman, theirs was gun powder, shotgun and rifle shells, fish lines, hooks and lead sinkers. Nearby was the tobacco counter, with clay and cob pipes, smoking and chewing tobacco, fine cut and plug tobacco, also a few boxes of cigars. Wiley's reputation as a honest merchant and fair dealing brought him a lot of business iocally and from many miles away. He was not old fashion in his day; his was the only telephone in the village of Nelson and when a doctor was needed or any emergency required it, Wiley was ready to help day or night. Owing to his keen business judgment and honesty, his advice was eagerly sought on different matters and problems. Many went to him for help in writing their wills, deeds, and other legal documents for which he charged a small sum and sometimes not any. On one of these occasions he was asked how it was, that being such a public spirited upright man that he never married. he was silent for a moment and tears came to his eyes as he spoke with emotion,"the girl that was to be my wife has been in her grave for many years".
His father's aged sister Margaret lived with him for many years; he took devoted care of her during her declining years preceding her death. He was a religious man who was never heard to utter a profane word. Before his Welsh Sunday morning'services were discontinued at the Welsh Church, he used to walk up there and back and he presented a very dignified appearance in his spotless blue suit, a light straw hat with upturned brim and highly polished cane.
He was born August 7, 1855 and died February 19,1928 aged 77 years 6 months and 16 days. He is buried in the Richards family plot in the Welsh Church Union Cemetery. His Christian life and good deeds to his fellow man are indeed a lasting monument to his memory. Following his death, the old store that had served the community as a trading and meeting place during that past century was sold and remodeled into the Nelson Inn. Since 1930, it has changed ownership several times and has had many improvements.
Richard H. Wood, being the son of John Wood, an immigrant from Wales, and a grandson of Mr. John Roberts, on his mothers side, also of Welsh heritage, took to singing as a natural instinct. Born in Erieville to a family who loved music, he was naturally inclined to excell in that talent.
Mr. Wood received his early education in Erieville and began singing in the Erieville Church in 1 876. He learned the rudiments of music from J. Henry Knickerbocker, who was the choir leader at the New Woodstock Baptist Church.
He was also a blacksmith at a time when the trade had fallen off because of the popularity of the automobile. Con$equently, he didn't stay in one community very long as he would rent different shops around the area. But his love for singing was his main interest in life to the extent that he had a singing school while living in New Woodstock. From that time on his interest in hymn singing, choral work and teaching of mu$ic never abated. He distinquished himself by singing at 332 funerals.
It was not generally known that A. Leroy Medbury, whose sudden death at Erieville shocked the community, was an old friend and whilom partner of David Hannun, the original of the celebrated character of "David Harum," yet such was the case. The Syracuse Herald says that: "So close was the resemblance between Dave Hannun and Mr. Medbury that the latter was often called Hannun's double, and they were frequently partners or associates in horse dealing, both having the same ready humor and good nature."
At one time Mr. Hannun had a pair of chestnut horses, in dealing for which he experienced the "green end" of the trade and was unable to move them as readily as desired. He . sent for Mr. Medbury to take them to New York, he being an excellent salesman in this line. When Medbury returned, having made a sale way beyond Hannun's expectations, he presented Medbury $200.
The last trade the two men made with one another was at Preble, both being off on a trading expedition and happened to meet at the same place.
Mr. Medbury was considered one of the best judges of horse flesh and speed in the state, and many times he was selected to take a place in the judges' stand at races in this and adjoining counties.
Many very high priced single drivers and matched pairs have been put together, fitted and placed on the market by him, the last being a fine pair of dapple grays, which he took to Springfield, Mass. and sold for $1500.
Henry J. Mowry was born in Philadelphia, Jefferson County NY in 1833. His father, being a mechanic(carpenter),moved to Nelson sometime early in Henry's life as Henry went to school in one of Nelson's one room schools. From there he attended Cazenovia Seminary with the aim in life of teaching school, which he did do for four years after getting out of the Seminary. He was regarded as an excellent teacher and a good disciplinarian. At the age of 25, he decided to venture into the business world with the hopes of a more lucrative vocation than that of a school teacher. He had saved some money in his teaching career, so he purchased a livery business with a line of stages that ran between Syracuse and' Manlius. One such coach known as "the old Tallyho" was one that Mr. Mowry drove himself.
He was a great lover of horses and besides his duties in his business he began driving his trotters at the race track and often times winning. His expertise with horses became well known even to the extent that President Grover Cleveland entrusted Mr. Mowry in selecting a coach team for the White House stables during Mr. Cleveland's first term in office. Not only did Mowry find a fine team of horses, he supplied a coachman as well as his subordinates. He continued with the livery business until 1865, when he and others speculated in the oil business in Pennsylvania, which turned out to be very profitable. With that money he purchased the dry dock property in Fayetteville and established himself in general contracting and did most of his work on the walls and locks of the Erie canal. Working with other companies Mowry made successful bids and contracted jobs for twenty five years in the Syracuse area. One important project was the building of the Murray Canal in the Dominion of Canada. He took over the supervision of that project, which cost $1,300,000, and was declared one of the shrewdest judges of the cost of a public works project that there was at that time. His company also build part of the West Shore Railroad.
But, Mr. Mowry did not limit himself to the contracting business. He got involved in the meat packing business when in 1875 he established the Mowry Packing House on the corner of Lock Street and the Erie Canal. Later a Mr. Barnes joined him, in his venture, as a partner, and they prospered as a team doing millions of dollars worth of business.
Involving himself in politics was also one of his main interest. His involvement in the workings of the Democratic party resulted in him attending many party conventions over the years and became the chairman of the Democratic party of Onondaga County and became so well known in that position that he even advised Pres. Cleveland at times when the President was in the area.
He was commrssioner on the the first Syracuse Fire Board and president of the Syracuse Water Board.
Mr. Mowry was an enthusiastic supporter of sports and seldom missed a ball game. He also was a great lover of music and drama and was always found to be a liberal person in supporting these events.
Mr. Mowry's wife was Maria L. Evarts of Nelson who predeceased him by four years dying in 1 893. He leaves his aged mother and a brother, Lorador D. Mowry.
Loren C. Barnes - born in 1849, although probably not born in the Town of Nelson, he was a member of the Elizer Whitney household in the 1870 census, was a carpenter and about 20 years old at the time. He did go and graduate from Cazenovia Seminary in 1869. Not much is known about him otherwise other than he married Maria Hyatt, daughter of Aaron Hyatt in 1877.
Evidently, Loren became quite good in his trade as a millwright as he traveled extensively through out the state and beyond. When he was home in Nelson, he would do the usual things carpenters would do, such as sharpening saw blades and the like and he would build furniture and buildings for people in the neighborhood.
But, the one thing that made Loren unique, is that some of the items that he made were made out of several different kinds of wood, that he had accumulated from all over and from some pretty unique places. The two items on display are typical of that technique. He also made other items in that same unique manner and of course the tall clock which is an outstanding example of his work.
The existence of the 8 foot tall clock came to light when one of our Nelson citizens bought at an auction a diary that was kept by Loren. In that diary there were newspaper clippings from the New York Tribune Farmer disclosing how the clock was made and why. It appears that it was made at the time of the county centennial as a memorial to the citizens of Nelson as well as some well known people in the greater area. It took him about 3 years to build the timepiece. He wanted it to stay in Madison County forever, but regrettably it's whereabouts is unknown.
Also, in the diary were lists of the dates of births, deaths, marriages and lists of family lineages of a great number of Nelson families. Unfortunately, he did not enter too many daily activities, but it is a wonderful source of information otherwise.
Loren lost his wife in 1921 and as he aged and had to quit working, he fell on some hard times. He temporarily lived in the Madison County Home in Eaton, but on losing his mental faculties he was transferred to the NY State Hospital at Elmira N.Y. where in 1928, at 79, he passed away.
Another interesting sidelight, is that when Crosby Gaige found out that Loren was buried in Elmira, he, being a wealthy man, paid to have the body exhumed and Loren's remains were brought back to Nelson for a proper funeral and burial next to his wife in Nelson Rural Cemetery.