USA > New York > Jefferson County > Genealogical and family history of the county of Jefferson, New York, Volume I > Part 28
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HARVEY A. CORNWALL, fourth son of the late Andrew and Mary C. (Calhoun) Cornwall, was born in Alexandria Bay, Jefferson county, New York, July 1, 1855. He obtained a thorough English edu- cation in the common schools of Alexandria Bay, Hungerford Collegiate Institute of Adams, New York, and Williams Business College of Roch- ester, New York, from which institution he was graduated in 1875. The first year of his business career was spent as clerk in his father's store, and the following six months he was a clerk with his brothers, Charles WV. and John I., in a general store at Fentonville, Michigan. In 1877 he returned to Alexandria Bay, New York, and assisted in the formation of the present firm of Cornwall Brothers, of which he is a member. For a full description of this enterprise see the sketch of his father, Hon. Andrew Cornwall, deceased.
In September, 1879, Mr. Cornwall married Georgianna Davenport, born at Evans' Mills, New York, the only surviving child of the late John T. Davenport, who was an early settler and a prominent farmer of that section of the state. Mr. and Mrs. Cornwall have two children : Herald D., who graduated from Cascachilla Institute, Ithaca, New York, where he prepared for Cornell University, and in 1903 graduated from the Law Department of Syracuse University of Syracuse, New York, and was admitted to practice in October. 1903, and is now following his profession in Syracuse. New York. Leon H., a graduate from the high school of Alexandria Bay, and now a student in the class of 1907 at
Hal Comwall
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the Syracuse University. Mrs. Cornwall is a member of the Reformed church.
Mr. Cornwall is a director of the Thousand Island Bank of Alex- andria Bay, also a stockholder of various other financial enterprises in Watertown, New York, including the National Bank and Loan Com- pany, and the Jefferson County Bank. The esteem in which he is held by his fellow-townsmen is evidenced by the fact that in 1892 he was chosen to fill the responsible office of president of the village, and so faithfully did he perform the duties allotted to him that he is still ( 1904) the incumbent of this position. He has twice been chosen as a candidate for the office of supervisor, but has declined the honor each time. His interest in fraternal organizations is shown by his holding membership in the Masonic fraternity, being affiliated with Alexander Bay Lodge, No. 297, F. and A. M .; Theresa Chapter, No. 149, R. A. M. ; Watertown Commandery, No. 1I, K. T., and Media Temple, Mystic Shrine. He is a member of the Ancient Order of Foresters, Thousand Island Court, of Alexandria Bay, and a charter member of Hopewell Hall, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His political affiliations are with the Demo- cratic party.
DEMSTER FAILING, a retired farmer of Jefferson county, New York, resides in the town of Clayton, two miles from Depauville, on the main road to Stone Mills. He was born in Pamelia, New York, March 7, 1844.
The paternal great-grandfather of Demster Failing participated in the Revolutionary war, and after being taken prisoner by the Indians was conveyed to Canada, where he was sold for whiskey. After being kept in bondage about four years he was redeemed and sent home, and shortly afterward married a girl by the name of Smith. He then purchased a farm which he cultivated until he was eighty years of age, at which time he sold it and moved to Jefferson county, where he died in the eighty-fifth year of his age.
John Failing, grandfather of Demster Failing, moved from the town of St. Johnsville, Montgomery county, to the town of Pamelia, Jefferson county, where he purchased a large dairy farm. This he opcrated for about fifty years, and at the end of this long period of time he retired from active pursuits, having acquired a good property. He married Catherine Elwood, and they reared 'a family of eight children,
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three girls and five boys. His death occurred in the town of Antwerp, Jefferson county. at the advanced age of ninety-two years.
Benjamin E. Failing, father of Demster Failing, was born in St. Johnsville, Montgomery county, New York, in 1812. He resided there until eight years old, at which time he came with his father to Pamelia, Jefferson county, where he remained until thirty years of age, the greater portion of this time being devoted to agricultural pursuits, which he conducted in connection with his father. In 1837 he came to Clayton and purchased a farm, which he cleared off and cultivated to a high state of perfection, looking after the same up to the present time (1904). He remained a resident of that town until 1894, a period of fifty-seven years, and then removed to Lafargeville, where he has since resided. and although he has attained the advanced age of eighty-four is well preserved and active. His wife, Lucy Ann (Augsbury) Failing, who is also living at the present time, a daughter of Abram Augsbury, of Pamelia, New York, bore him four children, as follows: Louisa, de- ceased: Demster, mentioned at length hereinafter ; Spencer, who resided in the vicinity of the home of his brother Demster; and Ida, who resides in Lafargeville.
Demster Failing was reared on the farm owned by his parents. and his education was acquired in the common and select schools of the neighborhood. In 1866 he purchased a farm of one hundred and seven acres devoted to general farming and the raising of hay and grain, and here he resided until 1896, in which year he purchased a tract of land in Lafargeville, which he cultivated and improved for a number of years. For three years he served as collector of taxes, and for a period of time was district school trustee and chairman of the board. He has always taken an active interest in educational affairs, and has aided materially in advancing that cause in the section of the county in which he resides. His political views are in accord with the prin- ciples laid down by the Republican party. Mr. Failing is a man of intelligence and sound common sense, a practical and progressive farmer, a capable business man, and a public-spirited citizen.
Mr. Failing was united in marriage to Almedia Tahash, who was born in Alexandria, New York, daughter of Joseph and Sally ( Matice) Tahaslı, and one child was the issue of this union: Ernest B., born October 4. 1874. He was educated in the common schools of Clayton and Derativille, and after completing his studies turned his attention to the raising of chickens on his father's farm, being now the possessor
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of one of the most extensive chicken-raising farms in Jefferson county. He is the owner of two thousand chickens which he raised, and he also raised a large flock of Belgian hares, three hundred of which he shipped to New York. Ernest B. Failing married Millie Cook, a native of Clayton, New York, and daughter of Edwin Cook, an expert mechanic and plumber, residing in Clayton. Mr. and Mrs. Demster Failing hold membership in the Grange.
Joseph Tahash, father of Mrs. Demster Failing, was a shoemaker by trade. He spent some years in this section of New York state, but during the latter years of his life resided in Michigan, where his death occurred in the ninety-third year of his age. His wife, Sally (Matice) Tahash, also died in Michigan, having attained the age of three score years and ten. They were the parents of eleven children, five of whom are living, among them being Maria, who became the wife of Jackson Makepeace, of Theresa, New York.
DR. HENRY H. DEANE, a prominent physician of Watertown, Jefferson county, New York, was born in Swanton, Franklin county, Vermont, May 20, 1850, a son of Daniel and Lydia ( Wheelock) Deane, a grandson of Josiah Dwight and Susanna (Walker) Deane, and great- grandson of Dr. Silas Deane. Dr. Silas Deane was born in Upton. Massachusetts, where he practiced his profession as a physician and surgeon.
Josiah Dwite Deane (grandfather) was born in Upton, Massachu- setts, and came to Clarendon, Vermont, which was originally settled by pioneers from Rhode Island, among whom was his wife's father. Sub- sequentiy Josiah Dwite Deane came to St. Albans, where he devoted his time and attention to farming, clearing a farm some two miles north of where the village of St. Albans is now. Susanna (Walker) Deane, who was born in Providence, Rhode Island, bore him nine children --- four girls and five boys. Mr. Deane was accidentally killed at Cumber- land, when about fifty-eight years of age, and the death of his wife occurred about 1860, at about eighty-eight years of age.
Daniel Deane (father) was born September 6, 1798, in St. Albans, Vermont. He was reared and educated in his native town and learned the tanner's and curricr's trade, which he followed all his life. He removed from St. Albans to Stowe. then to Waterbury, to Swanton, and finally to Highgate, in each of which places he built a tannery. He was united in marriage to Lydia Wheelock, who was born in Bakers-
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field. Vermont, June 2. 1811, daughter of Moses and Faithful ( Knight) Wheelock, both of whom came from Westmoreland, near Keene, New Hampshire. Moses Wheelock was a pioneer and took up land where Bakersfield now stands, owned and operated a large farm, and here resided up to the time of his death at eighty years of age. His wife, who bore him a family of nine children, all of whom are now deceased except one daughter, died at the extreme old age of ninety-eight years. Six children were born to Daniel and Lydia Deane, five of whom are living, namely : Susan L., widow of Levi Bordo, of Highgate; Burton E., a resident of Swanton, Vermont ; Henry H., mentioned hereinafter ; Tyler M., a resident of Providence, Rhode Island, and Artemus W., who follows the profession of dentist in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Daniel Deane died at the old home in St. Albans, Vermont, in his seventy-eighth year. His wife passed away in her eighty-third year.
Henry H. Deane attended the common and select schools of High- gate, the Academy in St. Albans, the Burlington High School, where he was fitted for college, and entered the University of Vermont with the class of '77, taking an elective course. He taught school for four years, and at the same time read law and medicine-first law with Messrs. Fitch and Newton, attorneys of Highgate, and then medicine in the office of Henry Baxter, of Highgate. Subsequently he registered in the office of Dr. Sanmel W. Thayer, of Burlington, and took the private and public course in the Medical Department of the University of Vermont, graduating in 1876. He was elected Demonstrator of Anatomy in the University of Vermont, Medical Department. In 1877 he came to Watertown, Jefferson county, New York, where he has since resided. He has testified as a medical expert in more cases than any other man in practice to-day in this part of the state, and has gained a reputation in that direction. During his career he has made a specialty of forensic medicine. He is a member of the Medical Society of Jeffer- son county, served as president and vice-president, and was secretary ten years ; and was delegate to the Medical Society of the State of New York, of which he is a prominent member. His writings have been confined to medical subjects, and these papers have been read before the societies to which he belongs.
Dr. Deane has not only attained a prominent professional practice in the city, but has also been called to fill several places of public trust. He was elected city physician and held the office four years, and during ('leveland's first administration was appointed pension examiner, which
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he also held four years. He was elected health officer of the city about 1880, and efficiently filled the office for ten years. He is a Democrat in his political affiliations.
On December 27. 1876, Dr. Deane married Ida M. Bolton, who was born in Watertown, Jefferson county, in 1856, daughter of Stephen H. Bolton and his wife Sarah A. (Cramer) Bolton. Their children are: Etta, her father's assistant and typewriter; Ida, a trained nurse and assistant superintendent in the hospital ( House of the Good Samari- tan) ; Grace, a student in the University of Vermont ; Henry, a stu- dent in the high school, and Susie, in the grammar school and at home with her parents.
Stephen H. Bolton was born in Jefferson county, in 1829, a son of Isaac Bolton, who was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and came in 1808 to Philadelphia, Jefferson county, New York, with his father, Joseph Bolton, a pioneer. Stephen H. Bolton was a miller at Winooski, Vermont, from whence he came to Potsdam, built a mill at the Junction, and traveled in the milling interest out west for a time. While residing in the west he conducted roller mills in Canton and Cleveland, Ohio; and Quincy, Illinois. Upon his return to Watertown he built a roller mill in which Dr. Deane put in quite an amount of capital and lost all by so doing. He is now living in Watertown, aged seventy-five years. His wife, Sarah A. (Cramer) Bolton, was born in Watertown, New York, in 1825. daughter of Jacob Cramer, a contractor and bridge builder for the R. W. and O. R. R. Company. He built the Woodruff House, Trinity church, and also the Baptist church. Mrs. Bolton was the mother of three children-Mrs. W. D. Tyler, deceased; Mrs. Dr. Deane, and Stephen, who conducts a drug store in Watertown. She died June 10, 1903, aged seventy-three years.
MILO McCUMBER, deceased, for many years a highly respected citizen and progressive agriculturist of Clayton, Jefferson county, New York, was born June 24, 1824, in Henderson, New York.
He obtained a practical education in the common schools of Hen- derson, New York. His early years were passed upon a farm, now the home of his widow, Mrs. Milo McCumber, to which he came as a child with his parents. He assisted his father in the various duties of his daily life, and looked after his comfort with filial devotion during his declining years. He then took charge of the farm of two hundred and sixty acres and gave his attention to breeding fine horses ; brought the
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land up to a high state of cultivation, and improved and modernized the buildings, and being an active and energetic man achieved a large de- gree of financial success in these operations. He took a great interest in political affairs, and was held in the highest esteem by all who knew linn.
Mr. McCumber married, September 12, 1855, Miss Helen M. Payne, a native of Clayton, New York. She received a liberal educa- tion, and is known as a woman of refinement and culture. Throughout her life she has been an intelligent and critical reader of the best litera- ture, besides taking a deep interest in all matters of current interest. Retaining the charm of her youth, and her excellent conversational powers, her presence affords pleasure to whatever circle of friends may gather about her. In her young womanhood she was an accomplished educator, and left an indelible impression for good upon the youth who grew up about her, having been a successful school teacher for twenty-three terms, some of twenty-two weeks each-probably a longer period than any other female teacher in Jefferson county now living.
Mrs. McCumber has long survived the husband of her youth, whose death occurred February 7. 1882. The esteem in which he was held found the following expression, record of which appears upon the books of Depauville Lodge No. 688, F. and A. M., of which the lamented deceased was an honored member :
"A few brief remarks were made upon the sad event which caused the craft to assemble, by Bros. L. E. Frame, Byron Fox and Gustavus Wetterhahn, expressing sympathy to his wife, relatives and friends, and the following resolutions were adopted :
"Whercas, in the providence of God, beneath whose mighty hand we bow in humble submission to the sudden death of our esteemed and worthy brother, Milo McCumber, an event which has wrapped this lodge in profound gloom, and carried sorrow unspeakable to a happy home ; and, whereas, by this visitation death has taken from our midst a most worthy brother, whose sterling qualities and general true-heartedness it is a melancholy satisfaction to speak : without ostentation, but with a kind word and bright smile for all; with a brave heart and a pure life. our brother has gone to the 'Silent Land.'
"Resolved, that the death of Mr. McCumber has taken from the fraternity a true and a faithful member, and from the community in which he lived an honored citizen whose memory will be cherished for his manly virtues."
Milo McCumber was a son of George W. and Avenda (McNitt) McCumber, the former named having been born in Rhode Island, one
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of four children, the names of the others being as follows: Dyre, Solo- mon, and James McCumber. The father was reared on a farm, and came to Henderson, New York, where his father was a pioneer and cleared a large section of land. He also served in the capacity of teacher in Henderson and Ellisburg, and came to the present home of the widow of his son Milo, where there were two log houses. Here he cleared land, and in 1848 built the house which is now standing. He was suc- cessful in his farming operations, and at the time of his death in 1851, at the age of sixty-five years, was the owner of two hundred and four- teen acres of valuable land. He was a Republican in politics, and took an active interest in the affairs of that party. His wife, Avenda (McNitt) McCumber, born in Smithville, New York, was a daughter of Captain Samuel McNitt, who was in command of a company at the battle of Sacketts Harbor. He was the type of a perfect soldier, and later had charge of the lighthouse at Sacketts Harbor, where his death occurred at the age of ninety-eight years. Their children were as fol- lows: I. Milo, mentioned at length hereinbefore. 2. Mary, who became the wife of Thomas Dobson, and resides at Grand Rapids, Mich- igan. 3. Helen, widow of the late George Whittier. 4. George F.
George F. McCumber, who now resides with Mrs. Milo McCum- ber, spent his early years on a farm, coming from Henderson, New York, with his father; later he purchased a farm of fifty acres, which he conducted for a number of years, then sold it and bought one hundred and forty-four acres, which he operated for five years, and since then he has made his home with Mrs. Milo McCumber. December 15, 1855, he married Lucy Alverson, who was born in Ellisburg, New York, daughter of Willard and Lois (Greenleaf) Alverson, who died in 1879, aged seventy-nine years ; Alverson died aged eighty-seven years. (For Greenleaf genealogy see sketch of L. C. Greenleaf, elsewhere.) The following named children were born to George F. and Lucy (Alverson) McCumber :
I. Lois, wife of Fred Fox, a farmer of Black River, and their children are: Lucy, wife of Fred Dorr; Lottie, wife of Fred Knulty, and mother of two children, John Leslie and Lucille E; Roy, who resides with his parents.
2. Flora, wife of Fred G. King, who was born in Stone Mills, town of Orleans, December 24, 1853, son of Dr. Frederick King, born and educated in Germany, later came to America, and settled at Stone Mills, where he practiced his profession until his death at the age of thirty-one years. Marcia (Haas) King, wife of Dr. Frederick King,
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was born in Clayton, New York, daughter of Henry Haas, and was the mother of three sons, two living, namely: Frederick G. and F. P., engaged in the clothing business in Watertown, New York, where the inother still resides. Frederick G. King was educated in the public schools, and on June 3. 1879, was united in marriage to Flora McCum- ber. as above stated, since which time he has conducted the farm of Mrs. Milo McCumber, with whom Flora made her home for many years previous to her marriage, having taught school from the age of fifteen to seventeen. Mr. and Mrs. Frederick G. King have one son, Henry M., born September 14. 1883. He was educated in the common school and the Clayton high school and training class, from which he graduated, and in 1904 began teaching in Depauville, New York.
3. Ida. wife of William Esseltine, of Watertown, New York, an engineer, and three children were born to them, two of whom are living -Max, and Albert Esseltine.
4. Anna, wife of Charles Lane of Henderson, New York, a farmer : they have one child. William Lane.
Mrs. Helen M. (Payne) McCumber, relict of Milo McCumber, was a daugliter of Elijah Payne. He was born in Hamilton, Madison county. New York, April 10, 1799. He followed farming all his life. He came to Clayton. Jefferson county, as a pioneer in 1822, and died there July 29. 1837. aged thirty-eight years. His wife. Margaret ( Wal- lace) Payne, born in Ellington, Tolland county, Connecticut, daughter of William and Mary ( Putnam) Wallace, was a sister of General Put- nam, of revolutionary fame. Their children were: I. Cordelia, who became the wife of Austin Nicholas: she died in Watertown at the age of seventy-two years. 2. Harriet C., who was married three times, her third husband being Willson Isham; she died in Watertown at the age of seventy-seven years. 3. Helen M .. who became the wife of Milo MeCumber. 4. Mary, who married Addison Wicks, of Malone, Franklin county. New York: she died at the age of thirty-nine years. 5. Albert E., who died aged nine years.
Mrs. McCumber was a member of the Payne family who resided in Madison county, New York. and was also related to those who resided in Putnam, Vermont. Her grandfather. Elisha Payne, whose memory grows brighter as years go by, was a lineal descendant of one of three brothers by the name of Payne who settled in Plymouth as early as 1621. and who were forced to leave England from the same cause that drove the Pilgrims to a home in the new world. Elisha Payne was born in North End. Dutchess county, New York, December 3. 1762, a son of Abraham and Rebecca Payne. natives of Connecticut.
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Abraham Payne was born in 1722, and died in Hamilton, April 21. 1801, aged eighty years, and his wife died December 25, 1810, aged eighty-six years. They settled in Dutchess county in 1760. They had four sons and four daughters.
Elisha Payne ( grandfather) was the youngest child. He and his brother Samnel cared for their parents. Elisha had but few educational advantages, only those of the common school. On September 17. 1787, he married (first) Polly Brooks, of Essex, Connecticut, who was born January 12, 1766, and died May 9, 1796. Her children were : Abram, John, Samuel and Mary. On August 17. 1796, he married (second) Esthier Douglas. daughter of the Rev. Caleb Douglas, of Whitestown, one of the pioneers of the section, and a descendant of the Douglas family of Scotland. Esther was born July 25, 1778, and died at Hamilton, September 12, 1853. She had fourteen children, twelve sons and two daughters, two of whom died in infancy. Their children were: Elijah, deceased, father of Mrs. McCumber; Elisha, resided in Clinton, New York; Mansfield, deceased: Joseph, resided in Seneca Falls. New York: Nelson, resided in Auburn. New York : Charles C., resided in Hamilton, New York : Thomas, resided in Illinois ; Maria, deceased; Henry B., resided in Cleveland, Ohio; William, de- ceased ; Esther, deceased; and Edwin, who was a resident of Dayton, Ohio, deceased. Seven of the above named lived to be over eighty years of age.
In 1794 Samuel Payne settled in a dense forest near where the village of Hamilton now stands, and Elisha came the next year. This locality was called the Payne settlement, but a few years later Elisha Payne changed the name to that of Hamilton in honor of the great statesman he admired, Alexander Hamilton. Elisha Payne built a rude log house where they resided for a short time, but subsequently erected a more commodious residence on the corner occupied by the Smith Block, where he conducted a tavern for several years. He donated land for a park, which is a beautiful addition to the village, and the same was used for many years by the militia of the adjoining towns as a parade ground. Mr. Payne also gave ground for a cemetery, known as the Old Burying Ground, and Elisha Payne's first wife Polly ( Brook) Payne was the first one buried there. He was a strong advocate for the building of a turnpike from Cherry Valley to Hamilton, and was a friend to education, establishing an academy and the Baptist Educa- tional Society of New York State. He served the last named body as
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a trustee, and the board of trustees adopted the following resolutions : "Resolved, that Elisha Payne, of Hamilton, Charles Babcock, of New Hartford, and Squire Monroe, of Camelus, be appointed a committee to select the location for the Seminary (Oneida, Madison, Onondaga and Cayuga counties) and report to this board next session." It was owing to his influence and great success in securing subscriptions to the society that the seminary was finally located at Hamilton. In politics Mr. Payne was a Federalist, and later a Whig, taking an active part and being a leader of the party in the county for years. He was chosen chairman of all meetings of importance. He was one of the first judges of the court of common pleas, which office he held for nine years, being appointed by Morgan Lewis, Governor, March 31, 1806. In the early years of his residence the people bestowed on him several offices of trust and honor, but in the closing years of his life he declined all offices of a public nature, devoting his time to the cause of Christianity. He was the founder of the Baptist church of Hamilton, and supported and assisted in building three churches in Hamilton. In his domestic life he was a kind husband and a loving father, teaching his children by his upright example the value and importance of virtue, and inspir- ing them with worthy ambition to be men and women in the loftiest sense of the word. His teaching will not be forgotten, but is fully exemplified in his children. His death occurred June 2, 1810, at Ham- ilton, New York.
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