USA > New York > Jefferson County > Genealogical and family history of the county of Jefferson, New York, Volume I > Part 12
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66
Ellen M. Gates, wife of Captain Erwin M. Merrill, was a descendant in the ninth generation of Cornelius Waldo, extended mention of whom, with many of his descendants, appears under the proper heading in this work 5. Shubael, son of Shubael Waldo (see 4, Waldo), was born January 10, 1733, in what is now Lisbon, Connecticut, and died Septem- ber 4, 1807. at Herkimer, New York. He was a tanner by occupation, and lived at various places in this state. He was with his father at Al- stead, New Hampshire, and moved thence to this state early in life. There is a tradition that he was a revolutionary soldier with his eight brothers, but no record is found of such service. He was married Octo- ber 2, 1754, in Mansfield, Connecticut, to Priscilla, daughter of Samuel and Betty Smith. She was born January 4. 1734, in Colchester, Connec- ticut. They had seven children.
6. Jaran, fifth child of Shubael and Priscilla Waldo, was born in May, 1772, at Herkimer, this state, and died in 1841 at Great Bend, this county. He was a farmer in Champion, and also followed shoemaking. He married, at Rossie, Lois Kinney, who was born in 1775, and died in 1855, in the town of Rutland. They had nine children.
7. Shubael, third child of Jaram and Lois Waldo, was born May 28. 1804, at Ilerkimer, New York, and died May 11, 1836. in Hailesboro, St. Lawrence county, where he was a farmer. He was married, May 27. 1827, in Champion, to Phoebe Delana Caldwell. of Champion, born May 5, 1809, and died April 1, 1892, in Hailesboro. They had four chil- dren.
105
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY.
8. Susan, eldest child of Shubael and Phoebe D. Waldo, was born January 16, 1828, in Champion, and died March 28, 1865, at Great Bend. She was married, October 15, 1848, in Fowler, New York, to Isaac, son of Arba and Susan (Clintsman) Gates, of Hermon, New York, where Isaac was born. He died May 30, 1852, in California. His only child, (IX) Ellen M., born November 3, 1849, was married in Hailesboro, to Erwin M. Merrill.
LEWIS. This is the name of a very old New England family, es- tablished in Rhode Island as early as 1661, by John Lewis, who was one of the original proprietors of the town of Westerly, where he died before 1690. His children were Jolin, Daniel, James, David, Israel, Samuel and Dorcas. The first settler at Westerly was John Babcock, who went from Newport with his wife, Mary Lawton, and built a wigwam on the east side of the Pawcatuck river. Their first child, James Babcock, was the first male white child born in the Narragansett territory ( see Bab- cock). The people of Newport had previously deputized five men-Will- iam Vaughan, Robert Stanton, John Fairchild, Hugh Mosher and James Longbottom-to purchase from the Indians the title to the land, This was accomplished and the deed, given by one Sosa, was dated June 29, 1660. Settlers soon began to arrive, and among them was John Lewis, a native of Wales, and his family.
(I) John Lewis may have come from Newport to Westerly, but nothing definite can be ascertained, as the records of Newport were so mutilated by the British, who carried them off during the Revolutionary war, as to be useless. John Lewis was in Westerly about the beginning of 1661, as he signed articles of agreement there on March 22 of that year. On May 17, 1671, he appeared, with twenty-one others, at the house of Tobias Saunders, in response to a public warrant, and took the oath of allegiance to the government of Rhode Island. When he was ad- mitted a freeman, October 28, 1668, he was credited to Misquamocott, from which it is apparent that the name Westerly was adopted subse- quent to that time. The town did not keep an official record until 1683, and, under date of September, 1679, was entered the name of John Lewis. junior, as owner of lot 9. March 3. 1680, the following were listed as lot-holders: "James Lewis, I lote: David Lewis, 5 lots; Izreall Lewis, 16 lots ; and Samuel Lewis, 38 lots." It seems that there was a son, Jon- athan, as it is noted that he settled on Long Island. Daniel made his home in Hopkinton, Rhode Island, another in Exeter, and the rest re-
106
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY.
mained in Westerly. When the father settled in Westerly he located not far from the present residence of John H. Cross, and after his death his body was deposited just below the village of Westerly, on the east side of the highway leading to Watch Ilill, in front of the house now owned by Thomas E. Saunders. This land once belonged to the Lewis family, and seven generations are said to be buried there. There is another Lewis burying ground in Westerly. on the east of a gravel hill, south of the house of Pardon Lewis, containing about a dozen graves. In both ceme- teries the absence of headstones or lettering renders the names of indi- viduals uncertain.
(II) John Lewis, eldest child of John Lewis (I), took the oath of allegiance May 3, 1681. He was grand juror June 12, 1688, and appointed deputy to the general assembly at Newport, October 25, 1704, and again in 1709 and 1710. He died in 1735. His wife's name was Anna, as shown by his will. This instrument,, dated April 4, 1732, provides, among other things, that his Negro, "Will," should have ten pounds and, after his master's death, should be absolutely and entirely free. His children were Joseph, Sarah, Mary, Ann, Abigail, John, Will- iam and Jerusha.
(III) Joseph, eldest son of John Lewis (2), was born October 16, 1683, in. Westerly, and married Mary Wilcox, who died November 27, 1762. He died about 1764, his will bearing date June 24, of that year. Both he and his wife were buried in the Lewis cemetery, at West- erly. Their children were: Jerusha, Joseph. Anna, Amos, Thankful, Abraham, Hannah, Abel and Esther.
(IV) Abraham, third son and sixth child of Joseph Lewis, was born November 24, 1724, in Westerly. No further record of him can be found, except that his children were Abraham, Jr., James, Henry, David, Esther and Nehemiah.
(V) Henry Lewis, third son of Abraham, was born in 1757, prob- ably at Petersburg, Rensselaer county, this state, as other members of the family are known to have been born there. In 1800 he settled at what is now North Wilna, and built a log house on the east side of the road, opposite the present hotel (built by his descendants), where the marks of the cellar are still visible. He was one of the first overseers of the poor in the town. His first wife was Polly Jackson, and five of their children were born in Rensselaer county. Three more were born in Wilna, one being the first white child born within the present limits of the town. The mother died in 1807, at the age of thirty-eight years,
107
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY.
and Mr. Lewis was subsequently three times married, but no record is found of the second and third marriages or of the names of the brides. Soon after the death of his first wife, he moved to Cattaraugus county, New York, where all of the last three marriages were consummated. A son, Oscar, was born of the second marriage, but died at the age of nine years. The fourth wife was Mary McMillen, who died in 1836. She bore him two children, of whom the elder, Sarah, must have died young, as no trace of her has been found. The younger, Mortimer, was born June 13, 1819, and died July 10, 1895, near Weston, Ohio. In 1826 Mr. Lewis joined his eldest and third sons, near La Grange, Ohio, where he died in 1836. Following is a brief record of the children of the first marriage: Ephraim, born April 9. 1786, lived in Ohio. Betsey. March 22, 1789, was married October 10. 1808, to John C. Foster, of Antwerp. Stephen, May 14, 1792, is mentioned at length below. Henry, June 1, 1793, went to Ohio. Polly, November 5, 1795, married George W. Bingham, November 27, 1816, and lived and died in Wilna. Martha, 1802, married John Chellis, of Watertown, and died one year later. Granson, May 22, 1805, is the subject of a paragraph below. Rodolphus Jackson, March 22, 1807, was an infant when his mother died and was reared by his eldest sister, in Antwerp. He settled at Oswego, this state, where he died.
(VI) Stephen Lewis lived nearly all his life in North Wilna. He inherited land, to which he added by purchase, and was the owner of three hundred acres. In 1825 he built the red house in which he kept hotel during the balance of his life, and which was destroyed in the spring of 1903. It stood a little south of the present hotel building, erected by his son. He was a captain of the local militia, and was a prominent man of the town. He died November 21, 1854. He was married October 26, 1817, to Sophia Ross, who was born April 21, 1794, in Herkimer county, one of a family of eleven children, of Scotch descent. Of their five children, the first and third died before one year old. They were named Amanda and Charles. Sanford, the second, born November 24, 1820, lived in North Wilna, kept a hotel, and died May 19, 1892. He was first married February 11, 1846, to Abigail Kimball, who was born July 24, 1822, and died March 5, 1867. He was married second February 24, 1870, to Audrey Caroline Bigelow, who was born June 24, 1831, and survives him, still residing in the hotel which he built. He was postmaster over forty years, his incumbency ending with his death. Silvius, mentioned further below, was the fourth child
IUS
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY.
of Stephen Lewis. Myron. the fifth, is also mentioned at length far- ther on.
(VI) Granson Lewis lived at North Wilna until 1834, when he moved to the center of the town, where Wilna postoffice was long located, and built a hotel, which he kept as long as he lived, and in which he died November 14. 1851. aged forty-eight years. This building is still standing and furnishes a home for his grandson, Charles Lewis, on the homestead farm. He purchased twenty-six acres of land, on which he did some farming in connection with his hotel business and to which his son added, making the present farm over one hundred acres. He sought no part in public affairs, was a Whig in politics, and gave his attention to the care of his family. For several years he kept the post- office, which was continued after his death by his son. He was married April 14, 1828, to Meribah N. Chaffee, a native of Westminster, Ver- mont, and daughter of Zebina and Lucy (Nutting) Chaffee, who moved with oxen from Vermont and settled at Natural Bridge in the pioneer days. Mrs. Lewis was married November 26, 1872, to Orin F. Sanders, whom she survived, and died March 18, 1894, at West Carthage, at the age of eighty-five years. She was the mother of two sons and a daughter. Nelson, the eldest, is farther described below. Columbus R. went to California in 1860, and is now a resident of Oakland, in that state. Lucia Ann married John R. Washburn, a prominent citizen of Watertown, where she died, and where he died in 1903.
(VII) Nelson Lewis was born August 7, 1829, in North Wilna, and was five years old when his father moved to Wilna postoffice. Here he grew up, and was twenty-four years old when his father died. He continued to operate the hotel until the building of railroads and other influences changed the current of travel, when he gave more attention to agriculture. He added to the original domain, and was the possessor of one hundred and ten acres, which he tilled with success. He died there October 26, 1887, aged fifty-eight years. He was a Republican, from the beginning of that party, and took an intelligent interest in the progress of events, but never sought nor accepted office, other than that of postmaster. He was married December 26, 1851, to Caroline Lang- staff, a native of Piscataway, New Jersey, and daughter of Henry and Marinda Eliza ( Pickering) Langstaff, natives of New Jersey and Con- necticut respectively. James, the father of Henry Langstaff, was a Rev- olutionary soklier. Mrs. Lewis survives her husband, and resides in the hotel building erected by him. and is an exemplary member of the Dis-
109
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY.
ciples church. Of their seven children, four are living. Josephine, the first, died in infancy. Eugene Granson, the second, furnishes the sub- ject of other paragraphs. Helen M. lives one mile south of her mother, being the wife of Jared Pierce. Charles E. resides on the home farm. Estelle E. married Frank Pennington, and lives north of her native place. Lillian L. died in 1899, while the wife of Wells Timmerman. Nelson died when three years old. The men of this family have usually been of large stature, and all were fond of hunting and fishing, to which characteristic Nelson Lewis was no exception.
(VIII) Eugene Granson Lewis was born October 24, 1854, in the hotel at Wilna, where his mother and brother now reside. He grew up there and attended the district school until twelve years of age, when he was obliged to abandon school, on account of his father's failing health, and gave his attention to the affairs of the farm and hotel. Though his school days were few, Mr. Lewis has supplemented, by private study and reading and observation, the knowledge thus gained, and is known as one of the most intelligent and progressive citizens of the town of Wilna. On attaining his majority, his younger brother being then able to assume the responsibilities of the home place, he went to Utica and was there employed five years by a market gardener. His duties involved the sale of the product, and this experience gave him a large insight of human nature and business methods.
Returning to Wilna, he soon acquired his present farm, consisting of sixty-eight acres, near the east line of the town, on which he has made many improvements, including the present farm buildings and residence. He gives considerable attention to the breeding of Jersey cows, and keeps from ten to twelve, from which he produces butter for the market. Mr. Lewis is a member of Carthage Grange, of which he has served as overseer, was three years master, and is now assistant steward. He is recognized as an influential force in the affairs of the order. With his wife he affiliates with the Universalist church of Natural Bridge, in which he is a trustee. In politics he sustains with voice and vote the principles of the Republican party.
Mr. Lewis was married June 8, 1882, to Sedate Hester, daughter of Elisha and Angelica (Clearwater) Fulton, of old Wilna families. The last named is a daughter of Jacob Clearwater, a soldier of the war of 1812, and his wife, Hester Sheley, a native of Johnstown, New York. (See Fulton, Elisha F., IV.)
Jacob Clearwater was born in Marbletown, Ulster county, New York,
110
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY.
a son of Daniel Clearwater. About 1836 he came to Carthage, and some six years later settled on a farm in the town of Wilna, where he died September 4, 1856. His widow died several years later, in Croghan. They had seven children : AAbraham, the eldest, was born May 3, 1818, lived and died in Ontario, Illinois; Maria, who died in girlhood ; Daniel, born December 2, 1822, lived on the homestead and died there January 14, 1891; John, born March 3, 1825, died in young manhood; Angelica ; Joseph, born July 16, 1830, settled in Croghan, and died there, and he operated a sawmill and was also a farmer; Luke, born September 30. 1833, resided on a farm in Mexico, Otsego county.
(VII) Silvius, son of Stephen Lewis, was born August 18, 1825, in the hotel kept by his father at North Wilna, and passed his entire life in that place. He inherited one hundred acres of land from his father, and purchased one hundred and twenty more, also inheriting seventy acres on the death of his mother, making his estate cover almost three hundred acres, and he was a successful farmer. He served twenty years as assessor of the town, thus proving the confidence of his fellows in his integrity and sound judgment. He passed away at his home north of the hotel, April 2, 1878, in his fifty-third year. He was an expert at the games of backgammon and checkers, and many contests were waged between him and his cronies at the old hotel.
Mr. Lewis was married February 24. 1852, to Isabel E. Hanson, who survives him and resides with her son on the homestead. She was born May 5, 1830, in Lowville, a daughter of Peter and Anna (Thrall) Hanson, natives of Hartford county, Connecticut. Anna Thrall was a daughter of Jesse Thrall, a Revolutionary soldier. Three children came to Silvius and Isabel E. Lewis. Orville Adolphus, born March 24. 1853, resides in Antwerp. Sketches of the others follow.
(VIII) Stephen Sidney, son of Silvius Lewis, was born Novem- ber 24, 1854. on the farm at North Wilna, where he resided all his life, until his removal to Philadelphia, New York, in December, 1903. He attended the district school of the neighborhood, and meantime gave his aid to his father in the cultivation of his large farm. He was always ready in the use of tools, and has done much building in the county. Upon the death of his father he assumed the ownership of the farm, in company with his younger brother, and they purchased the interest of the eldest brother. Becoming somewhat broken in health, he leased his interest to his younger brother, and gave his attention largely to carpenter work. The summer of 1902 was spent in Philadelphia, where
111
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY.
he was employed in building operations, and he sold out to his brother in 1903 and moved to Philadelphia, where he purchased a house and lot, and intends to make his home in future. With a set of blacksmith's and carpenter's tools he is likely to make himself useful in some capacity, as he has in the past. His house on the farm is a sample of his handi- work, on which he hired only ten days' work done, in any capacity. Like others of his tribe, he is a sound Republican, and has served as town assessor for the last nine years, his tenure closing only on account of his removal. He attends the Methodist church.
Mr. Lewis was married August 7, 1880, to Miss Dolly L. Mack, who was born June 11, 1858, in the town of Wilna, a daughter of Ches- ter and Mary Ann ( Tooly) Mack, natives, respectively, of Antwerp and Wilna. Chester Mack was a son of Carmus and Martha ( McCloud) Mack, the latter of Scotch birth, and both early settlers in Wilna. Mary Ann Tooly was a daughter of Horace and Dolly (Olds) Tooly, natives of Vermont, the latter of whom lived to be one hundred years old.
(VIII) Henry H. Lewis, youngest son of Silvius Lewis, was born April 26, 1861, in the house where he now lives. His education, as far as school is concerned, was completed at Ives Seminary, at Antwerp. For several years thereafter he taught in the schools of Jefferson county, an experience worth more as an educator than many terms as a student. With a grasp of men and things he impresses the observer as a man of parts, and is withal a most genial and courteous gentleman. Of quiet and modest disposition, he is not quickly read at his real worth.
For some years he has given much care and effort to the preserva- tion of the family genealogy, and to his painstaking labor and intelli- gence is due much of the information contained in the sketch of the Lewis family. Having come into possession of the home farm by inheritance and purchase, lie is now giving diligent attention to its cultivation. He is a member of the Methodist church at Wood's, in which he was superin- tendent of the Sunday school for three years. An earnest student of hu- man progress, he gives support to the Republican policies as embodying most fully his ideas of true principles of government. For three years following the death of his uncle, Sanford Lewis, he kept the postoffice at North Wilna. Mr. Lewis is a member of Carthage Grange.
Mr. Lewis was married, December 24, 1900, to Miss Kate N. Ran- dall, who was born September 25. 1869, at Wood's and they are the parents of one son, Henry Silvius, born December 18, 1902.
The earliest ancestor of the Randall family, of which Mrs. Henry
112
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY.
H. Lewis is a representative, was Benajah Randall, whose son, William Randall, born June II, 1788, in Vermont, removed from that state to Herkimer county, New York, where he died in 1801. His wife bore him five children, as follows: Dr. Samuel, who resided in the west, and was the father of one son; William, mentioned hereinafter; Benajah, who was the father of three children, Silas, Benajah, a resident of Os- wego, and Maria, who became the wife of Hiram Wait ; Orphia, who be- came the wife of John Bemis ; and Willard, who died in early life.
William Randall, second son of William Randall, married Amanda Ross, and their children were as follows: Reuben Benajah, born March I, 1811, died November 23, 1873: Clarina, born March 1, 1813, became the wife of John G. Hubbard, and died August 17, 1883; John Zinah, mentioned hereinafter; William, Jr., born July 13, 1817: Sophia, born April 22, 1819, died May 24, 1879: Samuel Nicholas, born June 24, 1821, died October 5, 1846; Hezekiah Streeter, born April 26, 1824, a resident of Gouverneur; Artemus Asahel, born May 5, 1826, died Juiy 17, 1826; Harvey Eleazer, born April 29, 1828. died November 13, 1857 : Mark Anthony, born January 30, 1831, died February 7. 1842; Noble Watson, born March 26, 1834. died July 11, 1865, before Richmond during the Civil war.
John Zinah Randall, second son of William and Amanda ( Ross) Randall, was born May 17, 1815, and was killed at the second battle of Fredericksburg, December 12, 1862. He was married, November 17. 1840, to Almena Brooks, daugliter of Julius and Sally (Otis) Brooks. and their children were: Artemis Asahel, born March 3, 1842, who was wounded by a shell at the second battle of Fredericksburg, and died De- cember 13, 1862; Nelson W., father of Mrs. Lewis, mentioned herein- after : Esther J., born March 11, 1849, married, October 25. 1870, Will- iam H. Ormiston; Ella A., born July 27, 1859, married, February 18, 1885. Silas Monroe. The mother of these children died June 1, 1896.
Nelson W. Randall, father of Mrs. Lewis, and second son of John Zinah and Almena (Brooks) Randall, was born February 22, 1844, died December 22, 1892. The early years of his life were spent on a farm at Woods, and after his marriage to Ellen Smith, of Lafargeville, New York, December 26, 1867, he went to Virginia, where he remained two years. He then located in Nyack, New York, where he purchased a moulding mill which he conducted eight years and then sold. Subse- quently he purchased a planing mill in Hoboken, New York, and he was killed by machinery in his own plant. Nelson W. and Ellen (Smith)
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 113
.
Randall were the parents of two children: Kate N., aforementioned as the wife of Henry H. Lewis; she was educated in Jersey City high school and Hasbrook Institute, where she received, in 1889, a gold medal in the art and scholarship departments. She began giving private draw- ing lessons at home, but after a short period of time she accepted a posi- tion as supervisor of drawing in the West Hoboken schools, where she remained three years, or until her marriage. Edwin C., born June 28, 1872, was engaged with his father, Nelson WV. Randall, for a time, later was superintendent of a wholesale lumber yard, and at the present time (1904) is in charge of the Boston office of the firm of Wickes Brothers.
(VII) Myron, youngest child of Stephen Lewis, was born March 25, 1828, in the hotel kept by his father at North Wilna, and grew up there. He started in life at an early age, purchasing one hundred acres of land when nineteen years old. This was a wilderness, and he was obliged to cut away trees to make room to build a house. He cleared up this land, to which he added twenty acres, and developed a fine farm, which he continued to till during his life, which ended March 12, 1892. In 1883 he built the square house now standing on his farm, on lot 855. He carried on diversified farming, raising grain and keeping cows. Though not a member of any church, he cherished the faith of the Meth- odists, and was respected as an upright citizen. Like all his family, he was a supporter of Republican principles in national and state affairs.
Before he was nineteen years oid, November 26, 1846, he was mar- ried to Mary Frances DeWolf, who was born in August, 1831, in New York city, and died December 5, 1885. They were the parents of ten children, all of whom are living. Julia, the first, married William Gates and resides in Schenectady, this state. . Augustus P. is a farmer in the town of Wilna. Adelaide married Nelson Twining, and lives in Copen- hagen, Lewis county. Cornelia is the wife of William Gray, of Utica. Myron is mentioned farther below. Sophia is the wife of Jolin Dickson, a farmer of Antwerp. Sanford is a resident of Harrisville, Lewis county. Florence married Cranson Scott, a farmer residing on Alexandria Road, Wilna. Frank is a citizen of Alpine, Lewis county. Luella is Mrs. Alexis Smith, residing near Natural Bridge, in the town of Wilna. November 10, 1887, Mr. Lewis married Harriet (Timmerman) widow of Packard.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.