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 9
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Ogdensburg, and he served his home city as a member of the board of aldermen. In early life he was a Whig, and became a Re- publican on the organization of the party. A just man in every department of life, he was naturally an enemy of slavery, and gave all his influence toward its abolition in this country. Every uplifting influence received his encouragement and support, and he was respected in the community as a good citizen. He married ( first ) a Miss Seely, who died leaving a daughter, Isa- belle, who died at the age of twenty-five years. He married (second ) Ellen E. Howe, bort 1830, died December 12, 1882, daughter of Nathan Howe, who came from Vermont to Canton, New York, later set- tling at Ogdensburg. She was the mother of three sons, John E., Willard N .. and Charles O. R. see forward.
(IV) John Eliot, eldest child of George R. and Ellen E. ( Howe ) Bell, was born November 14, 1854. in Ogdensburg, and was educated in the schools of that town. With his father he learned the watchmak- ing and jewelry business, and was identi- fied with his father in business up to the time of the death of the latter. He was manager of the business until 1876, when it was turned over to him, and until 1904 he continued in that line and then sold out to H. L. McCarter. Since that year he has given his attention solely to the optical busi- ness. He is an Episcopalian and a member of Ogdensburg Lodge, No. 228, Free and Accepted Masons, and Ogdensburg Chap- tor. Royal Auch Masons. He emurriel. Au- gust 28. 1878. Fannie. daughter of Sydney Smith Waite, of Hammond. New York. ( See Waite VIII. ) They have had two children: George and Helen, the former of whom is now deceased. the daughter re- siding with her parents.
(IV) Willard Nathan. second son of George R. and Ellen E. ( Howe ) Bell, was born July 2, 1857. in Ogdensburg, and was educated il the city's public schools, gradu- ating from the high school in 1875. For
four years he was a student at the Home - pathic Medical College of New York, grad- uating in 1882, and his first year of prac- tice was in that city. He settled at Ogden -- burg in 1883 and continued in very succe --- ful general practice thirteen years. He subsequently went to Vienna and spent a year in special study of the eye and ear, and has since given up general practice. having a large list of patients in his specialty. Hi- reputation is widely known, and he enjoys a steadily increasing business. Dr. Bell is genial in nature, cultivated and courteous. and the number of his personal friends is limited only by the extent of his acquain- tance. He is an earnest Republican, and has served ten years on the city board of education, and is a member of the water board at the present time. He is a director of the Ogdensburg Loan Association, and identified with other leading interests of the city. a member of Ogdensburg Lodge, No. 228, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. and of the local chapter. Royal Arch Ma- sons, and also a trustee of the Presbyterian church. He married October 8. 1884, Har- riet Seymour, daughter of Walter B. Allen. of Ogdensburg. They have two sons. Wal- ter Allen, born April 12. 1887, in Ogdens- burg, was educated in the local schools and Hamilton College, and is now engaged in the retail lumber business in his native city. George Allen, born October 11, 188S, re- ceived the same education as his brother. and is now identified with the firm of Bill. Bell & Company.
(IV , Charles Owen Redington, youngest son of George R. and Ellen E. ( Howe) Bell, was born June 20. 1861. in Ogdens- burg, and educated in the schools of the town. On leaving school he entered his father's store and learned the jeweler'- trade, which he followed five years as a jour- neyman. In 1884 he became identified with the firm of Rodee & Bill, millers, as trave'- ing salesman, and his connection has never been severed. After serving the intere-'s of the concern faithfully for seven years, h.
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was admitted as a partner in 1891, and the firm became Rodee, Bill & Company. In 1899 the name was changed to Bill, Bell & Company, and the business was incorporated in 1904 under that title, with C. O. R. Bell as vice-president and treasurer. He still fills this position, and his energy and busi- ness enterprise have contributed to the main- tenance of the high reputation which the establishment enjoys. Mr. Bell is active in other interests and a helpful citizen of his town, being a director of the National Bank of Ogdensburg, president of the Business Men's Association of Ogdensburg. and a member of the Ogdensburg and Century clubs. He is a trustee of the Presbyterian church of Ogdensburg, and a member of Ogdensburg Lodge, No. 128, Free and Ac- cepted Masons, and of St. Lawrence Chap- ter, Royal Arch Masons. While deeply in- terested in the welfare of his country and the progress of his home community. he takes an independent position in politics and yields obedience to no partisan mandate. He married, in 1890, Lucy McCrea, daughter of Henry Starr and Harriet ( Waite ) Easton. of Fargo. North Dakota. Harriet ( Waite ) Easton was a daughter of Syd- ney Smith and Julia (Pond) Waite, and sister of Fannie ( Waite) Bell.
In the old English this is a WAITE word meaning minstrel, and it has come down from the time of William the Conqueror in such usage. Those who came in with the conquest were attached to the courts of kings and noble- men, and in course of time the word came into use as a surname, like many other oc- cupative names in England. It is found in the early records with a great variety of spellings, such as Wayt, Waiet, Weight, Wayte, Wayghte. Waighte and Waite. The name is said to have been derived from the German, wacht, signifying watch, and was applied to a watchman, which was later ap- phed to the minstrels in England. For many years in London, the Christmas Waits
had certain rights which were purchased from the proper officials and were protected against infringements by others within their especial territory. The earliest known of the name was Ralph de Waiet. In 1315 Ricardus le Wayte, of County Warwick, England, was escheator of Berks, Wilts, Oxford. Bedford and Bucks counties. His descendants continued to spell the name in the same form, and it was not until immi- grants came to America that it was spelled with an i. The family was numerously rep- resented in southern England and North Wales. There is a tradition that its re- moval to this country was made by three brothers, who were set upon while caring for their herds of cattle by a press gang. Having succeeded in fighting off those who sought to capture them, they sold their cat- tle and immediately took passage for Amer- ica. This article treats of one of them. with his descendants. One of these, who founded the Watertown family, and most of his descendants spelled the name Waite. The early ancestors of the Rhode Island family did not use the final e.
( I) Thomas Wait. born in 1601. arrived with his brothers at Plymouth. Massachu- setts, and settled at Portsmouth, Rhode Island, in 1638. This was then called Po- casset, and the name was changed the next year to Portsmouth. He had a house lot there July 1, 1639, and was made freeman at Newport, March 16, 1641. He was also made freeman at Boston. October 8. 1640. On April 3. 1661, he bought land at Acush- ntt and Cohasset. Massachusetts, and was spoken of as a husbandman. He died after April, 1677, and had children : Samuel, Jo- seph, (probably ) Benjamin, Jeremiah, Thomas, Mary and Reuben.
( II) Reuben, youngest child of Thomas Wait, resided at Portsmouth, where he died October 7, 1707. In 1685 he was a pro- prietor of Dartmouth. and his will was proved October 11, 1707. His property was valued at two hundred and seventy-one pounds ten shillings and four pence. of
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which the land was valued at one hundred and fifty pounds. He married, in 1681, Tabitha, daughter of John and Jane ( Kir- by) Lounders. Children: Thomas, Elean- or, Benjamin, Joseph, Abigail. Reuben, Ta- bitha and Jeremiah.
(III) Thomas ( 2), eldest child of Reu- ben and Tabitha ( Lounders) Wait, was born April 23, 1683, and was made a free- man at Newport, in May, 1732. He mar- ried, January 25. 1711, Mary, born August 22, 1689, daughter of Joseph and Meheta- bel (Fish) Tripp. Children: John, Reu- ben. Thomas, Mary, Meribah, Mehetabel, Martha and Alice.
(IV) Thomas (3), eldest child of Thom- as (2) and Mary ( Tripp ) Wait, was born February 29. 1716, died 1790. He was a freeman at Newport in February, 1738. He married, June 6. 1743. at West Greenwich, Rhode Island, Tabitha, second daughter of Jeremiah and Judith Ellis, of that town, born 1721. After his death she removed to Petersburg, New York, with her son. Ru- fus, and there died in 1813. Children: Gi- deon, Jeremiah. Thomas, Mary, Lydia, Pe- leg. Rufus and Alice.
(V) Gideon Waite, eldest child of Thomas (3) and Tabitha ( Ellis ) Wait, was born March 3. 1745. died April 1. 1808. He probably resided in West Greenwich, and was third justice of the court of common pleas for Kent county, Rhode Island, in 1787, and second justice in 1789. He mar- ried, April 6. 1766. Lris, daughter of Peleg Tripp, of West Greenwich, born August 3. 1746. died October 21. 1822. Of their thirteen children. one died in infancy. The others were: Dorcas. Eunice, Silas. Jere- miah, Simon. Thomas, Gideon, Reynolds. Benjamin. Lois. Steven and Hanna.
(VI) Simon, third son of Gideon and Lois (Tripp) Waite, was born February 23. 1775. in Rhode Island, died November 22, 1860. at Hammond. Saint Lawrence county, New York, where he re-ided most of his life. He was a natural mechanic, and was also a farmer. He married Han-
nah Reynolds. Children : Nelson, Eunice. Almira, Sydney S., Thomas, Benjamin and Reynolds.
(VII) Sydney Sinith, second son of Si- mon and Hannah (Reynolds ) Waite, was born June 6. ISo7, at West Greenwich. Rhode Island. died January 20, 1881. i :: Hammond, New York. He settled at Han- mond, when a young man. and spent most of his life there, engaged in agriculture. He married, 1831. Julia, daughter of Syl- . vester and Almira Pond. of Vergennes, Ver- mont. She was born June 9. 1813. died January 3. 1896. Children: Mary. Har- riet, Sylvester, Isadore, Fannie, and four that died in infancy.
(VIII ) Fannie. third daughter of Syd- ney Smith and Julia ( Pond ) Waite, was born December 23. 1855. in Hammond: married. August 28, 187S. John Eliot Bel :. of Ogdensburg. ( See Bell IV.)
ALLEN This is one of the names most frequently met in the United States. and is represented b: many distinct families. Its use arises front the christian name. which is very ancient. In the roll of Battle Abbey, Fitz-Aleyne ( son of Allen ) appears, and the name comes down through the ages to the present. Alan, constable of Scotland and Lord of Galloway and Cunningham, died in 1234 One of the first using .Allen as a surname was Thomas Allen, sheriff of London. in 1414. Sir John Allen was mayor of Lon- don in 1524. Sir William Allen in 15;1. and Sir Thomas More in. 150. Edv- Allen (1566-1626). a distinguished actor and friend of Shakespeare and Ben Jobs- son. founded in 1019 Dulwich College. wit'. the stipulation that the master and secretary must always bear the name of Allen, and this curious condition has been easily ft' filled through the plentitude of scholars .: the nome. There are no less than fifty-five coats-of-arms of separate and distinct ism- ilies of Allen in the United Kingdom, be- sides twenty others of different spellings.
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There were more than a score of emigrants of this surname. from almost as many dit- ferent families, who left England before 1650 to settle in New England.
(I) Walter Allen was an early resident of Newbury, Massachusetts, living there in 1640, and became one of the proprietors of Watertown, same colony, where he settled before 1662. In 1663 he was a member of the coroner's jury. He sold his house and land in Watertown, April 20. 1665, and bought sixty acres in Watertown Farms, now Weston, June ;. following. This was near the Concord boundary, and in 1669 he bought for forty pounds two hundred acres. By deed of gift, October 1, 1673. he passed his lands to sons, Daniel and Joseph, and moved to Charlestown, where he was a "haberdasher of hats," and died July 8. 1681. The inventory of his estate summed up three hundred and twelve pounds, and his will mentions, besides the Mayhew farm of two hundred acres near the Sudbury line, a farm of seventy-five acres; six acres of meadow; two acres of "dividend land," mansion and orchard in Charlestown: and one hundred acres in Haverhill. The bap- tismal name of his first wife was Rebecca. He married (second ) November 20. 1678, at Charlestown. Abigail Rogers. Children : John, Daniel, Joseph and Benjamin, the last named born in Newbury.
( II) John, probably eldest son of Walter and Rebecca Allen, was born in England and resided in Newbury until 1662. He Hed December 1. 17TI. in Sudbury, Massa- chusetts, whither he removed in having Newbury. He was a tailor by trade, and followed that occupation, in addition to farming on his land, which is in what is now Wayland, Massachusetts. In 1676 he lost sixty pounds by depredations of Indi- ons, and in 1688 was a sort of minute-man " an organization for defense. His first wife, Sarah, died January 12, 1702, and he married ( second ) Mary, surname unknown. who died August 30, 1727. Children born of first wife: Deborah, John, Samuel, Jo-
seph, Benjamin, Rebecca, Thomas and Sa- rah.
(III) Benjamin, fourth son of John and Sarah Allen, was born January 30, 1662, in Newbury, and died August 12, 1721, at Watertown Farms, where he engaged in agriculture. He married Frances, daugh- ter of Thomas and Mary Rice, born Febru- ary 3, 1071, in Weston, died there in 1767. Children: Thomas, Frances, Grace, Jonas, Zebedialı and Benjamin.
(IV) Jonas, second son of Benjamin and Frances ( Rice ) Allen, was born November 1, 1699, in Weston, and removed from that town before 1750 to Acton, Massa- chusetts. He married, August 18, 1725, in Weston, Elizabeth Brazier, of Charlestown. Children : James, Jonas, Elizabeth, Fran- ces, Sarah and Benjamin.
(V) James, eklest child of Jonas and Elizabeth ( Brazier ) Allen, was born April 14. 1721. in Weston, and resided in Con- cord. Acton and Littleton. Massachusetts. He had wife Ruth and children: Molly. John. James, Stephen, Betty and Lucy.
(VI) James (2), second son of James ( 1 ) and Ruth Allen, was born June 1, 1752, in Littleton, resided in Mendon. Massachu- setts, until old age, and died in Brandon, Vermont, March, 1857. Ile married Phebe, daughter of James and Jemima (Cook) Thayer.
(VII) Elijah Ball, son of James (2) and Plebe ( Thayer ) Allen, was born April 17. 1701. in Mendon, and died in Ogdensburg. New York, February 10, 1860. In 1821 he Sent to Sault Ste Marie, Michigan, and was engaged in fur trading. being also In- dian agent of the United States government. and remained until 1826. He had been pre- viously in Chicago, then known only as Fort Dearborn. On leaving "the Soo," he went to Ogdensburg, and continued there the re- mainder of his life: he had large navigation interests, owning vessels and barges en- gaged in traffic on the river between Og- densburg and Montreal, and also conducted a hardware store and general commission
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business. He ranked among the leading business men of the St. Lawrence valley, and was widely known and respected. He married Harriet, born 1797, in Springfield, Vermont, daughter of David and Nancy ( Nichols ) Seymour, of that town. David. son of Israel Seymour, and undoubtedly a descendant of Edward Seymour, early at Hartford, was born 1769, and was among the early settlers of Springfield, locating there about 1792. He was a civil engineer, carpenter and bridge-builder, and was killed by falling from a bridge he was construct- ing over the east branch of the Oswegat- chie river. July 15, 1806, at the early age of thirty-seven years. He married, in 1793. Nancy, born December 9. 1773. daughter of Levi and Elizabeth ( Sawyer ) Nichols, early residents of Springfield. They had : George N., Harriet, Isaac, David Lewis and Nancy A. Elijah B. and Harriet Allen had chil- dren : Louisa, born in Albany, died young ; Louisa : David, born in Springfield, Ver- mont, died young : David S., 1822: Walter B., see forward; Cornelia. February 2. 1826, at Sault Ste Marie: Marion, Decem- ber 23. 1828; Eleanor. December 24. 1832: John S .. April 20. 1835; Charles S., died young ; Charles, August 13, 1841, died Au- gust 21. 1883.
(VIII ) Walter Bicker, third son of Eli- jah B. and Harriet ( Seymour ) Allen, was born March 25. 1824. at Sault Ste Marie. died in Ogdensburg, April 20, 1884. He was educated in the schools of the latter place, and engaged in the same line of busi- ness as his father, having werd's in the air- er and conducting a general forwarding and commission business. He also kept a hard- ware store, and was a prominent business man, taking an active interest and part in the conduct of public affairs. He was a trustee of the Presbyterian church, a rigid Demoerat in politics, and served as alder- man of the city. He married, June 4, 1861, Helen Louise. born December, 184t. in Utica, New York, died July 20, 1870. daughter of Jesse and Caroline ( Watkins )
Egert. Children : Harriet Seymour, Mary Louise and Walter Lucius. The last-named died young. The second, born January 21. 1869. became the wife of Robert Mulford. now a retired business man of Mt. Vernon. New York, and has children. Allen and Mary Allen.
(IX ) Harriet Seymour, eldest child . i Walter B. and Helen L. ( Egert ) Allen. was born December 9, 1863, in Ogdensburg. and was married, October 8, 1884, to Dr. Willard Nathan Bell, of Ogdensburg ( see Bell IV ). Children: Walter Allen, born April 12, 1887. and George Allen, October 11, 1888.
HILTS This family first settled in up- per New York during the Revolution, when the first of the name located in the Mohawk valley They have since scattered, and descendants of the emigrant are found in many upper New York counties.
(I) John G. Hilts, born in Germany. came to America with other members of his family while the war for Independence was in progress. He got into the midst of it in Herkimer county, and joined the mili- tia in defense of their homes against red and white foes. His sister married Chris- topher Schell, who with his two sons made the heroic defense of the blockhouse at Snell's Bush against sixteen Tories and forty-nine Indians. ( She was a second wife ). He devoted his life to agriculture. and lived to be over ninety. He reared a Family of seven sons and five daughters.
( II ). Jacob I., son of John G. Hilts, was born in Herkimer county, New York. 1803. died in Oneida county, 1865. He was reared on the homestead farm, and when at an age to choose his own path in life. learned the trade of carpenter and joiner. which he fol- lowed all the active years of his life. He became a captain of New York State militia. Ile removed to Oneida county. New York, and settled at Booneville. where he erected a great many of the best build-
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ings in the village and township. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity, and politically a Democrat until 1860, when he leit his party and was afterward a Repub- lican.
He married Sarah Hayes, born in Fulton county. New York. in 1815. died 1879. daughter of Joseph Haves, born in Germany, came to the United States in early life. settling in Booneville, Oneida county, New York. Children: Nancy, Katherine, Mary Ellen, Jerome F .. Ezra J .. Bertha E., Frank and William H. Bertha and Frank died in infancy.
(III) William H., youngest child of Ja- cob J. and Sarah ( Hayes ) Hilts, was born at Booneville. Oneida county, New York. July 26, 1854. He was educated in the public schools, and so well did he improve his opportunities that at the age of sixteen lie began teaching in the country schools. continuing as an instructor for several vears. He had decided upon another pro- fession as his life work, and began the study of law in the offices of Bently & Hayes. at Booneville. In 1881 he passed the required examinations and was admitted to the bar. He began legal practice at Port Leyden. Lewis county, where he remained until 1890, when he removed to Lowville. He has secured a lucrative practice in that town and gained a well-earned reputation as a capable lawyer and a safe counsellor. He received an appointment as justice of the peace to fill out an unexpired term, was «lected at the ensuing election for a full term, re-elected in 1905. and again in 1909. In 1900 he was a candidate for county at- torney, but failed of an election by one vote. He is Republican in party preference. His fraternal relations are Masonic. He mar- ried. January 1. 1880. Bessie. born in Booneville, daughter of Dennis Buckley, of Ireland, who settled in the United States in 1850, and his wife, Elizabeth Mountain, who was born in the United States. Child of William H. Hilts: Karl Hilts, born No- vember 3. 1883.
This surname is variously DIAMOND spelled in the early records Diman. Dimon. Demon, Dement, Deming. Dymoad, Diamond. Dya- mont. Dimond. Diaman, Dimiond, and doubtless in the score of other ways that suggested themselves to the keepers of rec- ords and makers of deeds. John Diman, one of the immigrants, settled in Lynn, Massachusetts, before 1047, and removed to Kittery. Maine. Thomas Diman, succes- sor of most of the Connectiont line, spelled his name usually with a final "D." John Demon or Diman, was a settler at Wethers- field. Connecticut, brother of Thomas, men- tioned below, before 1635, and was one of the chief settlers; was representative very often from 1649 to 1661 ; was named in the charter of 1662; married Honor. daughter of Richard Treat, and has a numerous pos- terity in New England.
(I) Thomas Dimond, innnigrant ancestor. settled in this country first at Wethersfield. Connecticut, with his brother John, removed to Farmington. thence to Southampton. Long Island, and thence to Easthampton. New York, where he died. He was in Southampton, in 1055 and 1658, appearing in court for assault and threatening divers persons. His name was there spelled Dia- ment. He was in Eastampton before No- vember 12, 1663. when he bought all the lands of John Hand of that town. He was then called "senior" in the records. His home lot in Eastampton contained thirteen acres, adjoining Stephen Hand's lot on the sotith and the common on the west and on the north a highway made of land bought of the said John Hand. He owned divers other parcels of land also. His name in this record is spelled Diamon and Diament. also Dvament. He died in 1683. and the court of sessions, sitting at Southampton. Long Island. on the seventh, eighth and ninth days of March, 1683. accepted as his will four deeds of gift disposing of his es- tate. The first. dated .August 21. 1677. re- cites a proposed marriage between his son
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James and Hannah. daughter of Minister James, and the grantor binds himself to the Minister James to convey certain lands to the son to be enjoyed by him after the death of the grantor and his wife. The sec- ond, dated December 27, 1680, gives to same son furniture and personal property. The third, dated July 28. 1682, recites the death of youngest sou John and gives James additional real estate. charging him and grantor's wife Mary to pay small legacies to daughter Sarah Headly, of New Jersey, Abigail, Hannah Bird, Ruth Dayton- and Elizabeth Miller. The fourth instrument. also dated July 28. 1682. calls the grantor Thomas Dyment, Sr .. and recites that hav- ing given the house and land at Georgia to his youngest son Thomas at marriage, this deed conveys other land to take effect at the death of grantor and wife. After his death the estate was settled by agreement signed by the widow, Minister James and Edward Howell.
He married. July 24, 1645. Mary Sheafe. Children: 1. James, mentioned below. 2. John, died before his father. 3. Thomas.
(II) James, son of Thomas Dimond, was born about 1650. He settled with his fa- ther at Southampton and received land as stated above. He married. 1677. Hannah, daughter of Rev. Thomas James. Both are mentioned in the will of her father dated June 5. 1696. He removed to East- ampton with his father. lived and died there. His will was dated August 24. 1721. bequeathing to second wife Elizabeth, eldest son Thomas, sons John and Nathaniel : daughters Hannah Moore and Abigail Lub- tan ; granddaughter Hannah Hopping : sons John and Nathaniel executors: proved March 9. 1722. Children: 1. Thomas, born 1680. mentioned below. 2. Nathaniel. 3. Hannah, married - Moore. 4. Abi- gail, married- Lubtan. 3. Daughter. married Hopping. 6. John, died 1765. leaving will.
( III ) Thomas ( 2) son of James Dimond. was born in Easthampton, New York, 1680.
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