USA > New York > Jefferson County > Genealogical and family history of the county of Jefferson, New York, Volume I > Part 34
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Great as are Mr. Gamble's business activities, he is always mindful of his duties as a citizen, and takes a keen interest in all that pertains
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to the welfare and advancement of the community, of his state and the nation. Believing in the principles and policies avowed by the Repub- lican party, he gives it intelligent and loyal support, but is not a seeker after personal preferment or emoluments along political lines. He is a faithful member of the Presbyterian church of Watertown.
Mr. Gamble married, at Chicago, June 12, 1895, Miss Blanche E., daughter of James L. Chapman. The children of the family are : Agnes Josephine, Mary Annis, Sarah Ethelwyn and John Wesley. Mr. Gamble's remote ancestors were farmers, and he might have distin- guished himself as an agriculturist, without doubt, but the loss of a scientific farmer has been recompensed by the addition of a sound busi- ness man to the activities of this locality, in which the paper-making industry almost rivals the ancient and important one of agriculture. Realizing that intelligent and persistent endeavor is essential to success in any walk of life, it may safely be said that Mr. Gamble is one of those energetic and progressive spirits who achieve creditable results in any line of endeavor undertaken.
James L. Chapman, father of Mrs. Gamble, is a native of Marcellus, New York, born January 26, 1829. His wife, Agnes Josephine Barnes, was born at Altmar, this state, March 19, 1838, and is a cousin of Mary A., widow of John W. Gamble. Agnes Josephine ( Barnes) Chapman's parents, Wilbert and Annis (Stanton) Barnes, were natives of Camden and the vicinity of Syracuse, respectively, the former a son of Manning Barnes. Annis Stanton belonged to the noted family which furnished the secretary of war in President Lincoln's cabinet. James L. Chapman built the first tannery at Altmar, which he operated for a time. For some time he was engaged in the hide and leather trade in Chicago, where he was a director of the First National Bank, founded by his uncle, Edward R. Aiken. He now resides in southern California. The Chapman family has been traced to English origin. The parents of James L. Chapman were Lincoln and Sarah (Reed) Chapman. The mother of the latter was a Cody, whose ancestry has been traced to Rhoda, eldest daughter of King Ethelbert, of England. While so- journing in France the name of the family was changed from Coda to Codie, and assumed the present form (Cody) in this country. The celebrated "Buffalo Bill" is a descendant of this family.
JOHN SHOEMAKER. A man whose character both as a private citizen and a public official commands the respect of all, is John Shoe-
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maker, of Natural Bridge. His ancestors were residents of the Key- stone state, where his grandfather, William J. Shoemaker, was born in 1780.
John Shoemaker, son of William J. Shoemaker, was born in 1813, in Pennsylvania, where he received his education. Later he came to Jefferson county, and settled at Sterlingville. In politics he was a Whig. He married Sarah Cooper, who was born in 1815, and of the thirteen children born to them four are now living: Josephine, who married P. Kinsman, of Sterlingbush; John, mentioned at length here- inafter : Charles: and Emily, who resides in Lowville, New York. Mr. Shoemaker, the father of the family, died at the age of seventy-eight, and is remembered by all who knew him as a good and upright citizen. His widow, who has passed her eighty-ninth birthday, resides with her children. She is a member of the Presbyterian church.
John Shoemaker, son of John and Sarah (Cooper) Shoemaker, was born October 19, 1843, in the town of Wilna, where he was edu- cated in the common schools, after which he was for a time employed on a farm. Early in the Civil war he enlisted as a private in Company D. First New York Light Artillery, and was present at the battles of Yorktown, Williamsburg, the Peninsula, Malvern Hill, the Seven Days' battle and the conflict before Richmond. September 4, 1865, he was honorably discharged, having participated in no fewer than twenty-seven engagements. On his return home he was for a time engaged in busi- ness as a contractor and later went to Missouri, where for seven years he worked on a farm. After returning to Jefferson county he again went into business as a contractor, and subsequently resumed his agri- cultural pursuits. At one time he drove the stage running between Natural Bridge and Carthage. He has now been for a number of years engaged in mercantile business. He holds the offices of com- missioner of highways and excise commissioner, and also that of post- master. having received his first appointment from President Harrison. At the end of the four years' administration of that chief magistrate, Mr. Shoemaker went out of office, but was re-appointed August 2, 1897, and has served continuously ever since. His protracted tenure of the office furnishes the best possible evidence of the eminently satisfactory manner in which he has discharged his duties. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, in which he has filled various offices. Politically he is a Republican.
Mr. Shoemaker married, in 1866, Ellen, daughter of Thomas
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Burns (sketeh elsewhere), and they are the parents of the following children: Eva, who was formerly a teacher, but is now the wife of Frank Leuman, of Alexandria Bay, and the mother of four children, John, Gould, Ruth, and Marion; George, who is a clerk for Conwall Bros., at Alexandria Bay ; Frederick, who is a papermaker of Carthage ; and Ray, a clerk with his brother-in-law for the past eleven years.
ORSON LANDON EMMONS, of Natural Bridge, a respected business man and worthy citizen, is a grandson of Benjamin Emmons, who was born in 1777, in Greenwich, Connecticut, and came to Syra- cuse as a pioneer. He was a farmer and merchant, and was one of the leading men in the town of Cicero. He married Samantha Bailey, who was born in Greenbush, Long Island, daughter of one of the early set- tlers. Mr. and Mrs. Emmons were the parents of five children, all of whom are now deceased. Mrs. Emmons, the mother, died at the age of fifty. Mr. Emmons, after he had reached his seventy-second year, married, and by his marriage was the father of two children. His death took place when he was eighty-five years old.
Orson Emmons, son of Benjamin and Samantha (Bailey ) Emmons, was born August 5, 1811, in Syracuse, New York, and obtained his edu- cation in Cicero. He was engaged in mercantile business in Cordenoy and Brewerton, and was also at one time the proprietor of a hotel. Toward the close of his life he retired from business. He married Rachael Smedley, who was born in 1814, in Litchfield, Connecticut, daughter of Chester Smedley, a well-known physician, who practiced in New York state, and died in Brewerton, in that state, at the age of eighty-nine. Mr. and Mrs. Emmons had a family of four children, three of whom are living: Morton, who was born in 1836, in Brewer- ton; Orson Landon, mentioned at length hereinafter; Claretta A., un- married, who died in 1872. The mother of these children died at the comparatively early age of fifty-one, passing away April 11, 1865. Mr. Emmons survived to the advanced age of eighty-eight. Both lie and his wife were active and esteemed members of the Disciples' church.
Orson Landon Emmons, son of Orson and Rachael (Smedley) Emmons, was born June 10, 1845, in Caughdenoy, Oswego county, New York, and received his primary education in the common schools of Brewerton, afterward attending the Syracuse high school, and also studying at Fulton Seminary. He then took a commercial course in Eastman's Business College, Poughkeepsie, and was a member of its
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celebrated band and orchestra. He returned home on account of the illness of his mother, who was a college graduate, and from whom he had derived his taste for study. Mr. Emmons learned the shoemaker's trade, but had followed it only a short time when the Civil war began, and he enlisted, but for some reason was judged unfit for service. May 2, 1872, he came to Natural Bridge, where he has since remained. For four years he worked at his trade, and then accepted a position as fore- man in the finishing department of a tannery, where he remained twenty years, and at the end of that time returned to the shce business. He built his present shop, and later the house which is now used as a postoffice. In 1888 he built the school house, and in 1893 finished his own dwelling. In politics he is a Republican.
Mr. Emmons married, December 25. 1867, Susan H. Rice, who was born at Upper South Bay, at the head of Oneida lake, daughter of George and Sarah J. (Abner) Rice. The former was a farmer of Beverton. The following children were born to Mr. Rice and his wife: Emma F., not married; Susan H., who became the wife of Orson Landon Emmons, as mentioned above; Rose, who became the wife of William Ritchie, of Natural Bridge, New York; Julia, who became the wife of George Wilson, and resides in Natural Bridge: Kittie, who became the wife of John McGlochlin, of New Hartford, New York ; and Belle, who became the wife of Frank Wilson, of Cicero, New York. The death of Mr. Rice occurred when he was but forty-eight years old, and his wife passed away at the age of sixty.
After a union of nearly thirty years, Mr. Emmons was afflicted by the loss of his estimable wife, whose death occurred November 23, 1896. She was a member of the Disciples' church, and a woman greatly loved and respected.
GEORGE A. LYND, proprietor of a general store at Natural Bridge, was born in Antwerp. Jefferson county, New York, January 13. 1854. His grandfather, John Philemon Lynd, was one of the pioneer settlers of Antwerp, building the first log cabin in that locality. Hle marked out a road by sticking clay to the trees in order to indicate the path which he followed. In true pioneer style he began life there, and after a number of years he erected the first frame house in that locality. His energies were devoted untiringly to clearing and develop- ing his land, and in course of time he improved an excellent farm which returned to him a good financial reward for his labor. He died at the
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age of seventy years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Lavina Colton, passed away at an advanced age. They were the parents of seven children, Elliott, Mrs. Alonzo Bishop, Paulina, the wife of Jolin Scott. of South Edwards, New York; Mrs. Bower Hopkins, of Ne- braska; Mrs. John Carmon, of the same state; David. and Mrs. Hall.
David Lynd, father of George A. Lynd, was born in Antwerp, New York, in 1820, and was reared on the old family homestead, there pursuing his education in the public and select schools. He devoted his early life to farming, and afterward engaged in the hotel business at Churches Mills, for a number of years. In 1868 he removed to Wilna, and became the owner of a fine farm of one hundred acres which con- stituted the family homestead, and in addition to this he owned other valuable property. He continued to engage in agricultural pursuits until his life's labors were ended in death. He was very successful in his business affairs. In politics he was a prominent Democrat of his locality. He married Cassedena Brown, a native of Richville, New York, and a daughter of William and Amanda ( Rich) Brown. Her father was a leading and influential farmer in Richville, in which place his death occurred. The mother was a daughter of Adam Rich, who took up a tract of ten thousand acres of land in that locality, and the town of Richville was named in his honor. In his family were a num- ber of children, including Mrs. Amanda Rich Brown, who died at the age of seventy-six years. The others were Frank Rich, who was con- neeted with the treasury department at Washington, D. C., for a num- ber of years; Adelina, the wife of Ed Fisk, of Minnesota; Andrew Jack- son ; and Arley, formerly of Ohio, but now deceased. Mrs. Cassedena Lynd died at the age of seventy-four years, in the faith of the Uni- versalist church, of which she was a member. By her marriage she had seven children: George A .: Lillian, who married Irwin Tillottson, and resides on the old homestead; Adeline, wife of George Sherman, of Paulding, Ohio: John W., a merchant of Defiance, Ohio; Edward R., proprietor of a restaurant in Ada, Ohio; Morris E., who is associated with his brother in Defiance, Ohio; and Hattie, wife of George Brown, of the firm of Brown Brothers.
George A. Lynd spent his early days in the parental home, and when but six years old entered the public schools, continuing his studies in the high school and in the academy at Natural Bridge. On putting aside his text books, he returned to his father's farm, where he re- mained until he attained his majority, when he went to the west to do
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a jobbing business. He also occupied a position as salesman in a store in Defiance, Ohio, for one year. He afterward followed various business enterprises until 1894. when he came to Natural Bridge with his brother, J. W. Lynd. They established a general mercantile enter- prise, and there remained until the store was destroyed by fire.
In 1900 Mr. Lynd rented a store where he conducted business up to 1904. when he purchased the American House property, which he completely rebuilt and fitted up as a first-class general store, where he carries a well selected line of dry goods, groceries, notions, clothing, hats, caps, and other articles in demand by the general public.
Mr. Lynd gives his political allegiance to the Republican party, and is a charter member of the Odd Fellows Lodge at Natural Bridge. He attends the Universalist church. In 1883 he married Ida Cowen, who was born in Wilna, New York, in 1854, a daughter of William Cowen, who was a farmer. He died in Jefferson county in 1902 at the age of seventy-six years. His wife, Angeline Frazer, was brought to Natural Bridge in her girlhood days, her father having been a pioneer of the locality. She died at the age of sixty-nine years. In the Cowen family were the following named children: Fred, who is now living in Greenfield, Massachusetts ; Mrs. Lynd; William, who re- sides on the old homestead ; and Edward, who is acting as salesman for Mr. Lynd. To Mr. and Mrs. Lynd has been born a daughter, Manie A., now at home.
HIRAM FAIRBANKS NORTON, deceased, whose business career was one of marked enterprise, wherein his reliable methods con- tributed in a large measure to his prosperity, was born July 14, 1854, in Lyme, New York, a son of Henry and Mary ( Harris) Norton, and grandson of John H. and Harriet (Richardson) Norton.
John H. Norton (grandfather) was born in February, 1790, in the state of Massachusetts. He attended the common schools of Hamp- den county, Massachusetts, wherein he obtained an education which thor- oughly qualified him for the vocation of school teacher, which he fol- lowed for a number of years, achieving a large degree of success. He participated in the war of 1812, and received a number of medals in token of the appreciation in which his faithful and heroic services were held by his superiors. He married Harriet Richardson, who was born in Springfield, daughter of John Richardson, who was a millwright by trade, and their children were: Frank, Henry, Joseph, and Harriet.
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Henry Norton (father) was born in Oswego county, New York, May 10, 1820. After completing a common school education he served an apprenticeship at the trade of miller, which he followed in the town of Lyme, where he spent the greater part of his life. He was an hon- orable and upright man, conscientious in the performance of all his duties, and the respect entertained for him by his fellow citizens was well merited. In 1845 he was united in marriage to Mary Harris, who was born in Oswego county, daughter of Joseph Harris, a boat builder of North Fair Haven, New York, who received many medals for sav- ing life. Ten children were born to Henry and Mary ( Harris) Norton, among whom were Emily, who became the wife of Frank Mertz, a miller of Rochester, New York: Joseph, who died July 4, 1865; Hiram F., mentioned hereinafter ; and Mary H., born July 6, 1856, and became the wife of George Hardy, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. Henry Norton, father of these children, died in 1887. He sur- vived his wife many years, her death having occurred in 1876.
Hiram F. Norton acquired a liberal education in the common schools of his native town, Lyme, New York, and at the Watertown high schools. He learned the trade of weaver, was very successful in the pursuit of the same, and being a man of excellent education and great talent would have made a name for himself in the business world had it not been for impaired health. He was highly respected in the com- munity, and beloved by all with whom he came in contact either in business or social life.
In 1874 Mr. Norton married Harriet Rathburn, who was born in 1844, daughter of Charles A. Rathburn, who was born in Amherst, Massachusetts, one of a large family, the male members of which were fishermen and whalers. All their ancestors figured in the wars of 1776, 1812, and the Civil war; in the latter named six of the members of the Rathburn family performed gallant service in defense of their country's honor. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Norton, namely : I. Fairbanks, who married Kate Russell; 2. Harriet, who became the wife of Joseph Rebscher, and they were the parents of two children, Carl and Carrie (twins), Mrs. Rebscher died July 18. 1894; 3. Hiram, who died in infancy; 4. Frank Rathburn, who married Gertrude Miller, of Washington, D. C., and they have two children, Mamie and George F. Mr. Norton, father of these children, died at the residence of his son in Washington, D. C., July 8, 1901. His widow now resides in Thousand Island Park, New York. She still retains
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her home in Lyme. New York, and is one of the most substantial mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church at Three Mile Bay, New York.
ADDISON B. PARKER, publisher of the Lodge Record and also a job printer of Watertown, New York, was born in Fulton, Oswego county, New York, August 26, 1866. His father, the Rev. David Den- nison Parker, was born in Paris, Oneida county, New York, in 1819. and died in Felts Mills, this county, January 7, 1898, at the age of seventy-eight years, ten months and twenty-seven days. In his boyhood days he accompanied his parents on their removal to Mexico, New York. He was converted February 13. 1843, under the preaching of the Rev. B. Holms, and was licensed to exhort in 1845 by the Rev. N. Peck and to preach in 1848 by Rev. Gardner Baker. Rev. Parker joined the Black River conference at the session held in Adams, New York, in 1848 and was appointed to North Manlius with the Rev. Alvin Robbins as pastor. In 1850 he was received into full connection and was or- dained deacon by Bishop Waugh and appointed to Phoenix. His sub- sequent appointments were : 1852, Parish: 1853-4. Central Square; 1855. Liverpool; 1856-57, Bangor; 1858, Fort Covington; 1859, Nor- folk ; 1860-61, Natural Bridge and Wilna ; 1862, Russell : 1863-64, Lis- bon : 1865-66, Buck's Bridge: 1867-69. Gilbert's Mills; 1870-72, North Western; 1873, supernumerary, at Lowell; 1874-76. Pamelia ; 1877-79, Watson: 1880, superannuated and settled at Felts Mills: 1886-87, he supplied Woods Mills, living at his house. Thus he spent thirty-three years in the active work of the ministry including the two years in which he supplied a charge while occupying superannuated relation, He was a most earnest, thoughtful speaker, an excellent pastor and also very successful in revival work. During the period of his superannuated relation he was ever loyal to his local church, his pastor and his friends. For eighteen years he was a great sufferer from acute neuralgia, and on the 7th of January, 1898, he departed this life. having for two years survived his wife. He is survived by two sons, M. M. Parker, of Felts Mills, and A. B. Parker, of Watertown. There is also a living daughter, Mrs. Gertrude Mooney, of Felts' Mills, while one daughter, Addie Ben- nett. passed away in Fulton, New York, August 26, 1869.
Addison B. Parker spent his boyhood days in Felts Mills, pursuing his education in the public schools there. He entered upon his business career as a clerk in a store and afterward came to Watertown. When thirteen years of age he was sent to a select school and after putting
ADDISON B. PARKER
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aside his text books he was employed by Otis Ingalls on the Watertown Post. He began learning the trade of a printer in that office, remaining there for two years, after which he spent two years in newspaper work in Rochester, New York, and in Brooklyn. On the expiration of that period he returned to Watertown to accept a position as foreman of the Post and served in that important capacity until he had thoroughly mastered practically all the work of a printing establishment. He then accepted a position in the Government Printing Office at Washington, D. C., where he remained for two years, when once more he turned his steps toward Watertown and established his present business. He now conducts a job printing office and is also the publisher and editor of the Lodge Record, which has developed into a splendid journal, having seven thousand subscribers whose names are on the rolls of the Odd Fellows' fraternity. This is the only paper of the kind published in the state and is devoted exclusively to the affairs of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and as the official organ of the Grand Lodge.
Mr. Parker has traveled extensively, has thus gained an intimate knowledge of many parts of the country and is well informed on all the topics of the day. His political support is given to the Republican party. He was appointed supervisor to fill a vacancy, from the first ward of Watertown, and was elected September 28, 1899, again in 1901 and in 1903, by the largest majority ever given any candidate for that office. He was nominated by the Republicans and endorsed by the Democrats in both 1901 and 1903 and is the youngest member of the board. After three years' service he was elected chairman of the board of supervisors of the county, being the youngest man who has ever held that responsible position up that time, by twenty years. He has declined the nomination as candidate for assemblyman of his district several times. On January 1, 1904, he was appointed by the New York state senate and served as assistant journal clerk of that body. His influence is strongly felt not only in local political circles, but throughout New York. Mr. Parker is one of the leading representatives of the Odd Fellows society in the Empire state. He belongs to Water- town City Lodge No. 291, Montezuma Encampment No. 27, and Can- ton Ridgely No. 14, and is at present grand senior warden of the Grand Encampment of New York state and in 1906 will be grand patriarch, the head office of that body in the state of New York. He is also identified with the Masonic fraternity, belonging to the lodge, chapter and council, and is a member of the Royal Arcanum, the Improved Order of Red
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Men and the Knights of Pythias. He attends the Presbyterian church, while his wife is a member of the Stone Street Presbyterian church.
Mr. Parker was married October 28, 1891, to Grace Carpenter, who was born in Watertown, a daughter of George R. Carpenter, of Water- town, in whose family were two children, Frederick and Mrs. Parker. To the latter has been born one son, Fred Maurice.
GUSTAV G. WETTERHAHN. Among the representative ag- riculturists of the town of Clayton, Jefferson county, New York, who have accumulated a sufficient competence through their own well directed efforts to enable them to retire from active business pursuits, is Gustav G. Wetterhahn, a native of Clayton, born September 20. 1858.
Gustav Wetterhahn, father of Gustav G. Wetterhahn, was born in Germany, reared and educated there, and at the age of nineteen emi- grated to America, settling on a farm in the town of Orleans, New York. Later he moved to Watertown, where he was engaged in the grocery business, and subsequently he took up his residence in the town of Clayton, where he purchased a farm and began the manufacture of limburger cheese, conducting an extensive and profitable business. He also purchased a large amount of real estate, which he owned at the time of his death. He was the owner of over six hundred and fifty acres, being one of the largest farmers in the town of Clayton. He was active and prominent in political affairs, and among the offices in which he served was that of highway commissioner. He was a mem- ber of the Masonic fraternity, affiliating with a lodge in Depauville, New York. He married Elizabeth Leininger, daughter of John and Mary Leininger, of Cape Vincent, New York, who were the parents of five children, two of whom are living at the present time. namely : Kathrine, wife of Charles Knapp, of Three Mile Bay, town of Lyme; and Mary, wife of Christian Schoeb, of Watertown, New York. John Leininger, father of Mrs. Wetterhahn, was a pioneer settler of Cape Vincent, having come from his native land when his daughter Eliza- beth was a baby ; he died at the age of eighty years. Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Wetterhahn, four of whom died under the age of eighteen, and the surviving members of the family are: Elizabeth, a resident of Depauville; Gustav G., mentioned hereinafter; Mary A., wife of Merrit S. Walrath, of Depauville: William, a farmer of Depau- ville : Kathrine, wife of Ellsworth Swartout, of Depauville. Mr. Wetter- hahn and his wife were members of the Lutheran church. He died
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