At first, I noted a contradiction of the spelling of stone mason Cyrus Witheral's name between the pamphlet "Tour of Historic Cobblestone Homes" 10/17/2009 page 10 and an article "A Master Builder of the Early Nineteenth Century" by Marc Cole in the magazine Country Life in America, February, 1916 pages 22-23 imported from Richard Palmer's blog. Richard's OCRed original version stated the name as Witherell; however, being cautious about Richard's transcription, I was able to locate the "A Master Builder of the Early Nineteenth Century" article online which clearly stated the name as Wetherhill. Scroll to access page 22.
There are additional references to Cyrus Wetherhill in the article "An Unknown Colonial Type" by a different author, Christina Livingston Rose, in other editions of magazines, The New Country Life 1917, Volume 32, page 67, and Country Life 1917, Volume 32, page 195
References to Cyrus in the Info Base are in the "References Information" section under the headings "Cobblestone Construction" and "Cobblestone History". I have made the changes to the Info Base updating Richard's transcription to Wetherhill to match the original article.
So, which version of the name is correct? Gregory Lawrence email 03/29/2020.
Response:
This is one of those things of which you can never be sure. I know in my father's family you can find variations of Anheier.
However, I tend to go with the spelling Witheral. This is how it is written in three different places in the mid-1880 ledgers of the Gaines (Basin) School District #2. It is also how it is spelled on the 1860, 1880, 1892 and 1905 census records, the NY Death Index and the gravestone.
Of course, since census records aren't written by the subject people, they can be inaccurate as written or transcribed. In the 1855 census it is transcribed as Witherell, but I would read it as Witherall. In the 1865 census it is Witherell. In the 1870 census it is transcribed as Wetheral, but I would read it as Witheral.
I didn't go to the extent of checking for wills in the county office to look for a signature.
I assume the article with it as Wetherhill is either poor documentation or a typo. The only period census references to Cyrus Wetherhill are in Pennsylvania and Illinois. Unfortunately, once an error gets printed, it tends to get repeated. Erin Anheier email 03/29/2020.
Additional Information:
"Cyrus Built Many Homes At Gaines", page 4 of special section of the Medina Daily Journal-Register, 2/21/1964. This page is a high resolution image file of a 15 x 22 inch newspaper page and requires time to load for display. Please be patient. Enlarge the displayed image if necessary. Each page includes a number of articles written by by Eleanor Weeks Wilder for the Cobblestone Society, except where noted.
Editor's Note: The article states that the correct spelling of the name is Cyrus Witheral, based on an 4/17/1850 official document signature as a witness to a wedding. Signature enlarged. His tombstone displays "Cyrus Witheral 1817-1893".
Plaque reads: During the 1840's & 1850's local stone mason Cyrus Witheral built some of the most outstanding cobblestone homes found here in the Town of Gaines. These lake stone landmarks including several along the historic Ridge Rd. in the herringbone pattern express his extraordinary skills as a builder. Otter Creek Cemetery, Gaines, Town of Gaines, Orleans County, New York. Memorial ID 48883013. Additional resource: Pamphlet "Tour of Historic Cobblestone Homes" 10/17/2009 page 12.
Editor's Note: The article above is a good example of how documentation and imagery are compiled on a subject over time from a variety of sources. On October 1960 the Cobblestone Society and Museum were formed to bring the history, uniqueness and preservation of cobblestone structures to public attention. The task was a challenge to not only obtain a physical presence of a museum building and eventually more, but to collect documentation and imagery by simultaneously going back in time starting in the 1820's, as well as today, and the events and plans for the future. Inevitably, the collection of knowledge, documentation and imagery available since October 1960 is extensive and needs a revamped catalog. The digital age has provided a solution with the Cobblestone Info Base, a virtual library and repository for all known and found information on authentic cobblestone structures circa 1825 to 1868+ in all of North America. My task, an hour after hour of effort, is to catalog, import and maintain the documentation and imagery at hand from whatever source into the Cobblestone Info Base. The ability to link and cross-link to tie related information together give worldwide users access hopefully to all content that is available at the moment, likely an ongoing task for years to come.
