Herkimer County Bulletin

July 2005
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As editor of The Genealogical Journal of Jefferson County, New York (since 1989) as well as a published newsletter for Oswego County and another for Oneida County, editor Patricia R. James (Pat) compiles this online Bulletin containing items found along her route of discovery that don't fit into any of the above newsletters.  It is free to all.  Our regular features include:
1. Lost and Found
2. Website WeView
3. Eye-spy
4. Check it out
5.  FYI (For Your Information)

If you’d like to be on our email list, just reply to this email with “Subscribe – Herkimer” in the subject line.  If not, reply with “Unsubscribe – Herkimer.”  If you are on our other Bulletin lists (Jefferson, Oneida, and/or Oswego), please note that each and every Bulletin is unique and non-repetitive.  If you would like to be on any/all of the other lists, please specifically state your wishes by return email.  If you wish to print this Bulletin out, copy and paste to Word, etc. by setting your margins at 1” on all sides.)

What’s New to you:  
NewYorkAncestry.com has just reprinted in soft-cover, Franklin B. Hough’s “The History of Jefferson County, New York,” originally published in 1854.  Its 600 pages contain a wealth of information including a chapter on each Town.  (See our website, www.NewYorkAncestry.com,  for a more complete description.)  As Herkimer County borders Jefferson, research in one often leads to research in the other.  Therefore, we extend a special invitation to those who order/ reserve a copy before July 15th:  Your free gift will be a (separate) coil-bound index containing 175 pages of  +7000 everyname entries and 4 appendices.  (The original has an index of 11 pages.) The total price for you Early Birds will be $35.00 plus shipping of $8.00 (1st class only).
Attention: When ordering through the website, do not order the Index – just the History.  I will know to put you on my list as an Early Bird.  For those of you who don’t like to order over the internet, please feel free to call us at: 1-208-382-3629.  If ordering by check through postal mail, send to: Patricia R. James,  P.O. Box 4311,  Boise, ID 83711.
                                                                    Additionally…
”Russia Union Church” and “Old Ft. Herkimer Church” are also available at a 20% discounted price until July 15^{th .} 

Coming Attractions:
Sometime this year, NewYorkAncestry.com will be opening up a new and unique line of research for genealogists: a searchable online everyname index (including page numbers) of rare/ old/ out-of-print NY genealogy / history books.  (A more complete description can be read below at 5. FYI.)  If and when you have a moment to answer, we have a few questions at the end of this newsletter.  In compensation for filling out our questionnaire found at the end of this email, we will send you a free issue of either our Oswego (or Jefferson) County newsletter.

                                              ~ Now to our regular features ~

1. Lost & Found – School Catalogs, Reunion Histories, etc.
Hamilton College, located in Clinton (Oneida Co.), NY has been opened since 1812.  Certain graduating classes have held Reunions and as part of the celebration, published small books containing biographical sketches.  For instance, “The Biographical Record and History of the Class of ‘62” was printed in 1872.  On page 37 and 48 respectively are found two Herkimer County natives. Below please find abbreviated excerpts for both of them.
                                                                 JOHN CARDE GRAVES
     John Carde Graves, son of Hon. Ezra and Maria Graves, was born on Nov. 18, 1839 in Herkimer, Herkimer, NY.  His father was for many years a distinguished lawyer and Judge in that county.  At the Presidential Election in November, 1872, Judge Graves was the Inspector of State Prisons for the State of New York.
     “Jack” attended Clinton Liberal Institute and Fairfield Academy; Tuft’s College (1859, Mass.); Union College (1860, Schenectady, NY); Hamilton College (1862, Clinton, NY).  He did not graduate with the Class of 1862 but afterwards received his diploma.  He later studied law and was admitted to the bar.    
     On 20th Jan, 1864, he married Gussie MOORE, daughter of Augustus C. and Caroline MOORE, of Buffalo, NY.  Four children – one son and three daughters – are the fruits of this union.  He now lives in the city of Buffalo, engaged in the practice of law.   (p. 37)
                                                                MYRON AUGUSTUS McKEE
     Myron Augustus McKee, son of Samuel and Clarence McKee, was born at Winfield, Herkimer Co., NY on the 17th of Aug. 1840.  His preparatory studies were at the West Winfield Academy.  Graduating in course and with honor, he became a practical surveyor and civil engineer until the end of 1863.  He taught for a year at Cooperstown Seminary and Female Collegiate Institute the courses of Higher Mathematics and Classics.  Next we find him teaching in West Winfield and resuming his former profession of civil engineer.
     On Sept. 12, 1866, Myron married Sarah Elizabeth, only daughter of Dr. Jas. M. ROSE.  They have one daughter.  Mrs. McKee is a graduate of Mt. Holyoke Seminary. 
     In 1867, Prof. McKee became principal of North Bennington Academy, VT for two years.  In 1869 and up to the present time, he has worked as Teller and book-keeper in the First National Bank of West Winfield. 

2. Website WeView –  www.ArcadiaPublishing.com
Images of America is a series of books available at the above named website.  They are compiled photographic histories of selected towns (city, counties, etc.  Arcadia often contracts with local photographer(s) who have a knowledge and ‘sense’ of gathering the ‘right’ pictures.   Frequently, a succinct (albeit very brief) history of the subject photographed is included.  The total result is impressive!  Each book is 128 pages and costs from $17 – $20.  You can check to see if one has been done on your (ancestral) town as their titles cover from coast -to-coast in the U.S.
    For Herkimer County, there is:  “Herkimer County: Valley Towns.”  ($19.99)  The author, Jane W. Dieffenbacher, is a municipal historian and author. “A ten-year volunteer at the Herkimer County Historical Society, she serves as editor and contributor to the society's publication, Legacy. Drawing from the society's archives, she has selected images that best tell the history of the county's valley towns.”

 

3.  Eye Spy - books found at www.ABE.com featuring rare (out-or-print or otherwise valuable) books that have a genealogical or historical re: Herkimer County.     More details of  the following titles are found at the end of this Bulletin. 

4.  Check it out – a brief summary of our most recent additions at NewYorkAncestry.com.  
Each of these newsletter issues is of 24 pages, 8.5” x 5.5”… A year’s subscription is $10.00 plus $1.50 postage.  You can order simply by sending us an email.  Put "Purchase Order" in the subject line of the email and tell us what you’d like.  Be sure to include your postal address.  You’ll receive your item along with an enclosed invoice for payment. 
The Genealogical Journal of Jefferson County, New York for April 2005
          “Net Research: Northern NY Library Network,” 
          “Newspaper Records: Universalist Marriages, Part 1” 
           “Criminal Court Records, 1833”
           “Born in the USA: Married in Canada, 1869-1879”
          “Drum Taps in Dixie.”
The Genealogical Journal of Oswego County, New York for May 2005    
            “History: Silas Town – Spy”
            “Born in the USA; Married in Canada, 1869-1879”
            “Newspaper Records: Universalist Marriages, Part 2”
            “Grips’ Historical Souvenir: Part 2: Members of Assembly”
            “Military Perspectives: Oswego Men in Canada’s Patriot War”
 
5.  FYI – As you’ve probably discovered along your genealogical wanderings, it was not customary in the 1800’s to include a comprehensive, everyname index at the end of history books.  Therefore, many worthy publications are skipped because it’s just too time consuming to do more than glance through them.  We’re proposing a searchable online everyname index (including page numbers) of old/rare publications such as school catalogs, church commemorative booklets, town histories, court cases, diaries, business account registers, family histories, scrapbooks of newspaper clippings and various other types of secondary source records.  Upon learning that your ancestor’s name is found in a particular work and accessing it, you’ll at the least know (s)he was in a certain place at a certain time.  You’ll also learn something of his/her personality/beliefs, etc. - in effect, piecing together the history of their life.

We’d like your input in assessing the value of this index to researchers.  Would you take a moment to answer these three questions?  We’ll show our appreciation by sending you a complimentary issue of The Genealogical Journal of Jefferson (or Oswego) County, New York.  When answering by email, include your postal mail address and an Oswego or Jefferson County surname that you research.  (Please specify the county!) If possible, we will send you an issue relative to your research.)

                       Any comments in additional to your answers are most welcome.

1. Have you ever subscribed to a paid subscription genealogical website such as Ancestry.com?
2. Would a website that indexes secondary sources (such as those listed above) be worth a subscription to you? 
3. What would be the value of such if you were to subscribe?
     a. $4.95 month    b. $12.50 quarter    c. $19.95 half-year    d. $37.50 year
     e. none of the above (please comment on reason)

Thank you for your participation!!!

Sincerely,
     Pat and Rex James
     www.NewYorkAncestry.com

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Visit our website for a complete list of the publications we compile and reprint. 
If you eBay, you can find us there, too!

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NewYorkAncestry.com is the website of our company, The Family Tree.
Our postal address is: P.O. Box 4311,  Boise, ID 83711
Contact us at: NewYorkAncestry@aol.com or call Pat at 1-208-469-0673