JAMES A. DOUGLASS
James A. Douglass is a native of Oneida county and has spent his life within its borders. He was born in the town of Floyd, October 23, 1837, and his early days were spent on his father's farm,
the winters finding him an attendant at the district school. After quitting the district school he entered the Whitestown Seminary, remaining at that institution for some time. He then took a short
course at the Albany Normal School, after which he adopted the occupation of teaching, being engaged in the school of his native town, also Stockwell, Sangerfield, and finally from 1863 to 1866 as
principal of the Oriskany Falls public school. The vacations in the mean time were spent at farm work, and thus by prudent foresight and energy the foundation was laid for what has since proved to be
a successful business career.
His father, George Douglass, was born in Chautauqua county, N. Y., where his parents resided for a short time. His mother, wife of Daniel Douglass, died when George was in infancy, so that the grandfather, Captain Fuller, brought him up. He married Lusina Ward, a native of Floyd. After occupying their farm for more than twenty-five years they moved to Holland Patent, living there until Mr. Douglass's death, which occurred May 1, 1891. His wife survived him one year, and died at Oriskany Falls June 5, 1892, at the age of seventy-eight.
While acting as principal of the Oriskany Falls school in 1864 James A. Douglass married Elouis M. Bush, of Sangerfield. She, too, was a teacher, having been educated at a private school in Waterville and at Cazenovia Seminary. They both continued to teach at the Falls for the next two successive years, when Mr. Douglass retired fro: the school and bought a large warehouse on the bank of the old Chenango Canal, engaging in the lumber and produce business.
In 1867 he entered into partnership with E. A. Hamlin, under the firm name of Douglass & Hamlin, the firm carrying the same line of business till 1877. At that time Mr. Hamlin retired from the firm, the business having since been conducted by Mr. Douglass.
In 1883, in company with Herman Morgan, he bought the old Oriskany Falls brewery which had a wide reputation for its line of product. This partnership continued till 1894, when Mr. Douglass purchased the interest of Mr. Morgan and is now carrying on that business with his various other industries.
In 1888 Mr. Douglass built a large canning factory which is now conducted under the firm name of C. L. Douglass & Co. (the C. L. Douglass being the son). Mr. Douglass has been married twice. His second wife, whom he married in 1892, was Mrs. Flora Hubbard Smith, of Chittenango, Madison county, N. Y. Through all his career Mr. Douglass has been an ardent Republican and has been active and influential in both town, county and State politics. He has, too, been honored by his party with many offices of importance. He has been president of his village, a member of the State Legislature and since 1890 has represented his town in the Board of Supervisors. As a member of that board he has shown himself to be one of the most competent representatives the town has ever had. That this has been recognized is evidenced by the fact that the board elected him its chairman in 1893, and in 1891 and 1892 chairman of the miscellaneous committee and chairman of the building committee in 1898, when the sale of the old county house buildings at Rome and a new site bought and new buildings erected. It was due mainly to his business sagacity that this sale at a large figure was brought about, and new and much more elaborate structures built for an amount considerably less than what was received for the property sold. With him an office is a public trust in the strictest sense. Mr. Douglass has had two children, one son, Clinton I, born January 3, 1869, and Anna L., born July 13, 1870. She died December 26, 1885.
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