USA > New York > Jefferson County > Genealogical and family history of the county of Jefferson, New York, Volume I > Part 25
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The tragic death last week of Orlo B. Rhodes, the editorial writer on the Watertown Standard, shocked his many friends throughout northern New York. Mr. Rhodes was a lovable man. Quiet and un- ostentatious, he was a man of sterling worth and true friendship. En- dowed with a bright intellect, there was probably no more polished writer in the newspaper profession in this section of the state than he.
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To those who were intimate with him and had worked by his side his real worth was known .- Gouverneur Free Press.
HENRY PURCELL of Watertown, recognized as a leader of the legal profession of northern New York, is a son of Michael and Susan (Keon) Purcell, who in early life left Ireland, the country of their nativity, and emigrated to the United States, making their home in Jef- fersen county, New York, to the prosperity and advancement of which at least one of their descendants has so notably contributed.
Henry Purcell, son of Michael and Susan (Keon) Purcell, was born October 13, 1848, at Wilna, Jefferson county. He received his education at the Watertown high school and the Antwerp Academy. and while attending school taught during the winters in order to earn money with which to defray his educational expenses. Having de- veloped a taste for professional life, he began the study of law with the late Judge John C. McCartin in the spring of 1872. The following autumn he was elected school commissioner of the second district of the county and served in that capacity three years, at the same time continuing his law studies. In January, 1876, he was admitted to the bar and the following three years was with the firm of McCartin & Williams as assistant. In 1879 he formed a law partnership with the late Charles A. Sherman, a connection which was maintained until the death of the latter. In 1894 he formed a partnership with John N. Carlisle, which continued until May 1, 1897, when he associated himself with the late Senator Mullin and George H. Walker, the surviving members of the firm of Mullin, Griffin & Walker, who were the attorneys for the New York Central & Hudson River Railroad Company. This firm continued until the death of Senator Mullin, which occurred Sep- tember 1, 1897, and a short time after the present firm of Purcell, Walker & Burns was formed, which still has charge of the business of the Central Railroad in Jefferson, Oswego and Lewis counties, in addi- tion to a large general law practice. Mr. Purcell is a ready, persuasive speaker and argues causes on appeal quite as well as before a jury, although as a trial lawyer he probably excels. He is a director and vice president of the National Bank and Loan Company and a trustee of the Jefferson County Savings Bank.
In the autumn of 1881 Mr. Purcell was elected city recorder and served the full term of four years. During the years 1887 and 1888 he held the office of city attorney, and in January, 1892, he was appointed
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by Governor Flower county judge to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Judge John C. McCartin. He has held during his legal practice many positions of trust and confidence, and as counsel in important cases his services are in constant demand. He has devoted much of his spare time to literature and the upbuilding of the school system of his city, upon the educational board of which he served faithfully from 1885 to 1897. He is vice president of the New York State Bar Association and also belongs to the Transportation Club of New York city and to the Union Ciub of Watertown.
Mr. Purcell married January 10, 1878, at Watertown. Cecilia R. Neary, and they are the parents of the following children: Francis K. ; Henry, Jr .; John C .; Katherine, and Alice. The beautiful home of Mr. and Mrs. Purcell is one of the social centers of Watertown.
EDWARD HULBERT THOMPSON, founder of the firm of E. H. Thompson & Company of Watertown, one of the largest and most successful business houses in northern New York, is a man of great executive ability, tireless energy and unswerving integrity, and throughout his long connection with business enterprises has always borne an enviable reputation among his associates. He was born in Martinsburg, Lewis county, New York, September 3. 1835, only sur- viving child of Dr. William and Maria ( Perry ) Thompson.
(1) The American founder of the family, John Thompson, a native of England, was among the settlers of Stratford, Connecticut, where he died in 1678. His wife's christian name was Mirable. She (lied April 13, 1690.
(II) Ambrose Thompson, son of John and Mirable, was born January 1, 1651, and died September 6, 1742, near the close of his ninetieth year. His wife, Sarah Weller, born September 28, 1659, was a daughter of John and Elizabeth ( Bowers) Weller, who were born in England-the former in 1621-and died 1659 and 1681, respectively. in Stratford.
(III) Deacon John Thompson, son of Ambrose and Sarah ( Weller ) Thompson, was born 1680 and died 1765. He was married November 15, 1705. to Ruth Curtis, who died April 23, 1721. She was a daughter of Benjamin and Esther ( Judson) Curtis, and a great- granddaughter of William and Elizabeth Curtis, natives of England and pioneer settlers of Roxbury, Massachusetts. Esther Judson was a daughter of Lieutenant Joseph Judson and Sarah Porter, and grand-
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daughter of William and Grace Judson, who came from England and resided at Stratford. Sarah Porter's parents, John and Rose Porter, died in 1648.
(IV) John Thompson, son of Deacon John and Ruth Thomp- son, born April 1, 1717, married Mehitable, daughter of Joseph Booth of Bridgeport, Connecticut, who was a grandson of Richard and Eliza- beth (Hawley) Booth, who came from England and settled in Strat- ford. The grandmother of Mehitable Thompson-Hannah Wilcoxen- was a granddaughter of William and Margaret Wilcoxen, English set- tlers of Concord, Massachusetts.
(V) John, son of John and Mehitable ( Booth) Thompson, born 1749, lived in Stratford and died April 25, 1801, about fifty-two years old. He was a Revolutionary soldier, and suffered great hardships while held as a prisoner by the British in New York city.
( VI) Stiles, son of John Thompson, was born 1768 and died 1853, in Rutland, this county, where he settled previous to 1820. He married Hannah Hopkins, who was born May 30, 1770, and died Feb- ruary 20, 1841, a daughter of Joseph and Hepsibah (Clark) Hopkins. Joseph was a son of Stephen Hopkins of Waterbury, Connecticut, a son of John and Hannah Hopkins, the former of whom died in November, 1632. Stiles Thompson kept the first pretentious hotel in the present city of Waterbury, and the hack which he introduced in the town was such an object of curiosity that the whole congregation filed out to look it over, the first time he rode to church in it at Middlebury. Hepsibah Clark was a daughter of Thomas and Sarah ( Strong) Clark of North- ampton, Massachusetts-the former a son of William and Hannah (Strong) Clark of Lebanon and Northampton, Massachusetts, and the latter a daughter of John and Hannah (Trumbull) Strong of Windsor, Connecticut.
Susannah, wife of Stephen Hopkins, above mentioned, was a daughter of John and Susannah (Street) Peck of New Haven. All the names hereinbefore mentioned are among the honored ones of Connecticut history.
(VII) Dr. William Thompson was born July 16, 1803, in Mid- dlebury, and died September 9, 1848. His wife, Maria Perry, was born October 16, 1809, and died August 1, 1843. His medical educa- tion was finished at Bellevue Hospital, New York, in 1829, and he settled in Martinsburg, New York, at once. In 1838 he went to Kala- mazoo, Michigan, and to Florida, seeking to recover the health lost
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while riding over wide areas on horseback, while practicing his profes- sion, and never practiced after 1840. He was a great sufferer from asthma and did not lie down during the last thirteen years of his life.
Edward H. Thompson obtained his education at the public schools of his native village, after which, at the age of nineteen years, he went to New Haven, Connecticut, and devoted his attention to the study of portrait painting under the competent preceptorship of Wales Hotch- hiss. After three years he was forced to abandon this line of work, owing to defective eyesight. In 1859 he settled in Watertown, New York, entered into partnership with J. B. Tyler in the retail grocery business, under the style of E. H. Thompson & Company, and this copartnership continued until 1866, a period of seven years. In the latter named year Mr. Thompson purchased his partner's interest in the business. conducted it successfully on his own account up to the year 1892, when he admitted to partnership two of his clerks, Messrs. J. W. Van Camp and L. J. McDonald, under the style of E. H. Thompson & Company, and this firm is now one of the best known and conducts one of the most extensive trades in the city of Watertown. In 1898 Mr. Thompson sold out his interest to his partners and retired from trade.
Mr. Thompson has been married twice. His first marriage oc- curred in November, 1860, to Mary E. Isham, who died in 1863, and his second marriage occurred in May, 1866, to Mary A. Hopkins.
Mr. Thompson is a member of the First Presbyterian church of Watertown. He is vice president of the Jefferson County Historical Society, in which he takes an active interest, and is a member of the Lincoln League, which is evidence of his sound Republicanism. On account of business pressure he has refused many tenders of public office, and has never been an active politician.
D. G. FOSTER. One of the leading representatives of the manu- facturing interests of Jefferson county is D. G. Foster of Watertown. He is descended from a Rhode Island family of some prominence, a town in that state having been named in honor of his ancestors. From this home of the race George Foster came to New York in 1812 as a fighter in the patriot cause. He served on the United States ship Con- stitution, and was present at the battle of Lake Champlain. At the close of the war, instead of returning to Rhode Island, he settled as a farmer in Jefferson county and there passed the remainder of his life. Here was born his son. John R. Foster, who was also a seafaring man,
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and during the Civil war enlisted in the One Hundred and Eighty-sixth New York Volunteers. He witnessed much active service, in the course of which he was wounded. He married Albina Whitman of Dexter, and two children were born to them: Alice E., who is the wife of C. R. Stowell; and Delavan G., mentioned at length hereinafter. Mr. and Mrs. Foster are still living, the former having attained, after his life of hardship and adventure, to the age of seventy years.
Delavan George Foster, son of John R. and Albina (Whitman), Foster, was born October 26, 1862, at Dexter, received his education in the common schools and afterward taught for fourteen years in the schools of Dexter and Evans' Mills. Desiring to enter commercial life, he traveled for a time as agent for a building and loan association and in 1897 came to Watertown, where he formed a partnership with Robert J. Bagg. The firm engaged in business as furniture manufac- turers and steadily prospered. In 1900 Mr. Foster purchased the in- terest of Mr. Bagg and has since continued the business alone. In addition to being a manufacturer of furniture, he is also a wholesale dealer, and is largely engaged in fitting up banks and offices. The new court house affords specimens of some of his finest work, and his services are in demand all over the county. In 1901 he erected a sub- stantial store building on Moulton street, which he occupies. Mr. Foster is a good citizen, as well as a successful business man, but has never taken an active part in political matters, though he is a steadfast and consistent Republican and a charter member of the Lincoln League. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity. His religious belief is that held by the Universalists, and in the Watertown church of that sect he holds the office of treasurer.
Mr. Foster married Lottie A. Woodruff, and they became the parents of a son, who is named Harold. After the death of his wife, Mr. Foster married, in 1897, Lily L., daughter of Henry Larned, a member of one of the old families of Evans' Mills. By this second marriage there are no children.
STANLEY EZIEKEL HUNTING. In every community there is a class of men who, by their persevering and enterprising spirit, infuse into the commerce of the place a vitality which it would otherwise lack and without which the business interests of the community would in- evitably languish. One of these men is Stanley E. Hunting of Water- town.
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The Hunting family was founded in America by (1) John Huntting of Suffolk county, England, who settled in Dedham, Massachusetts, in 1638. He had a son, (II) John, whose son, (III) Jonathan, was the father of (IV) Ebenezer. The last named had a son, (V) Jonathan, and a grandson (VI) Ezekiel S., who was a pioneer settler in the town of Henderson, this county.
(VII) Maro B. Hunting, son of Ezekiel S., was born March 15, 1826, in the town of Henderson, and came to Watertown in 1863. He was engaged in the milk business, and also dealt extensively in cattle and horses. After a successful business eareer of twenty years, he was removed by death November 20, 1883. He was married February 20. 1856, to Ann Jane, daughter of Hiram Converse, one of the pioneer settlers of Watertown. Mrs. Hunting survives her husband and resides in Watertown. Her only child, S. E. Hunting, is the subject of fol- lowing paragraphs. Her husband was a well known and highly re- spected citizen, and she upholds the character of her New England ancestors, in a quiet. Christian life, surrounded by many loving friends.
(VIII) Stanley E. Hunting was born July 26, 1865. in Water- town, and has not only kept pace with the growth of the city, but has been a leader in its development. His primary education was supplied by the public schools of the city and he subsequently attended private schools and a business college. His first commercial experience was in caring for his father's estate, being compelled by the early death of his father to leave school and enter directly upon the laborious efforts necessary in conserving the business interests involved. He continued the milk business, which involved long hours of labor, and engaged in stone contracting and real estate dealing at the age of eighteen years. His first large contract was for furnishing the building stone used in the construction of Trinity church, the completion of which consumed two years and involved the labor of many men and teams. For some years after the death of his father he continued business alone and, in 1891, became associated with F. B. Devendorf in the plumbing business, under the style of Devendorf & Hunting. At the end of two years the business was extended to include wholesale dealing in plumbing and mill supplies, and Mr. Hunting became senior partner, with Mr. Deven- dorf's successor. After two years more, a third partner was admitted, Mr. Ilunting continuing as head and manager, and the establishment was widely recognized as the leader in the business at this point. In June, 1903, Mr. Hunting organized the Hunting Company to deal in
Lois B. Greenleaf
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plumbers', tinners' and mill supplies, and is its president and manager. This concern immediately took a leading position among manufacturers and dealers in this and adjoining states, and is steadily growing with, or a little in advance of the rapid growth of northern New York. The company owns the buildings it occupies, Mr. Hunting having erected the first exclusive wholesale building in the city. Mr. Hunting is inter- ested as a director and vice president in the Raymondville Paper Com- pany, and is a director of the Eager Electric Company. His previous experience in the plumbing business has proved valuable to Mr. Hunting in his subsequent and present business relations. In addition to all his other activities, he is the owner and manager of a farm near the city in the town of Pamela.
The political life of Watertown has also felt the influence due to the earnestness and desire for progress by which Mr. Hunting has been distinguished throughout his commercial career. He has taken an active interest in public affairs and his townsmen have repeatedly testified by their votes to the esteem in which they hold him. He has twice rep- resented the second ward as alderman and, for both terms. 1900-03, was chairman of the finance committee of the common council. He is a prominent member of the Lincoln League and the Union Club. His political principles are those championed by the Republican party, and they find no mean advocate in Mr. Hunting. He attends the Universalist church, in which he holds the office of trustee.
On the maternal side, Mr. Hunting comes of Revolutionary stock, and he has in his possession the commission given to his ancestor, Gen- eral Converse, as major of militia, by George Clinton, the first governor of the state of New York.
Mr. Hunting was married February 28, 1892, to Miss Grace L., daughter of F. B. Devendorf of Watertown, and they are now the parents of three children : Maro Stanley, Frederick James and Mildred Alace.
MAJOR LOUIS CHRISTOPHER GREENLEAF, one of the most progressive business men of Watertown, New York, is a descendant of an old and highly honored family which traces back nine generations in America. The Greenleaf family were originally Huguenots who left France on account of religious persecutions, and settled in England some time in the sixteenth century. The first of the name in America was Edmund Greenleaf, born in 1573, and baptized January 2. 1574. He
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came from Ipswich, county of Suffolk, England, and settled in Newbury, Massachusetts, early in the year 1635. In 1637 he commanded a com- pany of militia in an excursion against the Indians, and in 1639 was ordered to be ensign of the Newbury Company at Newbury, Massachu- setts. (Register of the Society of Colonial Wars for 1894.) In 1642 Edmund Greenleaf was commissioned lieutenant of Massachusetts pro- vincial forces, and in 1644 was commissioned captain, and was head of the militia under Garrish. In 1647, at his own request, he was dis- charged from military office. He was twice married; first to Sarah Dole, of Boston, and second to Mrs. Sarah Hill. He died in Boston, Massachusetts, March 24, 1671.
Stephen Greenleaf, son of Edmund Greenleaf, was born in Ipswich, England, in August, 1628. He was appointed ensign of Massachusetts militia, May 31, 1670; lieutenant in 1685, and captain in 1686. As captain in the Massachusetts forces he went with the disastrous expedi- tion against Port Royal in October, 1690, and while landing from the ship was wrecked and drowned on December 1, 1690, with nine others of his company. On November 13, 1651, he married Elizabeth, daughter of Tristrain and Dionis (Stevens) Collins, of Newbury, Massachusetts, who bore him ten children. Mrs. Greenleaf died November 19, 1678. Mr. Greenleaf married (second) March 31, 1679, Esther Weare Sweet, daughter of Nathaniel Weare and widow of Benjamin Sweet, and her death occurred January 16, 1718, aged eighty-nine years. Stephen Green- leaf died December 1, 1690.
Stephen Greenleaf, Jr., son of Stephen Greenleaf, was born in New- bury, Massachusetts, August 15, 1652. In the old records of the town of Newbury he is called "Captain Stephen"; he served in the King Philip's war, and was severely wounded in a battle with the Indians at Hatfield, on tlie Connecticut river, Massachusetts, August 25, 1675. On June 4, 1685, Ensign Greenleaf was appointed lieutenant, and on August 2, 1689, in the Indian war, he was sent to treat with the Indians at Rennacoch. He was afterward made captain, and was distinguished in the Indian wars of the time. He is mentioned in "Mather's Magnalia" as commanding a company in the celebrated battle with the French and Indians at Wells, Maine, in 1690. On October 13, 1676, he married Elizabeth Gerrish, who was born September 10, 1654, daughter of Will- iam and Joanna (Goodale) Gerrish, and they were the parents of ten children. Stephen Greenleaf, Jr., died October 13, 1743, at Newbury, Massachusetts, and his wife died August 5, 1712.
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Rev. Daniel Greenleaf, son of Captain Stephen Greenleaf, Jr., was born February 10, 1679. He was united in marriage November 18, 1701, to Elizabeth Gooking, born November II, 1681, daughter of Samuel and Mary Gooking, and granddaughter of General Daniel Gooking, who was elected major general of all the forces of the colony of Massachusetts, May II, 1681, and who was the last major general of the colony under the old charter, and also the first under the charter of William and Mary. Thirteen children were the issue of this union. Rev. Daniel Greenleaf died in Boston, Massachusetts, August 26, 1763, and his wife, Elizabeth (Gooking) Greenleaf, died in November, 1762.
Dr. Daniel Greenleaf, eldest child of the Rev. Daniel Greenleaf, was born November 7, 1702, at Cambridge, Massachusetts. He served as surgeon of a regiment of Massachusetts troops at the siege of Louis- burg, Cape Breton, in 1754, and also as surgeon on one of the colony ships during the same war. His personal history is preserved at Wor- cester, Massachusetts, to which place he removed from Cambridge. He was married July 18, 1726, to Mrs. Silence ( Nicholas) March, who was born July 4, 1702, and ten children were born to them. Dr. Green- leaf died July 18, 1795.
Stephen Greenleaf, son of Dr. Daniel Greenleaf, was born October 15, 1735, in Boston, Massachusetts. He served as a private in Captain John Carter's mounted company, which was detached from Colonel Oliver Wilder's regiment and served in the Fort William Henry alarm. He was afterward a sergeant in Captain Asa Whitcomb's company of Colonel Jon- athan Bagley's regiment raised for the invasion of Canada, and served eights months and twelve days. In the fall of 1771 he moved from Boston, Massachusetts, to Brattleboro, Vermont, where he had purchased the tract of land of about eight hundred acres, known as the "Governor's Farm," comprising all that is now known as the east village of Brattle- boro. He built mills and opened, as is believed, the first store in Vermont. He built the first dwelling house, the first sawmill and the first gristmill ever erected in Brattleboro. He was married January II, 1758, to Eunice Fairbanks, born in Boston, Massachusetts, and of their eleven children, six were born in Boston, Massachusetts, and five in Brattleboro, Vermont. His eldest son, Stephen, served as town clerk of Brattleboro for fifty-five successive years. Stephen Greenleaf died in Brattleboro, June 8, 1802, and his wife, Eunice (Fairbanks) Greenleaf, died March 8, 1826.
Dr. Christopher Greenleaf, fifth son of Stephen Greenleaf, was born in Boston, Massachusetts, November 26, 1776. For a period of time
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he resided in Vermont, from whence he removed to the state of New York, settling first at Smithville and later at Lafargeville. On January 30, 1803, he married Tabitha Dickinson, who was born in Hatfield, Massachusetts, September 9. 1777. and five children were born to them. Dr. Christopher Greenleaf died May 18, 1837. The commission given by the major part of the council of Massachusetts Bay, in New England, to John Dickinson, father of Tabitha (Dickinson) Greenleaf, appointing him second lieutenant of the Second Company in the Fourth Battalion for reorganizing the army of the United American Colony. destined to Can- ada, was signed by Jeremiah Powell. B. Greenleaf. W. Spooner. Caleb Cushing. G. Winthrop. S. Hollen, Jabez Fisher, B. White, I. Cushing, Wm. Phillips, John Taylor. Daniel Davis, Joseph Cushing, D. Sewall, D. Hopkins. It is "given under the hand and seal of the said colony at Watertown, Massachusetts, July 12, 1776." This is the only one of these commissions known, and the signatures are still as plain as ever.
John Dickinson Greenleaf, son of Dr. Christopher Greenleaf, was born at Guilford, Vermont. December 8, 1803. When quite young he removed with his father to Smithville. New York. a few years later settled at Lafargeville, and when twenty years of age removed to Clayton ( then French Creek ), where for a short time he was a clerk in the store of W. H. Angel. For a period of almost twenty years he was employed in the capacity of clerk with the firm of Merick & Smith, and had charge of their lumber business in Quebec. He then returned to Lafargeville, and there remained until 1857, when he located in Seneca, Ontario coun- ty: he also resided at Hall's Corners, New York.
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