USA > New York > Jefferson County > Genealogical and family history of the county of Jefferson, New York, Volume I > Part 32
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Returning to Theresa, he soon went to Oswego, where he was employed in house-building. In the spring of 1866 he bought a saw- mill at Wood's Settlement, adjoining the town of Antwerp, in the town of Wilna, and this he operated six years. Selling out, he removed to Carthage and erected a grist mill on the west side of the river, which he sold after operating two years. In 1874 he went to Philadel- phia, which village has since been his home, and bought a grist mill which he operated one year and sold. He then purchased a site one mile below the village of Philadelphia, where he built a sawmill and box factory. This was sold to his son after he had conducted it five or six years. In partnership with William Roberts he next constructed a steam sawmill at Philadelphia, which was in successful operation four years under the management of Roberts & Brooks, when the latter sold his share to the former. Mr. Brooks immediately bought an interest with George Strough in a lumber yard and wood-working shop at Clayton. Not being able to agree well with his new partner, Mr.
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Brooks employed a man to take his place in the operation of the plant, and busied himself elsewhere. For twelve years the business was oper- ated under the name of Strough & Brooks, after which the latter became sole owner by purchasing his partner's interest. After operating four years as sole proprietor, Mr. Brooks formed a stock company known as the Otis Brooks Lumber Company, and the concern is still managed by the same man who was placed in charge of Mr. Brooks's interest in 1888. In 1890 Mr. Brooks bought a cheese-box factory at Rensselaer Falls, which he owned and operated twelve years. For a short time he rented a steam mill for cutting box material at Antwerp, and in 1903 purchased a mill at Sterlingburg, a mile above Antwerp village, and took possession January 1, 1904. The mill has a capacity of one hun- dred and twenty-five thousand cheese boxes per year, and also has facilities for grinding feed, being driven by the waters of Indian river. Here the proprietor is found during the week, not only superintending the work, but often bearing a hand anywhere that it seems to be needed. From this history it will be seen that he is energetic and industrious, and blessed with sound executive ability. Together with his men, he takes his breakfast at six o'clock in the morning, and with them pro- ceeds about the work of the day. He is respected and admired by all who know him, for his straightforward, manly qualities, his diligence in business, and upright treatment of all with whom he comes in con- tact. Notwithstanding the unfortunate loss of one eye he continues to fill a man's place anywhere about his establishments, with whose details he is thoroughly familiar. Of genial and kindly disposition, he attracts and holds friendships, and lives a most exemplary and happy life. He attends the Congregational church, with his family, and has always supported the principles of the Republican party, but has ever refused to be a candidate for public honors.
Mr. Brooks was married March 4, 1857, to Celestia Ballard, who was born at Pamelia Four Corners, a daughter of Hiram and Susan (Wylie) Ballard. Of their three children, two are living. Grace, the second, died when about twenty-eight years old, while the wife of Will Schofield. Frank, the eldest, resides in Philadelphia, and Alla B. resides with her parents in that town.
MERRITT DARWIN GOTHAM, late of Brownville, where he was actively engaged in the manufacture of the celebrated Gotham screen, universally employed by paper makers, was a native of this
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county, a member of one of the oldest families of this vicinity. The family is of English origin, and began in this country with two brothers who came to this country to avoid draft into the British military service. John Gotham, a son of one of these, was a native of New Hampshire, born about 1783. When of age he came to the town of Watertown, and in 1805 married Nancy Penniman, a native of the same state as himself. Together they shared the labors, joys and privations of pioneer life, and developed in the wilderness, a short distance east of the present city of Watertown, a fine farm. In 1812 John Gotham enlisted as corporal under Captain Lampson, in defense of the frontier, and served in the battle of Sacketts Harbor. After the war he was active in the state militia, and was gradually promoted to the rank of colonel. His useful life ended November 15, 1840, when he was drowned in Lake Ontario, at the age of fifty-seven years.
Jenery T., eldest of the four children of John Gotham, was born March 10, 1813. in the town of Watertown, and continued at home until he was twenty-six years old. In 1839 he was married to Miss Caroline Hutchinson, daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth Hutchinson, of Sara- toga county, this state. Their forefathers came from New England, and were of English descent. Mr. Gotham was a farmer in Lewis county three years, and then came back and settled near Watertown city, where he continued to the end of his days. His family included three children -- John H., Zeruah and Darwin B. The daughter became the wife of Merritt Fish and resided in the town of Rutland.
Darwin B. Gotham, youngest child of Jenery T. and Caroline (Hutchinson) Gotham, became a skilled machinist, and was employed in various shops of the county. He was two years resident at Carthage, and was subsequently in the service of the Davis Sewing Machine Com- pany during its existence here. Having perfected his invention, the Gothanı screen, he began its manufacture at Brownville, and achieved remarkable success. By his industry and frugality he accumulated a competence and, after the death of his partner, his eldest son, disposed of the patents and retired from active labor. His time is now chiefly occupied in the care of his investments in and about Watertown. His wife, Elizabeth Millette, is a native of Canada. They had two sons, Merritt D. and Ivan Jenery. The latter is a resident of Watertown, with his parents.
Merritt D. Gotham was born March 12, 1869. in Carthage, and devoted his short life to the development of one of the greatest inven-
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tions used in the art of paper-making. A man of sterling character, devoted to the interests of his family, the county and state, his demise was a great loss to the community in which he lived.
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His preliminary education was obtained in the public schools of Watertown, and later he was a student in the high school of that city, graduating therefrom in the year 1887. At an early age he began his business career with his father, in the Brownville Iron Works, one of the leading industries in that section of the state, and, possessing an originative mind of rare ability and wonderful scope, he aided in per- fecting the celebrated Gotham screen, which was manufactured in the works, patented in the United States, Europe and Canada, and from the enormous sales thereof they realized a large income. Mr. Gotham was one of the ablest and most progressive business men in the com- munity, and the growth and development of commercial and industrial resources was in a large measure due to his enterprise and influence. His political views coincided with those promulgated and adopted by the Democratic party, but he took no active interest in political affairs. He was a communicant of Trinity Episcopal church.
At Adams, New York, November 12, 1890, Mr. Gotham was mar- ried to Katherine Elizabeth Rounds, daughter of Edward Tyler and Louise Emily (Colton) Rounds, and shortly afterward they settled at Brownville. Mrs. Gotham was a graduate of the Mannsville and Adams (New York) schools, and is a communicant of the First Presbyterian church. The following named children were the issue of this marriage : Robert Merritt, born October 12, 1891 ; Louise Elizabeth, born Decem- ber 4, 1893, deceased; Marion E., born May 4, 1895, and Marietta Darwin, April 30, 1898. Mr. Gotham met with a sudden death on Main street, Watertown, on the evening of October 7, 1897. His loss was sincerely mourned, not only by his immediate relatives, but also by a large circle of business associates and friends.
BURT WILFORD GIFFORD. one of the most intelligent and progressive citizens of the town of Watertown, is a scion of one of the old New England families. He has filled the office of town clerk for the past twenty-four years, and is numbered among the successful farmers of the town.
(I) The first of authentic record among the ancestors of Mr. Gifford was Stephen Gifford, who was an original home lot owner, with all the privileges of the first proprietor. at Norwich, Connecticut, in
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1059 At this time, at the dating of the deed of the first purchase, he is not believed to have been of age. He is supposed to have been born about 1641. and is thought by a descendant to have been a son of William Gifford, a resident of Sandwich, Massachusetts. The latter died there April 9, 1087. He was one of the first proprietors of Mon- riouth, New Jersey, where he lived from 1665 to 1670. Having pur- chased the land from the Indians, they received a patent from the crown on April 8, 1665. Being adherents of the Quaker faith they suffered persecutions in both Massachusetts and New Jersey, William Gifford owned fands in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut. The name of Stephen Gifford does not appear in the list of William's children now found. Stephen ( IX) Gifford, married ( first) Hannah Gove, May, 1667. She died January 24, 1670-1, and Mr. Gifford mar- ried ( second) Hannah Gallup, May 12, 1672. She was born 1645, and died January 20, 1724; was a daughter of John Gallup, of Stonington, Connecticut. Stephen Gifford died January 20, 1724. There were two chil Iren of the first marriage, and four of the second.
(II) Samuel, eldest child of Stephen and Hannah (Gove) Gif- ford, bern 1668, died August 26, 1714. He moved from Norwich to Lebanon, same colony, mn 1692. In 1685 he married Mary Calkins, daughter of John Calkins, of Norwich. She died July 30, 1784. Pre- vious to 1694 he moved to Windham, Connecticut. He was the father ni eight children.
( III) Samuel, eldest child of Samuel and Mary Gifford, was born September 23, 1694, in Windham, Connecticut, and died at Nor- wich, 1753. He was married January 12, 1719-20, to Experience Hyde, who was born September 7, 1700, and died September 30, 1753. They were the parents of eleven children.
(IV) Ziba, eighth child and fourth son of Samuel (2) and Ex- perience Gifford, was born October 30, 1735, and was married Decem- ber 24, 1761, to Edith Gifford, both of Norwich. She was born July I. 1742 and was the mother of ten children.
(\') Stephen, tenth child and fifth son of Ziba and Edith Gif- ford, was born March 1, 1780, at Ellington, Connecticut, and moved in 1810, to Watertown, New York, where he died October 14 1865. His education was supplied by the schools of his native town and he began teaching there in young manhood. In the spring of 1806 he visited this section and selected his land near the center of the town of Watertown, on which his son, Burt W., now resides. He began clear-
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ing the land at once and returned to Ellington in the fall, teaching school again in the succeeding winter. This alternation was continued until 1810, when he married and brought his bride to the log cabin which he had previously erected. In all these trips, going and coming, he walked all the way from Ellington to Watertown. He taught school here in winter, and continued the improvement of his farm, which be- came one of the best in the town. He was an intelligent and substan- tial citizen, trusted and esteemed. and filled the office of town clerk eighteen years. He was a regular attendant of religious worship at the First Presbyterian church of Watertown. A man of fixed princi- ples and firm convictions, he sustained the Whig party, and was among the original Republicans of the state, supporting Fremont for president in 1856.
He was twice married. The first wedding occurred January 8, 1810, at Ellington. the bride being Hannah Warner. She was a native of Ellington, and died January 13. 1835, in Watertown. Her children were: Franklin, born January 17. 1813. died September following ; Hannah, October 6, 1814; married Asaph Mather October 20, 1835. and died December 30. 1898; Stephen Otis, April 8, 1817, died Octo- ber 29. 1903. in Watertown City, New York: Harriet Ann, February 5, 1821, married Gilbert L. Reed, January 25, 1842, and lives in Chi- cago, Illinois; Mary. April 17, 1823, married Thomas Read September 25. 1843, died June 15. 1846: Delia, November 12, 1825; married Ches- ter C. Blodgett. December 18. 1846, and died October 18, 1895; Martha Amelia, April 6, 1828, married R. W. Sherman September 13. 1849, died August 17, 1869: George Warner, May 8, 1831, died November 9, 1899, in Chicago, Illinois; Eli, August 22, 1834, died before one year old. The first child was a son, stillborn. Mr. Gifford was mar- ried September 8. 1835, to Mrs. Susan Jacobs, widow of John Jacobs, maiden name, Burt.
She was born in 1801, and died August 25, 1841, leaving one surviving son, whose name heads this notice. A younger son, Byron D'Esting, died at the age of one year.
Stephen Gifford was captain of a company in the war of 1812, and participated in the battle of Sacketts Harbor. His commission was dated March 9. 1812, signed by Daniel D. Tompkins, governor of the state of New York, as commander of a company of the regiment of infantry in Jefferson county, under Gershan Tuttle, lieutenant-colonel commanding.
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(VI) Burt Wilford Gifford, fifth son and eleventh child of Stephen Gifford, was born July 23. 1837, on the paternal farm in Watertown, and his education was finished in the public schools of the city of Watertown. He remained as his father's assistant in the tillage of the paternal acres, to whose ownership he succeeded on the death of his father, in 1865. This has since been his home, and he is il successful farmer and dairyman. He is a member of Trinity church in Watertown. His first presidential vote was cast for Abraham Lin- coln, and he has ever been an ardent supporter of the principles enun- ciated by the Republican party. He served the town four years as supervisor, and for the last twenty-four years has been town clerk. For over eight years he has been clerk of the secretary of the Jefferson County Agricultural Society. In 1873 he enlisted in Company B, Thir- ty-fifth Regiment New York National Guard, which was later changed to the Thirty-fifth Battalion, in which he was a member of Company D until his honorable discharge, February 3, 1880. He is a member of Watertown Grange, No. 7.
Mr. Gifford is one of the leading citizens of his native town, where he has resided all his life, during most of the time filling positions of honor and trust. As an official he is careful, thoughtful and correct, and looks after the best interests of the public. As a citizen he is one of the foremost in supporting those measures that are intended to pro- mote a higher citizenship and morality of the people. As a neighbor he is kind and considerate, and as a husband and father he is most exemplary.
He was married July 15, 1861. at Walesville, Oneida county, New York, to Miss Helen Augusta Walker, daughter of John and Mary ( Soules) Walker. She was born April 28, 1835. in the town of New Hartford, New York. John Walker was born in 1804 in Yorkshire, England, and died December 3. 1843, in Oneida county, where he fol- lowed shoemaking. His wife, Mary Soules, was born March 19, 1807, in New Hampshire, and survived him less than two years, passing away May 9. 1845. Their children were: Josiah W., born February 22. 1833; Helen Augusta, April 28, 1835; James Edward, September 16, 1836, served in the Union army through the Civil war and died in 1877; Charles Henry. July 24, 1837, was killed at the battle of Bull Run, in July, 1862: John W., August 3. 1838; Mary Jane. No- vember 9. 1841, died Fayetteville, New York, in 1865: Caroline and
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Samuel & Szeneel
Smey A Grenell
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Cornelia, February 8, 1844: Cornelia died October 29, 1881, in Utica, New York.
The youngest of the three children of Mr. and Mrs. Gifford is a resident of Canton, St. Lawrence county, New York. She was born September 29, 1869, in Watertown, and was married October 10, 1900, to Hugh McIntosh, a shoe merchant of Canton. Their only child, Helen Gifford McIntosh, was born July 4, 1902, at Canton. The first child of Mr. and Mrs. Gifford, Henry Grant, was born July 13, 1863, and died August 3, 1887. Susie Mary, born September 3, 1866, died February 22, 1881.
SAMUEL B. GRENELL, or as he is more familiarly known, "Capt. Samuel," proprietor of Grenell Island Park, and the pioneer in the purchase of any island in the St. Lawrence river, which section is now world-famed for its beauty and grandeur, was born in Adams, Jefferson county, New York, November 10, 1818, a son of Ezra and Phoebe (Barker) Grenell.
Ezra Grenell (father) was a native of Connecticut, whence he re- moved to Adams, Jefferson county, New York, where he remained ten years engaged in farming. He resided for a similar period of time in Hounsfield, not far from the old Blanchard stand, now the Half-Way House on the road from Watertown to Sackets Harbor. He then re- moved to Antwerp and purchased the Roselle Randall farm, which he operated for a few years. The house stood where the railroad station is now located, in the village of Antwerp. He finally located in La- fargeville, where his death occurred at the age of eighty-two. His wife, Phoebe (Barker) Grenell, a native of Saratoga county, New York, bore him four children, two of whom are living at the present time (1904) : Samuel B., the eldest, mentioned at length hereinafter; and Herman, a retired hotelkeeper, who resides at Evans Mills. Mrs. Grenell died in the fifty-seventh year of her age. Mr. and Mrs. Grenell were mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church, and were loved and respected by a wide circle of friends.
Samuel B. Grenell resided in his native town until he was four years of age, his education being acquired in the various towns in which his parents resided during his boyhood years. He removed from La- fargeville, where his father died, to Omar, and here he conducted a hotel successfully for six years. While here he saw an advertisement in the paper of four islands for sale in the St. Lawrence river, they
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being owned by the daughter of Henry Yates; she died, leaving no heirs, and, the property being thrown into the courts, the judge appointed a referee to dispose of it. He purchased Jeffers Island for a nominal sum, and at that time he was offered any of the small islands in the river from Alexandria Bay to Clayton for fifty cents, they not being considered of any value. The government name for the island was "Stewart's" Island. It was given the name of "Jeffers" by a man who called himself by that name. The islands were then a dense forest. and plenty of deer and fish abounded in the woods and river. Two men rowing among the isalnds in those early days discovered near them on the shore a smoke arising from some habitation. Out of curiosity they made a landing, and made the acquaintance of a man who called himself Jeffers, but whether that was his real or assumed name, they had of course no way of ascertaining. He had built a log shanty about twelve feet square, and had cunningly placed it against a large rock. which formed the back of his fire-place. Here he lived many years, fishing, hunting and raising vegetables on a little spot of land which hie cleared. As the islands became more settled this man went to Gananoque, Canada, where he died. A little later a French family by the name of Pecor squatted on the island, and were still there when Mr. Grenell purchased it about the year 1868.
Mr. Grenell was also the pioneer in the line of hotel keeping in the Thousand Islands, having erected, in 1870. the first public place for the entertainment of guests on the island he purchased, this being the first hotel on any of the islands in the St. Lawrence, located on the spot where stood the famous Pullman House that was destroyed by fire in September, 1904. This he conducted for thirty years, and during this time it became one of the most celebrated hotels in the section. It was the headquarters of fishermen, sportsmen, etc., the good cheer that pre- vailed there making it a most popular resort. A band of musicians fur- nished dance music, and everything that could conduce to the comfort and pleasure of the guests. was provided. In 1894 Mr. Grenell laid out Grenell Park, which is one of the most prominent on the river. The old hotel was torn down, and the fine new one, "Pullman's," recently burned, took its place. The old hotel was calculated to accommodate about twenty people, but the number was frequently increased to forty or forty-five. The new one had accommodations for one hundred guests. Mr. Grenell also built a fine dock, at a cost of thirteen hundred dollars, about one-half mile from the Thousand Island Park, four miles
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below Clayton, six miles above Alexandria Bay, and at this dock boats land nearly every hour in the day, thus affording ready access to trains from all parts of the country. During the same year he also laid out Stewart's Island into 177 lots, containing in all a trifle over one hun- dred acres, on which are erected fifty cottages. Captain Grenell has devoted considerable time and attention to the development of this island and in contributing to the comfort of the cottagers. A beautiful chapel has been built, to which he generously donated over four hundred dol- lars, le being deacon and one of the trustees of the Methodist Episcopal church. To accommodate the wants of the many cottagers Mr. Grenell, in 1892, opened his present store on the island, which he has since con- ducted. He had the postoffice established, which is also located in this store, and during the two terms of Cleveland's administration served as postmaster, being a Democrat in politics, and in the affairs of this party has taken an active interest. When a young man a popular mili- tary company was organized in this section, known as the "Flood Wood," and in this he held the office of lieutenant.
Mr. Grenell was united in marriage to Lucy A. Jennison, who was born August 21. 1820, in Redwood, Jefferson county, New York. daughter of Luther Jennison, a patent leather finisher. He resided for some years in Redwood, New York, when he was in the lumber busi- ness, later going to Watertown, where he followed his trade of patent leather finisher. Here he died at sixty-six years of age. Mrs. Grenell was one of seven children, all now deceased. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Grenell, one of whom is living at the present time (1904). Isabella, who became the wife of Gerald Gates, of Antwerp. New York, is now deceased, and one child was born to them, Bertha. now the wife of Foley McComber, and mother of three children. Myron W., who resides with his father on the island, is the only one living. He married Susan Lachey, and their four children are married and reside in Michigan, namely, Charles Samuel; Fred M .; Nellie, who mar- ried Adelbert Reed and has one child. Spray; Lulu, who married Earl Prentice.
After more than sixty years of happy married life, Mrs. Grenell died, July 24, 1901, at the advanced age of eighty-one years. She was a most estimable woman, performed the duties of wife and mother in a faithful and conscientious manner, and was of the greatest assistance to her husband throughout his active and useful career. At the time of her death, as a mark of respect to her memory, the flags on all the vessels
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plying on the St. Lawrence river were lowered to half mast, the only instance of the kind known in the history of this section.
Mr. Grenell is a genial, cultured, and refined gentleman, a pleasant conversationalist, and he never wearies of pointing out the beauties of his surroundings. He has always been enterprising and progressive, not satisfied to settle down and merely enjoy what he has acquired, but like the typical American is anxious to keep near the top and improve on what his ancestors have bestowed upon him. The portraits of this venerable couple as found in the pages of this work will, it is thought, be a source of gratification to their many friends.
WILSON. When the Scotch people migrated in large numbers to northern Ireland, they acted from the same motives as those of the Puritans who peopled New England. Being close to their native home they were able to keep up communication with relatives and former associates. They did not mingle or amalgamate with their surround- ing people, and thus preserved their traditions, speech and manners, and have been said by a Scotchman to be "more Scotch than the Scotch." Their experience developed in them a spirit of enterprise which soon led to further emigration, and thus we find that considerable districts in New Hampshire and Vermont were originally settled by these Scotch-Irish people whose industry, sturdy rectitude and cheerful dis- position set an excellent example to their neighbors and made a lasting impression upon the character of the American people. Among the most loyal of citizens, they have inculcated a respect for order, and they and their descendants have been among the most worthy of any com- munity where found.
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