USA > New York > Genealogical and family history of northern New York : a record of the achievements of her people in the making of a commonwealth and the founding of a nation, Volume II > Part 54
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and of Lodge No. 198, Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks. He married Ophelia A. Harrison. Children : Fred S., born No- vember 21, 1864; Mathias H .. August 16, 1866: Carrie M., February 13. 1868: Wil- liam H., January 16, 1874: Firman Roy. mentioned below.
This name is of French ori- FLOWER gin. It comes to America through England. Persons known by the name of Floier held large pos- sessions in Devonshire, England, immedi- ately after the Conquest. One of the an- cestors of the family herein traced, Captain William Flier, was born near the city of Exeter. England, in 1450, and accompanied the army of King Edward IV. in the de- scent on France in 1490. He married Phil- lipa Crooke and became later a resident of Willston, Dorsetshire. Of his three sons, William, born 1530, married Elizabeth Kirk.
( II) Firman Roy, son of Firman Fields Kirk, was born in Williamsport, Pennsyl- vania, October 1, 1877. He was educated in the public schools. He began his busi- ness career as shipping clerk in the Lycom- ing River Works at Williamsport, and ai- ter remaining two years with this company he became traveling representative of the P. J. Sorg Tobacco Company of Middleton, (I) From this marriage descended Lam- rock Flower. the progenitor of the Ameri- can branch of the family. He was born in Whitwell, Rutlandshire, England. The date of his emigration is not known. but he settled. in 1685. at Hartford. Connecti- cut. where he died in 1716. He was the father of eight children. Ohio, in the central Pennsylvania district. In 1901 this concern was absorbed by the American Tobacco Company. Mr. Kirk con- tinued with the new owners until 1905. when he entered the employ cf A. G. Crooks & Company of Malone, New York, as travel- ing salesman. On August 1. 1907. he be- came vice-president of the Symonds & Al- (H ) Lainrock (2), second child and eld- est son of Lamrock ( 1) Flower, was born lison Company, wholesale dealers and manu- facturers of confectionery, succeeding Mr. . at Hartford, March 25, 1089. He had a A. C. Allison. In Igos the name became daughter and a son. the Kirk-Maher Company and Mr. Kirk has (III) Elijah, son of Lamrock (2) Flow- er. was born April 15. 1717, at Hartford. where. in 1742. he married Abigail Sey- mour, by whom he had six children. since then been president of the concern, which has a large and flourishing business in this section of the country. He is presi- dent of Malone Board of Trade. He is a ( IV) George, son of Elijah Flower, was born at Hartford. April 26, 1760. He mar- ried Roxaline Crowe, and soon after the birth of his son George moved to Oak Hill. Greene county. New York. He was the father of ten children. member of St. Mark's Protestant Episcopal church, and is vestryman an 1 treasurer. He is a member of Northern Constellation Lodge, No. 291, Free and! Accepted Mas ms: Northern Constellation Chapter. No. 28. Royal Arch Masons : Franklin Commandery. (V) Nathan Munroe, seventh child of George Ilower, born at Oak Hill, Decem- ber 14. 1796, was married in Springfieldl. New York, to Mary Ann, daughter of Philip Boyle, of Cherry Valley, New York. Mr. Boyle was a native of freland, coming to this country in his childhood. where in due time he engaged in extensive contraet work. being one of the contractors of the first water works in New York City. After his death the family moved to Springfield, New - No. 60. Knights Templar : Karnak Temple. Mystic Shrine, of Montreal, Canada: Wil- liamsport Lodge, No. 198. Benevolent and Protective Order of Ell:s: Elm City Lodge. No. 411, Knights of Pythias, and of the Commercial Travelers' Association of the United States. In politics he is a Republi- can. Mr. Kirk married. June 29. 1005. Elizabeth May, born November 16. 1883. daughter of A. G. Crocks, of Malone.
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York. Soon after his marriage Nathan M. Flower took up his residence in Theresa, Jefferson county, where he erected a cloth mill, and the business prospered under his intelligent management. For many years he was a justice of the peace at Theresa, and during his residence there one of the most active members of the Presbyterian church. He died April 4, 1843. in his forty-seventh year. Of the nine children born to Nathan M. and Mary Ann Flower, seven were liv- ing at the date of his untimely death, the eldest being but fifteen, the youngest, An- son R., having been born in June, 1843. two months after the death of his father. Mrs. Flower made a brave and successful struggle to rear her family into meritorious man- hood and womanhoed. Her children, all born in Theresa, were : Caroline, January 21. 1821; Roxaline, March 15. 1826; Nathan Monroe, January 21, 1828; George Walton, August 5, 1830: Orville Ranney, January 12, 1833: Roswell Pettibone, mentioned be- low: Marcus, Angust 11. 1837: John Davi- son, April 16, 1839: Anson Ranney, June 20, 1843.
(VI) Hon. Roswell P., son of Nathan M. Flower, one of the most masterly of the bril- liant statesmen who have adorned the high office of governor of the state of New York, was born at Theresa, Jefferson county, Au- gust 8. 1835, died at Eastport, Long Island. May 12, 1899. He came of an excellent ancestry, from which he derived superb physical vigor and sterling principles, and he forged his own character in that white heat of poverty and necessity which con- sumes all dross and leaves a perfect metal. He was left fatherless at the tender age of eight years. As a lad he worked at wool picking, in a brickyard, and upon a farm. He attended school as he could and was diligent in his studies as he was industrious in his labors, and graduated in the high school course when eighteen years old. He was for some time a teacher in a district scho d. acquitting himself most creditably and con- quering the respect of his popis when they
were disposed to resent the authority of so young a master. He made his home with his sister's husband, Silas L. George, a mer- chant, who boarded him and paid him a monthly wage of five dollars for his ser- vices. He was afterwards a clerk in the post office at Watertown. He was closely economical and saving, and in a few years had accumulated a little fortune of a theu- sand dollars. This he invested in a jew- elry and brokerage business, which he suc- cessfully conducted until 18og, in which year he removed to New York City, having been made executor of the estate of his deceased brother-in-law, Henry Keep. In this impor- tant trust he displayed the finest executive and financial ability, and the estate quad- rupled in value under his management. In ISTI he became a member of the banking and brokerage firm of Benedict. Ilower & Company, from which he retired m 1875 to become senior member of the banking firm of R. P. Flower & Company. He was also officially connected with various corpora- tions, and was a trustee and honorary vice- president of the Colonial Trust Company, a trustee of the Metropolitan Trust Company. and a director in the Corn Exchange Bank, the National Surety Company. the United States Casualty Company, the People's Gas Light & Coke Company, of gas companies in Chicago, and of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad Company. He retained a home in his native village, with whose in- terests he never ceased to be actively and Usefully identified.
Governor Flower was, during all his ac- tive career, one of the most potential politi- eal figures in the state. A Democrat .i the highest stamp of character and ability. he took an earnest part in support of Sey- mour and Blair in the presidential campaign of 1868. In 18;6 he was foremost as or- ganizer of the initial movement which led to the nomination of Samuel J. Tillen for the presidency. At the succeeding election he was elected to the forty-seventh congress from the eleventh New York district. defeat-
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بيابانية - ١ لتحية أهبوا كير -جلهم قريب .. . المجيدة للعنشط
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٠ ١٥٠٠ ربوية ٩ ٠ ٢٠١٠٠٤٦
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ing William Waldorf Astor. In 1882 he was represented as a candidate for the gubernatorial nomination, and in conven- tion received one hundred and eighty-three votes as against the same number for Gen- eral William H. Slocum, and sixty-one for Grover Cleveland. At this juncture it be- came apparent that political necessity de- manded a candidate from outside the city of New York, and Mr. Flower withdrew to make way for Mr. Cleveland, who was made the nominee, and thus placed upon the high- way which led him to the presidency. In the same year Mr. Flower was made chair- man of the Democratic congressional com- mittee. In 1883 he declined a renomination to congress, and two years later declined the nomination for lieutenant governorship. In 1888 he was again elected to congress. and the same year he was a delegate-at- large in the Democratic national conventi a at St. Louis, which nominated Mr. Cleve- land for the presidency, and was chairman of the delegation from the state of New York. In the same year he was strongly urged to become a candidate for the lieuten- ant governorship, but declined for business reasons. In 1889 he was returned to con- gress by a majority of more than twelve thousand. In 1892 he was prominently mentioned for the presidential nomination. In that year he was elected governor, re- ceiving a majority of nearly fifty thousand over Hon. J. Sloat Fassett. This fine trib- ute was due, in large degree, to his integ- rity, and his unselfish care for public inter- ests as shown in every instance where a trust was committed to him. His adminis- , tratien was broadly practical and sagacious. and his every act was based upon conserva- tive views and an accurate estimate of con- ditions and necessities. In congress his con- duct was marked by the same high stand- ards. While an ardent supporter of Demo- cratic principles, he would subordinate no 1 ublic interest to partisan ends, and in what- ever legislation he advocated or opposed his sole object was the promotion of the wel-
fare of the country and the people. Once. when congratulated upon the excellence of his congressional record. he remarked that whatever of usefulness he had accomplished was due to his constant endeavor to learn as much as any other and, if possible, more. concerning whatever matter was entrusted to a committee of which he was a member. In the fifty-first congress he made an envi- able record in championship of a movement for the holding of the Columbian Exposition of 1893 in New York City. He earnestly opposed the Mckinley tariff bill and the "force bill" as he did the attempt of the Farmer's Alliance to establish a system of sub-treasuries for the loaning of public funds on field crops, domestic animals, etc. Ile was a warm advocate of liberal, but well guarded, sokliers' pension legislation, of the election of postmasters by the people, and of the irrigation of the arid regions of the west.
Governor Flower amassed a large for- tune, estimated at about $25,000,000, and in its acquisition no taint of wrong-doing. either in personal or public life, ever at- tached to him. He was broadly philan- thropic. and for many years set apart one- tenth of his income for benevolences, and the sums thus distributed amounted to more than a million dollars. He built the Flower Surgical Ilospital in New York City, and with Mrs. Flower he erected the St. Thomas Parish House in the same city, at Fifty- ninth and Sixtieth streets on Second avenue. for work among the poor. The inspiration for this noble benefaction is told in a me- morial tablet bearing the following inscrip- tion : "Erected to God by Roswell P. Flow- er and Sarah M. Flower, in memory of their son. Henry Kepp Flower." Mr. Flow- er also built, as a memorial to his parents. a Presbyterian church edifice at Theresa. New York, and he and his brother, Anson R. Flower, of New York City. erected Trin- ity Protestant Episcopal church at Water- town. New York. His denations to all man- ner of charitable and benevolent institutions
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are accounted for in previous references in ten resided and kept their court there ; this narrative. It is to be added that, while governor of New York, in 1893. there arose urgent necessity for the purchase of Fire Island as a state quarantine station. There were no available public funds, and Gover- nor Flower unhesitatingly advanced the amount needed, $210.000. That he was af- terward reimbursed by act of the legislature in no way detracts from the merit of his act.
Governor Flower was essentially a self- made man, and in large degree he was seli- educated. He was a man of broad knowl- edge, not alone in the fields of finance and politics, but in literature and the arts. His city residence in Fifth avenue, New York City, and his summer home at Watertown were both eloquent, in their furnishings and contents, of his refined tastes. His library was rich in the choicest of literature, par- ticularly of Americana, and he was the own- er of a large mass of valuable autographic relics of all the presidents of the United States, from Washington down to his own day. In recognition of his high attainments and signally useful public services Law- rence University in 1893 conferred upon him the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws.
Governor Flower married. in 1859. Sarah M., daughter of Norris M. Woodruff. of Watertown, New York, a lady of beautiful character, who was her husband's active ally in all benevolent and charitable works. Three children were born to them, of whom a son and a daughter are deceased. The liv- ing child is Emma Gertrude, who is now the wife of J. B. Taylor, of Watertown, New York.
This is an ancient KINGSBURY name in England. where. as the name of a place, it is found as early as the days of the Saxon kings. The Manor of Kingsbury. in the hundred of Caishoe, county Herts. was so termed from the Saxon kings who were the ancient possessors thereof, and of-
among whom Bertulph, King of the Mei- cians, celebrated a parliamentary council there Friday after Easter in the year 851. The first of the name known to history is Gilbert de Kingsbury, who was incumbent of St. Peter's church. Kingsbury. War- wickshire, about 1300. He probably derived his surname from the place. There was a family named Kingsbury in county Dorset, England, who bore for a coat-of-arms ".\z- ure, a chevron or between two doves in chief proper and a serpent in base of the last. Crest, "Wybern vert," motto "Prudens et innocens." The English records show a greater variety of spelling than even those of New England: Kingsburie. Kingsbor- ough. Kingsherry, Kingsbeary and Kings- borrowe being a few of the variations. The Connecticut family use a final "e." the tra- dition being that owing to a quarrel. two Kingsbury brothers would not even spel! their names alike. The name is distinguished in American records, where the trust and confidence inspired by their lives have led to long continued terms in church and state. They have been represented in every way in which the country has ever been concerned. Many fought in the French and Indian wars. Fifty of the descendants of Henry King's- bury fought in the revolution, and in the civil war they were found wearing both the blue and the gray. They were supporters of the early church, and it is written of Deacon Joseph. of Enfield. Connecticut. that he "was a strict supporter of the good old ways of Puritans in their most early days." Pluck was added to their other vir- tues, as shown by James Kingsbury, the first white settler of Cleveland, Ohio, who with his family suffered untold hardships. The first Kingsbury in New England was Henry Kingsbury, who came in the "Tal- bot." one of the ships in Governor Win- throp's fleet in 1630. It is most probable that he returned to England. No relation- ship is shown with the foll wing :
( I) Henry Kingsbury was at Ipswich.
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Massachusetts, in 1638. There are numer- . 114 land transactions on the records of Ips- wich and Haverhill covering the years 1648 to 1087, when his estate was appraised. In toby he deposed in court that he was fifty- four years of age. which places his birth in 1015. He finally settled in Haverhill, where ie died October 1. 1687. There was a re- lationship existing between the Gage and Kingsbury families, but it is not known whether Henry married a Gage. or John Gage married a Kingsbury. Susanna, wife of Henry Kingsbury, died in Haverhill. February 21, 1679. Children: 1. John, of Newbury, married Elizabeth, daughter of Matthias Bulton, of Ipswich; two children. 2. Ephraim, killed by the Indians, May 2, 1676: he is believed to have been the first jerson in Haverhill slain by the Indians in King Philip's war : there is no record of his Having married. 3. James. of Plainfield, Con- Rectient, married Sarah, another daughter of Matthias Bulton : six children. 4. Samuel, of Haverhill. born 1649: married Huldah. laughter of George and Joanna (Davisi Corliss : two children. 5. Thomas, of Plain- field. Connecticut ; married Deborah, daugh- ter of George and Joanna i Davis) Corliss, and widow of Thomas Eastman; and had two children, Thomas and Mehitable, both killed by Indians in the attack on Haverhill in 1697, and at a later period he appears to have been taken captive and carried away by the Indians and kept by them for a long time. After his return from captivity the proprietors of Plainfield presented him with a tract of land "that he may have where- withal to live comfortably amongst us." 6. Deacon Joseph (see forward). 7. Susanna, married Joseph Pike, of Newbury, son of Captain John and Mary Pike. He was rep- resentative and deputy sheriff. and was killed by the Indians. September 4. 1694, at Ames- bury, while on his way to Haverhill. Her grandson, Rev. James Pike, was the first minister of Somersworth, New Hampshire. and had a son, Nicholas Pike, who was the author of "Pike's Arithmetic."
( II) Deacon Joseph. sixth child and son of Henry and Su-anna Kingsbury of Haver- hill, born in 16gb, was known as Joseph of Norwich. West Farms. Connecticut. He took the oath of allegiance November 28. 1677; was sergeant of the train band, con- stable, tithing man, selectman, viewer of fences, and appears to have been a surveyor. He was bookkeeper for Captain Simon Wainwright. a merchant of Haverhill, when the captain was killed by the Indians and his house burned in 1708. He removed with his family to Norwich, Connecticut, in ITON. settling in that part called West Farms, now Franklin. He purchased land and erected a home. This property continued 'in the Kingsbury name until ISto, when it was bought by John G. Cooley, who married a daughter of Colonel Thomas H. C. Kings- bury, heirs keeping the land in the family if not in the name. He was a pillar of the church at West Farms, where he and his wife were admitted by letter from the church at Haverhill. He was one of the first two deacons chosen October 8, 1718. He wa- appointed ensign of the train band in 1;19. and lieutenant. October. 1727. He died April 9. 1741, in his eighty-fifth year. He mar- ried, April 2. 1679. Love. daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth ( Hutchins) Ayer of Haverhill, born April 15, 1663, died at Nor- wich, Connecticut, April 24. 1735. after a married life of fifty-six years. Their tomb- stones may be seen in the old burying- ground in Franklin, Connecticut. Children : 1. Captain Joseph (see forward). 2. Cap- tain Nathaniel, married Hannah Dennison. sister of his brother Joseph's wife, and had fourteen children. He was captain of the northeast train band of Windham. Connec- ticut. 3. Elizabeth, died in infancy. 4. Mary, married (first ) Stephen Bingham. 5 Elizabeth ( 21, born October 10, 1603 : mar- ried Samuel Ashley : seven children. 6. Su- sanna, married Jonathan Ladd: ten chil- dren.
( III) Captain Joseph, eldest son of Dea- con Joseph and Love LAvery Kingsbury.
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was born in Haverhill, Massachusetts, June 22, 1682, died December 1. 1757. He came with his father in June. 1708. to Norwich West Farms, where he was admitted to the church by letter January 4. 1718. He was chosen deacon February 20. 1735, and was one of the pillars of the church. lle was appointed ensign of the train band in 1721, lieutenant in 1729, captain in 1748. He was selectman of Norwich in 1723, and deputy to the general assembly 1731-34-38-39 and 1742. He was one of the committee ap- pointed by the general assembly in 1739 "to repair to the society on the east side of the great river in Hartford and to affix a place for the new meeting house thereon." In his will Captain Joseph mentions his "loving and faithful wife Ruth" and his children and grandchildren. He left his two slaves. "Cuff and Phillis," to his wife Ruth. She gave them their freedom in 1773 The two ex-slaves removed to Tolland, where in 1793 they became a charge on the town, which brought suit against Ebenezer Kingsbury, as executor of his mother's estate. to make him support them, under the statute requir- ing all masters or owners who set slaves free to provide for their support if they should ever come to want. The town won the suit. It was stated in the testimony that Ruth Kingsbury left a clear estate of five hundred pounds. Captain Joseph Kings- bury married. February 5. 1706. Ruth, daughter of John and Ruth (Ayer) Denni- son. of Ipswich. Massachusetts; she was born June 7. 10So, diedl May 6. 1779, aged ninety-three years. Her tombstone in Franklin burying-ground adds, "she left five children, sixty-vad grandchildren, fif- teen great-grandchildren, and fifteen great- great-grandchildren." Captain Joseph has a suitable stone and lies by ber side. his name cut in the stone. "Kingsbery." hers. "Kings- bury." Children, all born at West Farms : I. Ephraim ( see forward). 2. Hannah. married Captain Jacob Hyde: nine children. 3. Love, married Josiah Backu-, eight chil- dren. 4 Ruth, married Jestua Edgerton;
twelve children. 5. Captain Joseph (2). deputy to the general court 1756: married Deliverance Squire ; eleven children. 6. Cap- tain Ebenezer, married Priscilla, daughter of his uncle. Nathaniel Kingsbury. ( It is said she read the Bible through before mar- rying, to see if there was anything to for- bid cousins marrying ). He was deacon of the church and deputy to the general court from Coventry, Connecticut, eighteen terms from 1754-1780. He was lieutenant of the Ninth company, Fifth regiment, 1753; cap- tain, October, 1760. . At a critical time dur- ing the revolution he returned on a Satur- day from the general assembly to work for the soldiers. His son Joseph moul led bul- lets from the lead clockweights, while Pris- cilla baked biscuits, both on the Sabbath. Sand bags were substituted for lead in the family clock. and on Monday he returned to his post of duty with his saddle bags ! ai- anced, food on one side for the patriot sol- diers, bullets on the other for their enemies. He died in Coventry, September 6. 1800. aged eighty-three years. Priscilla, his wife. died January 3. 1805. aged 83. Children : 7. Eleazar, married ( first ) Jabez Backus, ( second ) Ebenezer Baldwin: six children. Her eldest son, Jabez Backus, was father of Rev. Azel Backus, D. D., first president of Hamilton College. New York. Their youngest son, Rev. Charles Backus, was an accomplished scholar, a distinguished divine and a noted pulpit orator. o. Grace, died unmarried. to. Daniel, was a selectman of Norwich, and held other town offices: mer- ried Abigail Barstow, and had five chil- dren. His widow married David Long- bottom. II. Talitha, married Zaccheus Waldo, of Scotland. Child: Daniel. served in the revolution, captured and imprisone ! in the Sugar House. New York: studied for the ministry, and was in that work for many years: elected chaplain of National House of Representatives, 1856, and in 1857. being at the time ninety-four or ninety-five year- of age, with faculties unimpaired : preached' his last sermon after entering on his che
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hundred and second year. He died July 30. 1864, aged 101 years, 10 months, 20 days. 12. Irene, died unmarried. 13. Na- thaniel, married Sarah Hill : three children. ( IV) Captain Ephraim. eldest son of Cap- tain Joseph and Ruth ( Dennison Kings- bury, was born in Haverhill, Massachusetts, (all his brothers and sisters were born in West Farms ) January 4. 1707, died Novem- her 17, 1772. He was ensign of the Third company in Norwich, 1737: lieutenant. 1746 : captain, 1749 : deacon of the Norwich West Farms church, 1770-72. He married. July 3. 1728. Martha Smith, born in Nor- wich, November 26, 1710. died October 24. 1771, daughter of Captain Obadiah and Martha Abell Smith. Children: 1. Asa ( see forward ). 2. Absalom, a soldier of the revo- lution ; married (first ) Rebecca Rust. (sec- ond) Mrs. Abigail Wilson: a prominent citizen of Alstead. New Hampshire: select- man, justice of the peace, town clerk and treasurer : Republican in the legislature : ten children. 3. Martha, married Amariah Rockwell: eight children. 4. Doeter Oba- diah ; practiced medicine in his native town. and was the first president of the Connecti- eut Medical Society. He was deacon of the church, and married Sarah Kingsbury : four children. 5. Irene, married (first ) Amos Avery; child : Amos. 6. Ephraim (2). re- moved to Coventry after his marriage, and built a house in the west part of the town. on what is now the road to Rockville. Here he lived sixty-five years, and it was occu- pied by his descendants until September 1. 1893. The house was in course of erection i :. April, 1776, when the news came of the battle of Lexington; the floor was being laid in the kitchen, but the boards were dropped, and Ephraim. with all his work- nien, joined in the march to Boston. The Bext year the house was completed, and the figures 1776 can still be seen on a brick in the front of the chimney. He continued in the service and was ensign in the Third Battalion Connecticut troops. He was rep- :tentative to the general court from Con-
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