USA > New York > Jefferson County > Genealogical and family history of the county of Jefferson, New York, Volume I > Part 11
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(IV) David, second son and third child of George and Elizabeth Babcock, was born December 22, 1700, in Westerly, Rhode Island, and died in South Kingston, 1783, like his father, in his eighty-third year. On February 24, 1730, he was married by his father, to Dorcas, daugh- ter of Daniel and Dorcas (Gardner ) Brown, who was born May 23. 1713, in Westerly, and died December 18, 1798, in South Kingston.
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His will mentions ten children. To each of the daughters he gave per- sonal property ; to each of his sons a farm, and to the son of a deceased son a farmi. His wife received, among other personal property, two negro women, "Phyllis" and "Coocoo." His silver tankard was re- served for his oldest son, the widow receiving all the rest of the family plate. This tankard has been preserved and is now the property of Mrs. Horace E. Horton of Chicago, a daughter of George and Emily (Brown) Babcock.
(V) David, eldest child of David and Dorcas Babcock, was born April 10, 1734, at South Kingston. He was married, at Charlestown, March 30, 1757, to Sarah Perry, daughter of Samuel and Suzannah (Hazzard) Perry, born at Charlestown, March 30, 1738. Her sister married Elisha Babcock, an uncle of David. The last-named was ad- mitted freeman in May, 1756, at North Kingston, and in 1758 was en- sign in Captain John Wilson's company of South Kingston militia. He became a sailor, and late in life went to Otsego county, New York, with his sons. He had nine children.
(VI) David, eldest child of David and Sarah (Perry ) Babcock, was born May 17, 1760, in South Kingston, and died November 17, 1831. He was married, at Sharon, Connecticut, to Sarah, daughter of John and Deborah ( Knickerbocker ) Beardsley. She was born September 2, 1765, at Sharon, and died in 1836, in Ames, New York. According to the family records David Babcock was a revolutionary soldier. His family included six children.
(VII) Jesse, fifth child and third son of David and Saralı ( Beards- ley) Babcock, was born October 16, 1805, in Marcy, New York, and died December 8, 1885, in Dexter, this county. He was married at New Hartford, New York, September 26, 1831, to Maria Morgan, who died June 14, 1854, in Dexter. She was the mother of his five chil- dren. He was an early resident of Brownville, where he bought a site and operated a flour mill and feed store. He also engaged in farming and established and operated a lime kiln. He was an industrious and energetic man and pursued sucessfully several lines of effort. For his second wife, Mr. Babcock married Sarah A. Baker, a native of Dexter, and a lady of superior education and refinement. She survived her hus- band and died in 1904, in Salem, Oregon. Two of his children are 110W living-Elizabeth, the wife of Sanford Herrick, of San Francisco, Cal- ifornia, and William, a resident of Denver, Colorado.
(VIII) George, second son and fourth child of Jesse and Maria
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Babcock. was born January 3. 1844. in Dexter, and died there in 1879. He was reared and educated in Dexter, and in early life became con- nected with the flour and feed business, and in the operation of the mill for grinding the same. He continued to conduct it for a number of years, but at the tinie of the Civil war put aside business affairs in order to serve his country, becoming a private of the Tenth New York Heavy Artillery. He was with this command until the close of the war and participated in the battle of Gettysburg, one of the most sanguinary engagements of that great conflict. Following the close of hostilities he returned to Dexter and assumed the management of the mill, which he continued to operate in connection with the conduct of his farms. He also became a breeder and a dealer in high-grade horses, and this branch of his business proved profitable, as did the conduct of his two farming properties, each of which comprised fifty acres. He was an active and enterprising business man, but died at the comparatively carly age of thirty-eight years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Lenora Fluno, was born in Dexter in 1848. Her father, David Fluno, was one of the early settlers here, active in community affairs and highly respected because of his genuine worth in business and pri- vate life. George Babcock served as a custom house officer for a num- ber of years and was a well known member of the Grand Army of the Republic. Mrs. Babcock still survives and is now living in Dexter. In their family were three children: Frederick J., Charles and Mary. The daughter is now the wife of William Hicks, of Pennsylvania. Charles is a foreman of the Hopper-Morgan tablet works at Glen Park.
Frederick J. Babcock, born at Dexter, June 13, 1871, spent his early boyhood days in his parents' home in Dexter, pursued his studies in the public schools and entered upon his business career as a salesman in the store of Clark Brothers, hardware dealers of Dexter, where he re- tained for three years. He was afterward with O. M. and G. W. Wood, of the same place, for five years. He then entered the sulphite mill, begining at the lowest department, working upon the screens. By his industry and manifest ability he has worked his way upward through all departments, until he became superintendent in 1901. He now has one hundred and fifty men under his personal supervision, and his entire attention is directed to the careful conduct of the interests of the departinents. In his relations with those who serve under him he is most just and considerate and, therefore, has the entire confidence and good will of all. Mr. Babcock is a Republican in political views, and
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socially is connected with the Red Men and other fraternal organizations in Dexter. His church relationship is with the Presbyterian denomina- tion.
In 1895 Mr. Babcock was married to Miss Ada Schwartz, who was born in Pillar Point in 1879, a daughter of Adolphus Schwartz, who was a teacher and later a carpenter, and was born in St. Lawrence county, New York, in 1845. He married Mary Carpenter, who was born in 1848, and they became the parents of six children, five of whom are now living: Alda, the wife of DeWitt Sturtevant, of Croton, New York; William, a prominent physician of Croton; Mrs. Babcock ; Rose, the wife of William Ross, of Watertown, New York ; and Harold, who is living with his sister in Croton. Of this family Tilly has passed away. To Mr. and Mrs. Babcock has been born but one child, George Adol- phus, born August 11, 1899.
MERRILL. From the earliest period of its settlement the name of Merrill, of old colonial origin, has been identified with the history of Jefferson county, and its members have borne their share of the bur- dens in establishing civilization and in defense of the country when threatened with disruption.
I. Nathaniel Merrill, the immigrant ancestor, was born in Eng- land about 1610, and arrived on the Massachusetts coast in 1633-4. He was one of the original proprietors and settlers (in 1635) of Newbury, Massachusetts, where he died March 16, 1655. His wife, Susannah, is supposed to have been a daughter of Gregory Witterton, and sister of Gregory Witterton, of Hartford. Connecticut. Having no heir, the latter adopted her son Jolin, and made him his heir. She married a second time late in life, and died July 2, 1673, in Newbury.
2. John Merrill, son of Nathaniel, was born in 1635 in Newbury, settled at Hartford in 1656, and died there July 18, 1712. He was a farmer, and tanner and currier by trade. In 1663 he married Sarah, daughter of John and Margaret Waters, of Hartford.
3. Daniel, son of John and Sarah Merrill, was born June 15, 1673, in Hartford, where he lived and died in 1750. January 18, 1698, he married Susannah, daughter of John and Hannah (Boody) Pratt, of Hartford, where she was born October 2, 1680.
4. Moses Merrill, son of Daniel and Susannah, was born December 25, 1702, at Hartford, and lived in West Hartford and Farmington, dy- ing in the latter town (which adjoins West Hartford ) August 4, 1776,
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in his seventy-fourth year. He was married at West Hartford, his wife being a Cook by name. By occupation he was a farmer.
5. Moses, son of Moses Merrill (1), was born about 1733 at West Hartford, was a farmer there, and died there in 1796. His second wife was Waitstill Heth, who was born about 1744. Their children were: Samuel, born June 21, 1774, died at Sandisfield, Massachusetts. Mary, February 29, 1776, married Samuel Rowley. Waitstill, June I, 1778, married Nicholas Lewis, of Champion, this county. Miner, Au- gust 25, 1781, came to Champion in the spring of 1804. Moses Cook, June 3, 1785. Elizabeth, 1790, died before she was ten years old.
6. Miner, son of Moses (2) and Waitstill Merrill, married Betsey Cody, of Tolland, Connecticut, October 6, 1803, and the following spring came to Champion from Connecticut, bringing his wife and house- hold goods on a sled drawn by a yoke of oxen, with a horse in the lead. Their children were Betsey, William, Waty, Mary Maria, Orson, Allen and Albert A.
7. Orson Merrill, born September 16, 1809, in Champion, lived all his life in that town. He was married, March 26, 1835, to Emeline Fitts, who was born April 19, 1811 and died July 19, 1880. He died February 16, 1896. Their children were Harlan O., Emily M., and Se- ward W.
8. Seward W. Merrill, born November 22, 1850, is the only sur- vivor of his father's children. He was married, October 7, 1885, to Eva L. Martin, who was born February 16, 1860, and died Decem- ber 27, 1901. Their children are: Lucille Emily, born May 1, 1887; Vera Anna, September 4, 1891, and Emeline Charille, March 3, 1894. Mr. Merrill has been very active in church and Sunday school work and in the temperance cause. He is one of the handful of sterling souls who maintain the organization of the Prohibition party in Champion and the county. He was six years excise commissioner and ten years president of the Champion Temperance Union. He has been the candi- date of ilis party for supervisor, school commissioner, surrogate and member of the assembly.
6. Moses Cook Merrill, son of Moses (2), was born June 3. 1785. in West Hartford, Connecticut, and came to Champion about 1804. He settled one and one-half miles from the present village of Great Bend, where he died in 1839. He married Philena Crandall, a daughter of Abel and Elizabeth Crandall, early pioneers of Champion. After Mr. Merrill's death his widow lived in Champion, where she died in 1856.
E. M. Marido
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Mr. Merrill was a member of the Baptist church. Of his fourteen chil- dren, two died in infancy. A brief record of the others follows:
Waitstill married Wilder Reed, and died in the town of Philadel- phia, near Sterlingville. For history of the second see following para- graplı. Miner C. lived and died on the homestead, being supervisor of the town at the time of his death. Samuel died in West Carthage. Eliza died in Champion, unmarried, as did also Lucretia, the sixth. Sibyl married Ira Sweet, and died at Lynhurst, Canada. Harriet died in Hammond, St. Lawrence county, while the wife of Joseph Lafave, and John, the next, also died there. Athelia became the wife of Rev. Jonathan Dake, a Protestant Methodist clergyman, and now resides at Stam- bough, Iowa. Mary Sophronia is Mrs. Samuel Phillips, of Hammond, New York; now deceased. Eveline married Ronastus Sliter, and died at Lynhurst, Canada.
7. Lawrence Cook Merrill, second child and eldest son of Moses Ccok Merrill, was born in 1811, in Champion, and died in that town in November, 1849. He settled while a young man in Antwerp, at the present Keene's Station, where he labored diligently to clear up and develop a farm. He was on the way to prosperity when he was seriously injured by a pair of wild steers while hauling a load of wood to a poor man. He was never afterward able to straighten his limbs, and en- dured much pain for a period of eleven years, until death ended his sufferings. With the fortitude of a noble character he did not com- plain, but bore his misery calmly, and went about any duties that he was able to perform. Returning to Champion, he spent his last years among friends. It was his wont when no conveyance was convenient to walk to Great Bend to church, with his hands resting on his knees, in a stooping position, being unable to walk erect. He was a faithful member of the Baptist church, and affiliated with the Whig party in pol- itics. He was married, in the spring of 1834, to Lovina Miller, who was born on Martin street, near West Carthage, a daughter of Moses and (Martin) Miller, natives of Vermont. The last-named was a daughter of Captain Martin, a revolutionary soldier, who reached the age of ninety-seven years. His wife attained the same age. Mr. and Mrs. Merrill were the parents of two sons, Erwin Moses and Sam- uel Lawrence.
8. Erwin Moses Merrill, eldest son of Lawrence M. Merrill, was born October 16, 1836, in Antwerp, and was a small child when his
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father died. He grew up in Champion, attending the district school and Carthage Academy, and subsequently teaching school.
He enlisted in October, 1861, in Company I, Ninety-fourth Regi- ment New York Volunteers, and was elected second lieutenant. After the first battle of Bull Run, his weight being reduced from one hundred and seventy to one hundred and seven pounds, he was incapacitated to such a degree that it was advisable to resign in order to recuperate, and this he did, September 13. 1862. While recovering his health he en- tered General Casey's military school in Philadelphia to perfect himself in military science, and after his graduation he was commissioned by President Lincoln, June 6, 1864, to a captaincy in the regular army. Then occurred one of the strange coincidences of war. About the same time Captain Merrill started for Washington, his brother, Dr. S. L. Merrill, had departed for Nashville, Tennessee, expecting to obtain a hospital appointment through the aid of an influential friend. While en route Dr. Merrill met his friend, who was on his way north, and who informed him that the desired position only awaited his arrival. However, on reaching Nashville, Dr. Merrill found that the place had been filled. In this discouragement he noticed, while passing down the strect, a sign, "Contract Surgeons Wanted," and he made his applica- tion, passed the examination, and was assigned to the charge of a ward in the hospital. Meantime his brother, Captain Merrill, who had re- ported at Washington for assignment to duty, found himself appointed to the command of Company K, Seventeenth Regiment United States Infantry, and, to his great joy and surprise received an order to proceed to Nashville, Tennessee. He at once wrote his brother that he was com- ing, and on reaching his destination inquired the location of the hos- pital, and was informed that it was "over near where the Seventeenth (his own regiment) was encamped." As he passed along he saw his brother standing in his tent door, reading the letter which the Captain had sent him. Their mutual pleasure in thus meeting in indescribable. The brothers were near each other during the remainder of the war.
The Seventeenth was then commanded by Colonel William R. Shafter, who afterwards attained high rank, and distinguished him- self during the Spanish-American war. Captain Merrill became Col- onel Shafter's favorite officer on account of his steady habits, exem- plary conduct and entire reliability. At first the Captain was unpop- ular with his brother officers because of his refusal to join them in their carousals. Complaint being made to Colonel Shafter, he replied: "Oh.
First Presbyterian Church, Watertown
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well, Merrill doesn't drink as much whisky as the rest of you fellows, but his company is the best drilled and equipped company in the regi- ment." The feeling against him was soon dissipated, and Captain Mer- rill became popular with his brother officers as soon as they discerned that his conduct was a matter of principle and not priggishness. Decem- ber 14 he was with General Steedman's division, and on the next day participated in the splendid charge upon the rebel works at Nashville. In this desperate engagement the regiment lost two captains and four- teen men killed and sixty-four wounded. Captain Merrill had several narrow escapes. A bullet passed through both lapels of his coat in front, and this uniform he brought home with him. In the same battle a ball severed his canteen strap behind his shoulder. December 16 he took part in the charge at Overton's Hills, where his regiment captured two batteries and compelled Hood to retreat, thus turning the scale of the important series of battles at Nashville. He was with the pursuit of the discomfited but yet courageous rebel army, going as far as Leighton, Alabama, and during this severe march in midwinter endured severe fatigues and privations.
After the surrender of General Lee, the war now being ended, Captain Merrill was given command of two companies and instructed to gather up government and captured property. While thus engaged an incident which occurred while he was marching through the con- quered territory well illustrates the bitter feeling that existed among the people, and how severe and manly need be the struggle to heal the wounds and allay the asperities engendered by the battling of brothers against brothers and neighbors against neighbors. In one small town Captain Merrill quartered his men in a stone mill just outside the village. It was a legal holiday, and orders were issued limiting the men to but few drinks that day. One of the soldiers entered a saloon and called for a dram. The saloon keeper, who had been a slave owner, resented the soldier's authoritative manner, and refused. Words followed, and the saloon keeper knocked the soldier down. The soldier went to his quarters, returning with his loaded rifle. A duel ensued, and the saloon keeper was shot in the wrist. The soldier was arrested, but re- fused to be put in the guard house, and in this he was supported by his comrades. All had been drinking, and they turned out of their quarters with loaded rifles, declaring that no saloon keeper could insult one of Uncle Sam's soldiers. For a time open mutiny was impending, but Captain Merrill asserted his authority and restored order. Riding into
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the village, the officers were almost mobbed. The people had become aroused and threatened an attack upon the soldiers. An old Confederate colonel came out upon a balcony and addressed the populace. He told thiem that the war was over ; that this officer ( Captain Merrill) was there in the discharge of his duty with two hundred well-trained soldiers, with abundance of ammunition, well encamped and entrenched near running water. Said he, "they are only too eager to fight, and you will get the worst of it." His words dispersed the mob. He invited the officers to dine with him, and after dinner, while all were smoking upon the ve- randa. pointed to the adjoining plantation, where his neighbor was just mounting his horse. "Do you see that man?" said he. "Yes," was the reply. "Well," he answered. "I saw that man shoot my father from ambush just after the war began, and now the war is over and we have returned and must live as neighbors. He was a northern man. Some- times my fingers just achte to shoot him as lie passes by."
Captain Merrill was retained in service for a year after the war was over, and was mustered out April 25, 1866. Colonel Shafter en- deavored to induce him to enter the regular army, but he was averse to a military life except in such dire necessity as appealed to his fervent patriotism. Returning to Carthage he engaged in the drug trade in part- nership with his brother. He relinquished this business in 1895, and was for some years a traveling salesman for a paint house. For a time he had charge of his brother's store. He was a highly moral man, and was a regular attendant of the Baptist church, though not a member, and for several years he taught a class in its Sunday school. He was an active member of E. B. Steele Post. G. A. R., and acted politically with the Republican party. For a number of years he served as village trus- tee of Carthage. The latter days of his life were spent in sacrifices for his motherless children, to whom he devoted himself with a love as ten- der as that of a mother. As the dread angel spread his dark mantle over his declining days his only prayer was that he might live until his youngest daughter had grown into young womanhood. Long after the . muster-out roll sounded, and the seeds of disease were preying upon his vitals, when he should have been in his sick bed, he continued to labor and sacrifice for his children, carefully concealing from them his condi- tion and passing the long hours of the night in suffering until at last his strength utterly failed, and he passed peacefully away, September 10, 1901. Truly can it be said of him, he was a brave soldier, loving husband, kind father and true neighbor and friend. His portrait, which
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appears in this work, was placed therein by his son, Ray W. Merrill, in loving remembrance of an indulgent and affectionate parent.
Captain Merrill was married, at Hailesboro, New York, to Miss Ellen M. Gates, a native of St. Lawrence county, daughter of Isaiah and Susan (Waldo) Gates, of the village where she was born, November 3, 1849. She lied at the age of thirty-six years and six months. She was the mother of seven children, of whom three are living: Ray Waldo, further referred to hereinafter; Maude, who is engaged in teach- ing ; and Ethel, who is a student in the Potsdam Normal School.
(8) Samuel Lawrence Merrill, M. D., youngest son of Lawrence C. Merrill, was born March 29, 1838, in Antwerp, and was six months oid when his parents moved to Champion. He grew up in the latter town, attending the district school, and spent one term at Bush's Academy and one term at Ives Seminary, Antwerp. He began reading medicine with Dr. George N. Hubbard, with whom he moved to Carthage, and subsequently attended medical lectures at the Albany Medical College. In March, 1864, he enlisted as a contract surgeon, and served in the Cum- berland and Number Fourteen Hospitals, at Nashville, Tennessee. In the meantime he entered the medical department of the University of Nashville, and received his diploma in 1865. He then joined the Seven- teenth United States Infantry, in which his brother was a captain, and continued as assistant surgeon until May, 1866, when he was discharged. For about eight years following the war, he was engaged in the drug business, and then resumed the practice of medicine at Carthage, in the fall of 1875. He was subsequently in practice at Mannsville, this county, nearly ten years, and returned to Carthage upon the death of Dr. Hubbard, to take charge of the latter's practice. In 1896 he again acquired the drug store, which had been conducted by his brother in the meantime, and has conducted it since in connection with his practice. He is the owner of a fine farm in the town of Lorraine, on which a large dairy is maintained. Dr. Merrill is a member of the Baptist church, in which he served many years as trustee, and was formerly connected with the Masonic order.
He was married February 25, 1864, to Miss Mary E. Osborn, a native of New Jersey, daughter of Jonathan Osborn, who was several years a farmer in the town of Wilna, and a deacon of the Baptist church of Carthage. She died September 20. 1875, survived by one of her three children. Lawrence, the eldest, died at the age of ten years, and the youngest when seven months old. Anna, the second, is the wife of
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the Rev. J. Foster Wilcox, of Syracuse, and has a daughter, Ruth Eliza- beth. In 1878 Dr. Merrill married Ellen E. Brown, of Ellisburg, daugh- ter of Waterman Brown, one of the early farmers of that town, and his wife, Nancy Williams.
(9) Ray Waldo Merrill, son of Erwin Moses Merrill, was born January 28, 1878, in Carthage, where his home has always been. He graduated from the Carthage High School in 1898, and immediately began reading law with Hon. A. E. Kilby, of Carthage. That he has made the most of his opportunities is shown by the facts that he gradu- ated from the Albany Law School on May 30, 1901, and was admitted to the bar at Rochester July 20 following. Since then he has been actively engaged in practice at Carthage, taking a profitable business from the start. He is affiliated with Carthage Lodge, Number 158, of the Masonic fraternity. He follows in his father's footsteps in uphold- ing the principles for which he fought in the civil war, and acts with the Republican party. He is a member of the Baptist church of Carthage.
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