ALFRED ETHRIDGE
Alfred Ethridge was born in Little Falls, N. Y., July 29, 1817, and is
of English descent. His father, James Ethridge, was a hat
manufacturer in
Little Falls, subsequently a farmer in the town of Herkimer, and
latterly a hat maker in Herkimer Village. Alfred Ethridge left
home at the age of nine
and spent four years on a farm; he was then at home for three years and
the following year began learning the cabinetmaker’s trade. He
then became a
clerk in a grocery store in Utica at $5 per month and board, but after
one year accepted a clerkship with Dygert & Northrop, merchants, of
Frankfort,
N. Y., where he remained four years. During the next two years he
was manager in charge of the store of Root, Berry & Co., in that
village- a firm
having large contracts on the Erie Canal enlargement. At the end
of that period he formed a partnership with his old employer, Willet
Northrup, under
the style of Northrup & Ethridge, and continued the mercantile
business over which he had presided as manager until 1844. During
his early career Mr.
Ethridge's education was necessarily limited to the practical affairs
of life. He spent very little time in schools. Thrown upon
his own resources,
without a dollar, but endowed with pluck and native energy, he forged
ahead and succeeded in accumulating a little capital. With this
and his natural
qualifications he engaged in business, which from the first proved
generally successful.
In 1844 the firm of Northrup & Ethridge removed their goods to Rome and started trade on the east side of James street, just south of the canal, where they were burned out in January, 1856, when the copartnership was dissolved. Mr. Ethridge succeeded to the business and opened a store on the northeast corner of James and Dominick streets, known as the Merrell Block, where he continued till about 1865. In the latter year he erected the present Ethridge block, on the corner of Dominick and South Washington streets, and moved into it. After several years Ackley P. Tuller became his partner under the style of A. Ethridge & Co., and later Erwin C. Carpenter was admitted to the firm. In 1875 Mr. Ethridge’s eldest son, Franklin A., was given an interest and soon afterward the name of Ethridge, Tuller & Co., was adopted. January 1, 1879, the firm dissolved, Messrs. Tuller and Carpenter retiring. The concern was reorganized by Mr. Ethridge and his son, Franklin A. under the style of Alfred Ethridge & Co., and two years later a younger son, James M., was admitted to the firm. Since then the firm has remained unchanged. The business as originally started consisted of a general assortment of goods for the retail trade. Finally a jobbing business was gradually built up, and about 1875 it became exclusively a wholesale industry, with groceries, canned goods, coffees, etc., as leading specialties. Their trade has developed from modest proportions until now it reaches out into a wide area of the State and into adjoining States.
Mr. Ethridge was originally a Whig and later a Republican, and for many years took an active part in local politics. For a time he was a member of the board of supervisors, but otherwise never accepted public office. He was elected supervisor against a strong Democratic opponent in the Democratic stronghold of Rome. He always manifested a keen interest in the advancement of the city and contributed in various ways towards its material prosperity, and especially to charitable and benevolent objects. Enterprising, sagacious, and public spirited, he has throughout a long and successful career retained the confidence and respect of every one with whom he has had business or social relations. He was one of the founders and directors of the Merchants Iron Mill, and for several years was interested in many other corporations.
Mr. Ethridge was married November 5, 1851, to Miss Abby Murdock House, whose father, Leonard, son of Eleazer and Abigail (Moseley) House, was born at Glastonbury, Conn., August 24, 1787, and died at Houseville, N. Y., December 23, 1879. Her mother, Louisa Murdock, was born in Sandgate, VT, January 12, 1788, married Mr. House on December 28, 1809, and died at Houseville, N. Y., July 6, 1870. Mrs. Ethridge was born July 10, 1824. Mr. and Mrs. Ethridge had four children: Franklin Alfred, Isabella (born April 1, 1856 and died February 29, 1872), James Murdock, and George.
Page 104 (Contributed by Linda)