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 65

Author: Cutter, William Richard, 1847- ed
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: New York, N.Y. : Lewis Historical Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 994


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 65


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1. Charles Collins, see forward.


2. Clinton Hart, born December 5. 1855. at Leyden. New York : he was educated at the Alexander Military Institute at White Plains. New York: Pingrey's School for Boys at Elizabeth, New Jersey, and the Sheffield Scientific School of Yale Univer- sity (special, class of 1877). He studied medicine at Yale Medical School and was graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, 1879: practiced at Locust Grove, New York, from 1878 to 1885, and was president of Lewis County Medical Society. Since then his lifework has been in zoology, botany and ethnology. In 1872 he was appointed naturalist of Hay- den's Survey of the Territories, and accom- panied the expedition on an extended sur- vey of the far west, including Yellowstone Park. In 1875 he was appointed assistant on the United States fish commission. In 1883 he visited Newfoundland and the Arc- tic Seal Fishery as surgeon of the steamship "Proteus." In the spring of 1885 he vis- ited Germany, Holland and England. and later in the same year was appointed head of the division of ornithology and mam- malogy in the department of agriculture, which under his charge has grown into the United States Biological Survey, of which he continued chief until 1910. In 1891 he led the Death Valley expedition: was then appointed United States Bering Sea commis- simmer to investigate the fur-seal fishery on the Pribolof Islands. Alaska. Since then he has continued his biological surveys of various states and territories. His publica- tions include: "Birds of Connecticut." "Mammals of the Adirondacks. " "Results of


Biological Survey of San Francisco m un- tain region and desert of Little Colorado in Arizona." "Biological Reconnaisance of Idaho," "Geographic Distribution of Life in North America," "Trees, Shrubs, Cactuses and Yurcas of Death Valley Expedition." "Laws of Temperature Control of Geo- graphic Distribution of Terrestrial Animals and Plants," "Menographic Revision of the Pocket Gophers." "Revision of American Shrews," "Synopsis of Weasels of North America," "Life Zones and Crop Zones of the United States." "Biological Survey of Mount Shasta, California," "The Indian Population of California," "Distribution and Classification of the Mewan Indians of California." "1s Mutation a Factor in the Evolution of the Higher Vertebrates," and an illustrated book of Californian Indian myths entitled "The Dawn of the World"; als about three hundred papers in ze)- logical and botanical subjects: in addi- tion he has edited a dozen volumes of the Harriman Maska expedition reports. He is a member of the Washington Academy. the Biological, Anthropological, and Philosophi- cal societies, Society of American Foresters. National Geographic Society and National Academy. He is a Fellow of the Ormtholo- gists Union, vice-president of the Associa- tion for the Advancement of Science, and foreign member of the London Zoological Society. In 1886 he married Virginia Eliza- beth Gosnel, of Virginia : children: Doro- thy, boin in 18go, and Zenaida, born in 1802.


3. Ella Gertrude, born November 7. 1857. died August 7, 1863.


4. Florence Augusta, bern August 8, 1863 : educated at Mrs. Piatt's School, Utica. New York, and Smith College (special. class of 1886). afterward attending courses of lectures at Columbia and Stanford uni- versities. Before going to college she be- gan work on birds with her brother, the naturalist. Dr. C. Hart Merriam, and when in college helped to organize one of the first Audubon societies of the country, with


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field classes for study of bird life. After leaving college, she specialized in field orni- thology, giving bird talks and carrying on her work in various parts of the United States. In addition to articles in bird jour- nals and magazines, she has published: "Birds Through an Opera Glass," "My Sum- mer in a Mormon Village." "A Birding on a Bronco," "Birds of Village and Field." "A Hand Book of the Birds of the Western United States." She is a member of the American Ornithologists Union, and of the Biological Society of Washington. In 1899 she married Vernon Bailey, of Washington, D. C., Chief Field Naturalist of the United States Biological Survey.


. (X) Charles Collins, eldest son of Hon. Clinton Levi and Caroline ( Hart) Mer- riam, was born in New York City, Novem- ber 10, 1850. He was educated in the pub- lic school of New York and Brooklyn, and the military academies at Sing Sing and White Plains : attended lectures at Columbia College in 1869. He was his father's secre- tary while he was a member of congress, 1871-72. He spent six months in Europe (in 1873-1874), and in 1874-75 was cashier in a New York cotton house. Since his marriage he has resided in Lyons Falls, New York, where he is engaged in lumber business and real estate. He attended the World's Young Men's Christian Association convention at Stockholm, Sweden, in At- gust. 1888. Is a fellow of the National Academy of Design, life member of the American Tract Society, member of the American Forestry Association. Is an eller in the Forest Presbyterian church at Lyons Falls. For many years has been deeply in- terested in Sunday school and temperance work in Lewis county. He married, June 28. 1876, Florence Isabella, born June 26. 1851, youngest daughter of Hon. Lyman R. Lyon, of Lyons Falls. She attended school in Utica, and in 1867-68 attended a young ladies' seminary in Geneva, Switzer- land. Children of Charles Collins and Flor- ence Isabella (Lyon) Merriam: 1. Lyman


Lyon, born at Lyons Falls. November 4, 1877: attended military schools at White Plains and Ossining, graduated from Stev- ens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, New Jersey, class of 1900. Is a civil engineer. His home is at Lyons Falls, New York. He was employed in the construction of the electric road from Johnstown to Schenec- tady as assistant engineer ; was engineer for the "O'Rourke Engineering Construction Company" during the construction of the Pennsylvania railroad tunnels under the North river, and is now engineer for the Gould Paper Company at Lyons Falls. He married. September 30. 1903. Delia. born September 13, 1875, youngest daughter of William and Louise (Flint ) Brandreth, at Ossining, New York. Children: i. Sarah Louise, born September 13. 1904: ii. Flor- ence Lyon, July 23, 1906; iii. Kathleen Brandreth, April 14. 1908.


2. Robert McBurney, born October 24. 1879. died October 3. 1880.


3. Clinton Nathaniel, born December 8. 1880, died February 14. 1881.


4. Carolyn Augusta, born March 5. 1884: attended young ladies' schools at Montreal, Ossining and New York City. Developed considerable ability in vocal and instrumen- tal music. September 10, 1903. she married Frederick de Peyster Hone, born at Morris- town, New Jersey, October 10, 1873, grand- son of Commodore Matthew Galbraith Per- ry, who secured the opening of Japan to the commerce of the western world in 1854. Mr. Hone is a civil engineer, a graduate of Rens- selner Polytechnic Institute, Troy. New York, class of 1897. Children: i. Carolyn Merriam, born May 9, 1905: ii. Hester Gouverneur, September 23, 1906: iii : Eliza- beth Brinsmade. August 12, 1900.


5. Helen Lyon, born at Lyons Falls, Oc- tober 14. 1891: attended Ossining School at Ossining. New York, and Gunston Hall at Washington, D. C.


Hon. Lyman R. Lyon, father of Flor- ence I. (Lyon ) Merriam, was born in what is now Walworth, Wayne county, New


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York. In 1806 he came, a lad of twelve years, to Lewis county with his father. He was educated under the Rev. John Sherman at Trenton, and at Lowville Academy. From an carly age he evidenced decided interest in public affairs. From 1830 to 1835 he was deputy clerk in the New York state legis- lature. In 1859 he was elected a member of that body and, by his active efforts, se- cured the building of the locks and dans on Black river which completed the water connection between Carthage and the Erie canal. He used all his energy and influence in favor of the Black River canal, which was finally built between Carthage and Ly- ons Falls. In 1856 he built a steamer, mod- eled after those on the Ohio, to ply on the river and tow up the canal boats, thus secur- ing forty miles of additional river naviga- tion. In his younger days he was largely interested in profitable government contracts, and his favorite remark was: "That if he made his money abroad he desired only to , spend it at home, to benefit his town and county." It was his energy and capital that inaugurated the Moose river and Ot- ter lake tanneries. He was one of the larg- est land owners in northern New York, and was a successful, energetic and reliable busi- ness man. For several years he was cashier and later president of the Lewis County Bank.


At the outbreak of the civil war he was deeply interested in the success of the Union cause and volunteered his services as a soldier, but was rejected on account of age. He presented a musket to every man who enlisted from his town and contributed in many ways to the success of northern arms. His deep anxiety during that struggle, added to his business cares, affected his health and in 1867 he sailed for Europe with his family. For two years he traveled through southern Europe, Palestine and Egypt, and was somewhat benefited. but on his return died April 7. 1869. at Savannah, Georgia, while returning to his northern home from Florida.


RILEY The name of Riley has been identified with many important events in the history of the United States. Many of the name have been prominent in all walks of hie.


(1) Edward Riley was a native of coun- ty Cavan, Ireland. In early manhood he emigrated to the United States, but after a residence of several years here returned to his native land, where he married Cathe- rine Smith, and resided there for several years. About 1849 he again emigrated to the United States, taking up his residence in Boston, Massachusetts, where he re- mained one year, removing from there to Schuyler Falls, New York, where he spent the remainder of his life. He was a farmer by occupation, a Democrat in politics and a member of the Catholic church. Their chil- dren were: Michael S., Matthew C .. Thomas. Patrick B .. James E .. John B., see forward: Andrew W., Mary, Alice. Philip.


( II) John B., son of Edward and Cathe- rine (Smith) Riley, was born September 9. 1852. in Schuyler Falls, New York. After attending the public schools he re- ceived his later education in Plattsburgh and Keeseville academies. At the age of seventeen years lie began teaching school. which occupation he continued several years. and in 1875 he was elected school commis- sioner of Clinten county, which position he held until 1881. He read law with Hon. Smith M. Weed, and in 1879 was admitted1 to the bar, and has since been engaged in the practice of his profession in Platt,- burgh. He served as president of the vil- lage of Plattsburgh during the years 1885- So, and during the latter year was appointed superintendent of Indian schools of the L'nited States. He resigned this position in 1889 when he was appointed chief ex- aminer of the New York State Civil Ser- vice Commission, which position he held until 1893. From 1893 to t897 he filled the post of United States consul-general at Ottawa, Canada. During 1902-03 he served as corporation counsel for Plattsburgh. In


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the fall of 1909 he was elected county judge of Clinton county. New York. For the past ten years he has held the post of presi- dent of the local board of managers of the Plattsburgh State Normal School, and still retains same. Hle is a trustee ci the Catholic Summer School of America, and has served as chairman of the executive committee. He is a trustee of the Chain- plain Valley Hospital. In 1909 he was a member of the New York State Lake Cham- plain Tercentenary Commission for the cele- bration of the discovery of the lake. Mr. Riley has always been actively interested in the cause of education, and was one of the founders of the Clinton County Teachers' Association, of which he was for some years president and secretary. During his ser- vice as school commissioner Mr. Riley par- ticipated in the meetings of the New York State Teachers' Association, also the State Association of School Commissioners and City Superintendents, where he earnestly advocated reform in the method of licensing teachers, which has since been adopted. He also takes an active interest in public af- fairs, and is considered one of the public- spirited, representative citizens of the city of Plattsburgh. He stands high in the esti- mation of his fellow citizens, who have de- lighted to honor him. He has won a high place in his profession.


Mr. Riley married, September 25, 1883. in Plattsburgh, Genevieve, daughter of the late Matthew Desmond. Children : E. Des- mond, Kathleen Genevieve. John R., and William T., aged at the present time ( 1910). respectively, twenty-three, sixteen, fourteen and twelve years.


REES An interesting detail of foreign emigration is the selection of lo- cation for homes and the tend- ency for each nationality to settle in locali- ties that most nearly approach the surround- ings of the old country home. Thus we find the Holland Dutch settled along the al- luvial bottoms of the Mohawk and Hudson


rivers. The Scotch and Scotch-Irish seek- ing the hills and wooded sections. To the Welshman, the wild sections of northern New York with its swift-rushing rivers must have appealed with a force irresistible. The surroundings, no doubt influenced the first of the Rees family to settle in Lewis county. William Rees, grandfather of the present generation, was born in Wales and came to the United States. He settled on a tract of land in the present town of West Turin, which he improved. He married. in Wales, Mary Jones, who shared with him the privations of the emigrant striving for a focthold and a home amid new and strange surroundings. The parents lived in Lewis county the remainder of their days and lived to see their child established in a comfortable home.


( 11) John, son of William and Mary ( Jane ; Kees, was born in the town of West Turin. Lewis county. New York, June 10. 1810. died August 20, 1887. He married. June 1. 1834. Sarah Ann, born March 12. 1807, died February 26. 1886, daughter of Philander Cooperton Higby. Children: I. William Rufus, born September 5. 1836: married Mary L., died February 3. 1885. daughter of William and Samantha Hews. Child : Howard, born May 1, 1871. 2. Mary E., June 1, 1838: married, November 5. 1862. Edward Springsteen, who died Sep- tember 14. 1907. Children: i. Eugene J., born May 14. 1864: married Sarah Lam- pher, and has Bessie, born February 19. ISSz: ii. Charles, October 13, 1890: iii. Dercthy. December 11, 1902. 3. Horace A., see forward. 4. Harriet. December 17. ISAT.


(III) Horace Arthur, youngest son of John and Sarah Ann ( Higby ) Rees, was born in Martinsburg. Lewis county, New York, September 19. 1841. He attended the public and select schools of the town. and early in life acquired the art of mak- ing butter and cheese, becoming familiar with all the details of manufacture as prac- ticed in creameries and cheese factories. In


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1865 he began business in Lowville. In company with Lewis H. Folts he acquired a half interest in the Lowville butter and cheese factory, running successfully for two years when his partner, Mr. Folts, died. Mr. Rees continued the business. admitting William Dence as a silent partner. He pros- pered to a high degree in his undertaking. and in 1872 purchased a farm and cheese factory in Martinsburg owned by his father. In 1884 he added to his investment a third plant located in Glenfield, operating it for three years, when he disposedof it by sale. In the spring of 1888 he purchased the Sulphur Spring cheese factory, which he operated until 1894. He became an expert in but- ter and cheese making, and was widely known as a practical, progressive manufac- turer of those most necessary food special- ties. The deep interest the different state governments were taking in aiding the farmer by scientific instruction and practical demonstration through agricultural colleges, experimental stations and farms, led the New York department of agriculture to establish a dairy commission. In 1890 J. K. Brown, then state dairy commissioner, appointed Mr. Rees instructor for the fifth district, comprising the counties of Lewis. St. Lawrence, Jefferson, Franklin and Clin- ton. His duties were to instruct, aid and assist farmers and manufacturers in the best methods of converting milk and cream into merchantable, healthy cheese and butter. In the winter of 1909-10 he was instructor in cheesemaking in the dairy department of St. Lawrence University at Canton, New York. His thorough knowledge of these subjects and long practical manufacturing experience render him an undisputed authority and a most valuable acquisition to the dairy de- partment of both state and university. Mr. Rees attends the Methodist Episcopal church, and affiliates with the Democratic party. He is a member of Lowville Lodge. No. 134. Free and Accepted Masons, and Lowville Grange, Patrons of Husbandry.


ville, New York, Eliz .. beth, born at Turin, New York. November 13. 1840, daughter of Adam and Elsie ( Case) Clobridge, whose other children are: Harvey. George, Ly- man. Thankful and Louise. Horace .A. and Elizabeth Rees had a son. J. Arthur Rees. bern September 1, 1870, died April 5. 1900.


The Rohr family, of Deer ROHR River. Lewis county, New York, descend from Swiss par- entage. The founder of the family in the county was Jacob Rohr. born in Switzer- land, and educated in the famous schools and universities there. He was an accon- plished linguist, couldl converse fluently in several languages, and was particularly strong in mathematics. He emigrated to the United States while yet a young man. and finally settled at the village of Nurem- burgh. town of Croghan. Lewis county, New York. He was postmaster of that vil- lage many years, and was employed almost continually as an expert accountant. He died in 1843. He married. in Nuremburgh. 1845, Wilhelmina, daughter of Christian and Mary Millnitz. Children, all born in Nuremburgh: 1. Jacob W .. born 1848, mar- ried Pauline Warner. 2. Christian M .. see forward. 3. Mary, married Charles F. Bachman. 4. Wilhelmina, married Lars Sager, and removed to South Dakota. 5. Sammel, deceased ; married Carrie Otis. 6. Hartman, married the widow of his brother Samuel, Mrs. Carrie ( Otis) Rohr. 7. Zetta. married James Parish.


( II ) Christian M., son of Jacob and Wil- helmina ( Millnitz) Rohr, was born Novem- ber 16, 1851, in Croghan, New York. He was educated in the public schools, and hav- ing the misfortune to lose his father at an early age, he was of necessity obliged to leave school. He was next to the oldest of the family, and these two boys were the family breadwinners and of great assistance to the mother. The responsibility thus early assumed and the self-denial involved but He married, January 11, 1865, at Low- strengthened their nature and made them


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strong, self-reliant men. When he was eigh- teen years of age he went to Deep River, and such was his industry, thrift and sound, unerring business capacity, that in a few years he was the owner of a well-stocked farm located between Carthage and Deep River village. He has since gone forward to greater success until he is recognized as one of the solid, substantial, influential men of the town, highly respected and widely known. He has not confined his business operations to agriculture, but is interested in several paper mills of the section, and is director and vice-president of the Carthage Electric Light and Power Company. He is a member of Denmark Grange, Patrons of Husbandry. His church connection is with the Congregational church. of Deer River, where his family also worship. In politics he is a Republican.


He married ( first) January 15, 1880, Julia P. Rogers, born April 3, 1855, died April, 1886, daughter of Duett and Julia (Myers) Rogers. He married (second ). October 30, 1902, Minnie E. Hoyt. Chil- dren, all by first marriage: 1. H. Duett, born January 21, 1882; married February 15, 1908, Harriet L. Rich, of Lowville, New York. 2. Anna J., born September 24, 1884; married, March 30, 1904, John G. Abbott. 3. Julia M., born April 8, 1886; married. October 12, 1907, DeForrest Bretsch.


SANTRY Dennis Santry was born in Ireland. He came with his family to this country about 1850 and settled in Vernon, Oneida county. New York, where he spent the rest of his days and died.


(Il) Jeremiah, son of Dennis Santry. was born in Ireland, and came with his father to this country about 1850. He set- tled first at Vernon, Oneida county, New York, and is a farmer living near Oneida. New York. He married. December, 1866, Julia Spencer, who came from Canada. She was born July 4. 1833. and died July 28,


1900. Her father, Augustus Spencer, was a captain in the British army, and settled in Canada and spent his later years as a contractor and builder.


(HI) Dr. Augustus Bernard Santry, s of Jeremiah Santry, was born at One: .. New York. September 16. 1867. He a . tended the public schools in Oneida a :. : afterward taught for four years. He bre- gan to study his profession at the medical school of the University of Maryland af : was graduated from that institution w. the degree of M. D., in the class of 1800 He began to practice at Little Falls, Nc York, and has continued there with notal .. success to the present time. He has a lars' and interesting practice and a reputation i . skill and faithfulness as a physician at. . surgeon. He was health officer of the c :: from 1900 to 1904, and is now vice-pre ::- dent of the board of health. He is a men :. ber of the American Medical Associati. :. the New York State Medical Society. t. Herkimer County Medical Society, and various social, benevolent and political . : ganizations. In politics he is a Denne er and he has been very active and influent .. in his party in public affairs. He was may : of the city in 1908 and 1909, and had a very creditable administration. Few me possess to a greater degree the public cc :. fullence and esteem. He is a communica. . of St. Mary's Roman Catholic church. . : Little Falls. New York. He married, Se tember 18. 1899. Margaret Mullen, of Ly. l'alls, daughter of Joseph and Elizai ( Tighe) Mullen. Children, born at L :: Falls: Mary Elizabeth, born December 2. 1908, died March 16. 1909: Margare Adele, born February 2, 1910.


From the very beginning of . SCOTT custom of using family natt . Scot or Scott. has been a . : name in pretty general use in England well as Scotland. It was in use in Pech shire. Fifeshire. Forfarshire, Kosb ... shire, Dumfriesshire. Selkirk hire. :


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NORTHERN NEW YORK


cardshire, and to a less extent in other coun- ties of Scotland before the year 1200. The family possesses the dukedoms of Buc- cleugh and Queensbury ; the marquisate of Dumfriesshire; earldoms of Buccleugh, Deloraine. Drumlanrig, Sanquhar and Tarrs: viscountcies of Hermitage, Nith, Torthorwald and Ross.


(1) Francis Scott was born in Canada, lived and died there. He married Welton. Children. born near Prescott, Canada : William, mentioned below ; Sarah, Martha and Deborah.


(11) William, son of Francis Scott, was born near Prescott, Canada. He was edu- cated in the public schools. He learned the trade of shoemaker and engaged in business as a retail shoe dealer at Kingston, Canada, and later at Morristown, New York. He married Mary Ann Boice, a native of Canada, of Scotch ancestry. Chil- dren : James, Charles L., mentioned below ; Henry. Emma, Lillian and William.


(III ) Charles L., son of William Scott, was born in Kingston, Canada, April 8, 1854. He came with his parents to Mor- ristown, New York, when a very young boy. and was educated there in the public schools. He learned the trade of stone mason and has followed it as apprentice, journeyman and master to the present time. He resides in Morristown. He married Minnie II .. daughter of Marshall and Melinda Eager, of Morristown. Children: 1. Alfred, born September 10. 1877. a farmer at Indian Or- chard, Massachusetts; married Cora Clark and has one child, Harry Clark. 2. Frank L., mentioned below.


(IV) Frank Leslie, son of Charles L. Scott, was born in Morristown in 1879. He attended the public schools in his native town and Cornell University Law School. from which he was graduated in 1004. He was admitted to the bar and practiced for two years in Syracuse, New York. Since 1906 he has been located in Morristown and has practiced his profession there. He is secretary of the Morristown Milk Prod-


ucts Company, one of the incorporators of same. In politics he is a Republican ; he has been supervisor of the town, member and secretary of Board of Trade. He is a member of Morristown Lodge, Knights of Pythias, and the Modern Woodmen of America. In religion he is a Presbyterian. He is unmarried.




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