Wiley Sebring and Clara McIntyre

The unkindnesses that we do can have consequences long after, even after our deaths. The harms of the past can ripple through time and be felt by descendants long afterwards. The life of Wiley Sebring provides a poignant example.

Wiley Sebring was born 5 June 1883 in Rose, Wayne Co. New York, the son of William H. Sebring and Mary Jane Lumbert. [1] By 1896, when Wiley was about nine, the family had moved to Syracuse, Onondaga County. [2] The 1900 census found them still there; 15-year-old Wiley had dropped out of school and was working as a day laborer. Wiley's father William had separated from his second wife by then, and included in his household in 1900 was his "housekeeper," Sarah Elizabeth Rice McIntyre, now using the name "Jenny," perhaps to hide her true identity, since she was still married to William McIntyre Jr. Living with "Jenny" was her 11-year-old daughter Clara. [3]

Two years later, on 26 March 1902 in Elbridge, Onondaga Co. Wiley, then 17, married Clara McIntyre. [4] Clara had been born in Elbridge on 9 July 1888, and was not yet 14 when she married Wiley. [5] GIven her unstable family life, the young girl may have seen marriage as a path to a more solid future. If so, she was to be disappointed. Wiley still had a few wild oats to sow. In April of the next year, he and two other young men were charged in county court with freight car robbery, having stolen shoes from a railcar. The accused claimed that a stranger had invited them to take the shoes, and they were given probation because they came from "good families." Perhaps the other young men did come from good families, and Wiley benefited by keeping good company. His own family would not seem to quality as "good," as his father was not unfamiliar with the courts himself. [6] Fatherhood may have led Wiley to lead a more settled life -- no mention has been found of further criminal doings on his part after the birth of his child, William, was born on 18 October 1903. [7]

Wiley worked as a manual laborer in a variety of positions. He first appeared in the Syracuse city directory in 1902 -- when he would have been newly married -- working as chairmaker, as were his father and brother Willard. Over the years he was listed sometimes as a chairmaker, a laborer, and a brewery worker. [8] In 1907 his son Henry's birth record described him as a "conductor." [9]

By 1910 his offspring totalled three, and he was working, still in Syracuse, as a driver for a brewery. He was steadily employed, but rented, rather than owned, his home. Another family, the Frames, were listed at the same address, suggesting that the two families lived in a double house -- one building with two doors containing two separate homes -- not an uncommon situation for working class families in Western New York. [10] His 1918 draft registration recorded that he was working at the Syracuse Rendering Plant. It also, oddly, listed his father William as his closest relative, rather than his wife Clara. He was described as a short man, with brown hair and blue eyes. [11] 1918 is also the last year for some time that Wiley appeared in the Syracuse city directory. [12]

Wiley's disappearance from the Syracuse city directory is no doubt explained by his move to DeWitt, a suburb of Syracuse, where he appeared in the 1920 census. Wiley was working as a laborer at a stone company, and rented his home. Wiley and Clara's family had grown to seven children. [13] In 1925 they were back in Syracuse,where Wiley was working at a cold storage facility. [14]

A final daughter, Mary, was born to them about that time, and then the family disintegrated. [15] Wiley's violence may have caused the ultimate break-up of his family. Richard Sebring recalled his father telling of Wiley taking a swing at him. [16] 1930 found Clara living with her two youngest daughters, Doris and Mary, in what appears to be an apartment. Wiley may have been providing some kind of support to Clara, as "none" was entered for her occupation. [17] (To date, Wiley has not been found in the 1930 census). Three of the younger boys were in reform schools. Jim, then 18, was in the New York House of Refuge in Manhattan. [18] Johnny, 15, was living at the State Industrial School in Industry, Monroe Co. NY. [19] And Harry, 13, was a "lodger" in Sloan Cottage at the Berkshire Industrial Farm in Canaan, Columbia County. New York. [20] Daughter Mary eventually ended up in foster care. [21]

Wiley died on 1 June 1938 at St. Joseph Hospital in Syracuse, Onondaga Co. NY at the age of 54. The cause of death was acute cholecystitis, with a pelvic abcess and purulent pleurisy as contributing causes. This suggests that his gallbladder burst, leading to an infection in the abdominal cavity. At the time, Wiley was employed as a "pick and shovel laborer" by the Works Project Administration. He was likely ill for some time, as the death certificate indicates that he last worked in 1937, a year before his death. Wiley and Clara must have maintained some contact, as she was listed as the informant for his death certificate, although she was living in Ogden Mills, NY. Wiley was buried in Loomis Hill Cemetery, Onondaga County's resting place for paupers. [22]

Clara drifted about after her marriage ended and her children scattered. In 1938 she was living with Ray Stowall in Blodgett Mills in Cortland County. [23] Grandson Tom recalls visiting and being treated to wonderful farm breakfasts of ham, eggs, bacon, bisquits, coffee, and a big slice of apple pie to top it all off. [24] The 1940 census shows Ray to be a 74-year-old widower with only a 6th grade education. No occupation was listed. Clara was described as his housekeeper, with a 5th grade education. She had reportedly been living in Cortland County as far back as 1935. [25] Later, during WWII, Clara lived for a time with her daughter-in-law, Edna Farr Sebring, although Edna and Hank were already divorced by that time. [26] She later returned to Cortland, where she worked variously as a waitress, a bookkeeper, and again as a housekeeper. [27] She eventually settled in Cortland, Cortland Co. NY where many of her children had ended up, and she joined the First Methdist Church there. She died in Cortland on 10 July 1965 and is buried in the Cortland Rural Cemetery. [28]

Tom Sebring, family friend, Bill Stewart, Jr, Edna Mae Sebring, Clara McIntyre Sebring, Gerry Sebring (front) Dick Sebring, Ray Stowell.

Although Wiley fathered nine children, his descendants today have few memories passed down of him. Hank Sebring never spoke of his father, even while he was alive, and had no contact with him. The only story he chose to share of his father was the memory of his father's fist going through the wall. [29] Wiley's children, particularly the younger ones, suffered for lack of a firm and loving father's guidance. Upstate New York is still littered with the human wreckage of Wiley's mistakes.

Wiley Sebring and Clara McIntyre had the following children:
 

+ i. William W. Sebring was born on 18 October 1903 in New York. [30] On 14 June 1921, in New York, Bill married Ruth L. Kilts. [31] Ruth was born c. 1905 in New York, the daughter of Herbert Kilts and his wife Liva. [32] By 1930 the couple had resettled in Cortland, Cortland Co. and had four children. They rented an apartment for $10 a month and Bill worked as a weaver in a steel wire mill. [33] Their family would grow to total 9 children in all. [34] Bill died on 29 January 1988 in Homer, Cortland County, NY. [35]
+ ii. Henry Ellsworth Sebring was born at home on 31 January 1907 in Syracuse, Onondaga County, New York. [36]
+ iii. Clara Rosella Sebring was born on 16 August 1909 in New York. [37] She married Aaron Norman Baker in Syracuse, Onondaga Co. on 21 November 1927 when she was 18. [38] Aaron was 19, born in New York on 2 November 1908. [39] He was the son of Morrell S. Baker, a native of Pennsylvania, and his wife Louise, a Finnish immigrant. In 1930 Aaron was working as a fireman on the railroad, and the couple were living with his parents in East Syracuse with their 5-month old daughter. [40] Aaron spent his career working for the New York Central Railroad and belonged to Local Railroad Brotherhood. He died in Minoa, Onondaga Co. NY on 7 November 1982, predeceasing Clara. [41] Clara and Aaron had six children. [42]
+ iv. James R. Sebring was born on 8 December 1911 in Fayetteville, Onondaga County, New York. [43] He died on 12 May 1993 in Rochester, Monroe County, New York. [44]
v. John Sebring was born on 18 April 1914 [45] in New York. [46] He died on 16 May 1989. [47]
vi. Harry Sebring was born 16 May 1916 in DeWitt, Onondaga County, New York. [48] He died in December 1980. [49]
vii. Robert Freeman Sebring was born on 11 May 1918 [50] in New York. [51] He died in June 1977. [52]
+ viii. Doris Hattie Sebring was born in North Rose, Wayne County, New York on 8 March 1922. [53] She died on 15 April 2006 in Newark, Licking County, Ohio. [54]
+ ix. Mary E. Sebring, Doris's twin, was born on 8 March 1922 in North Rose, Wayne County, New York. [55] She died in Syracuse on 19 April 1975. [56]

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Last updated on 18 July 2014

This web site created by Janice Sebring.
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