USA > New York > Jefferson County > Genealogical and family history of the county of Jefferson, New York, Volume I > Part 35
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January 26, 1901, in the seventy-fourth year of his age, and she died August 5, 1896, in the sixty-third year of her age.
Gustav G. Wetterhahn was born September 20, 1858, and obtained his education in the common and select schools of the neighborhood in which he was born. He assisted his father with the labors of the farm up to the time of his retirement, after which he conducted the farm of three hundred and seventy-five acres, taking care of his father during the latter years of his life. He followed this method of work- ing up to the year 1901, and since that time he has retired from farm- ing. His operations are conducted on an extensive scale, his being one of the largest farms in the town, and he is also a large breeder of stock. Although deeply interested in business matters, he still finds time to devote to the duties of citizenship, taking an active part and interest in political and social affairs. He has held several town offices, and has also been delegate at different times to various conventions. In 1904 he was nominated on the Democratic ticket for the office of super- visor, but, the district being strongly Republican he was defeated, al- though receiving within thirty votes of enough to elect him, running far ahead of his ticket. He is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, Lodge No. 688, of Depauville, in which he has held many prominent offices; is also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Lodge No. 648; of the Independent Order of Foresters, Court Depau. No. 1673. of Depauville: and Depauville Grange, No. 59. in which he has held a number of offices, including that of master for two years.
In 1884 Mr. Wetterhahn married Minnie M. Lingenfelter, daugh- ter of William H. and Mary E. (Wilson) Lingenfelter. a complete sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. One child was the issue of this union, born December 25, 1888, a gifted ard accomplished musician, also a student of the Clayton high school. Mr. and Mrs. Wetterhahn attend and support the Methodist Episcopal church of De- pauville, New York. They reside on the old homestead farm which he purchased after the death of his father, about three miles from Depauville.
DAVID POOL, late of Natural Bridge, Jefferson county, New York, who enjoyed an honorable and enviable reputation among the noted agriculturists of his section of the state, and the high esteem of a large circle of friends and acquaintances, was born in Great Bend,
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New York, March 7, 1821, and during his lifetime witnessed many changes in the development and advancement of the town of Natural Bridge and vicinity. The name of the family of which he was a repre- sentative was originally written Vanderpool, indicating that the race had its home in the land which claims William the Silent as the founder of its independence. In the course of time the last syllable came to stand for the full name, and thus the distinctive character of the patro- nymic was lost.
Abraham Vanderpool, grandfather of David Pool, was baptized July 19, 1748. In 1773 he married Marcia Decker. There is no authentic information concerning them, but it seems probable that their life-long home was at Johnstown, Fulton county, New York, where both are interred.
John Pool, father of David Pool, was born October 14, 1783, in Kinderhook, Fulton county, New York. He obtained his education in the common schools of his native town, and after laying aside his school books he worked by the month on a farm. Subsequently he was the proprietor of a hotel in Johnstown, New York. About 1817 he came to Great Bend, Jefferson county, in the town of Champion, mak- ing his home there until 1822, where he bought one hundred acres, on which he built a log house. Later he removed to Natural Bridge, in the town of Wilna, and settled on the farm which has ever since remained in the possession of his descendants. He cleared the land and erected the house, which is still the residence of the family. His political affiliations were with the Democratic party.
John Pool married Esther Van Antwerp, daughter of John Van Antwerp, and the following named children were the issue of this marriage: John, born November 12, 1803; Maria, born February 17, 1805 : Eleanor, born February 21, 1807; Rachel, born December 25, 1809: Abraham, born July 25, 1819; David, born March 7, 1821, men- tioned hereinafter : and Catherine, born August 4, 1823. The mother of these children, who was a truly estimable woman, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, died March 1, 1836. Her husband sur- vived her many years, passing away December 23, 1861, at the age of seventy-eight. As a man and citizen he was sincerely respected by all. John Van Antwerp, father of Mrs. Pool, was a farmer of Johns- town, and a veteran of the Revolution. He suffered much in the cause of independence, having been taken as a prisoner to Canada, from whence he made his escape by swimming the St. Lawrence river, but
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was afterward obliged to wander so long in the wilderness that death by starvation stared him in the face. Mr. Van Antwerp and his wife were the parents of eleven children : John, Thomas, Francis, Abraham, Daniel, Esther, born October 18, 1784, in Johnstown, who became the wife of John Pool, as mentioned above; Rachel, Catharine, Nellie, Jane, and Mrs. J. Getman.
David Pool, son of John and Esther ( Van Antwerp) Pool, received his education in the common schools of Natural Bridge, having come here with his parents as a child. His youth and early manhood were spent in assisting his father in the care and management of the farm, and in acquiring that thorough and practical knowledge of agriculture, which in after years caused him to be recognized as a leader among the farmers of the county. He still continued to act as his father's assistant even after the latter had presented him with fifty acres of land and a house, thus enabling him to establish a home of his own. After the death of his father, Mr. Pool became the owner of the homestead by purchasing of the other heirs their shares in the estate. He then pur- chased more property, making in all two hundred and fifty acres, which constitutes one of the finest farms in this region. It is now managed by Mr. Pool's sons, and is devoted to farming and dairying, being equipped with about twenty-five cows and a quantity of young stock. Mr. Pool was a member of the Grange, and for forty years held mem- bership in the Masonic order, affiliating with a lodge in Carthage, New York. His political principles were those advocated and upheld by the Democratic party. He was a member of the Universalist church, in which for many years he held the office of trustee.
Mr. Pool married, in 1843, Almira Nichols, who was born in Den- mark, daughter of Platt Nichols, a native of Dunston, who removed to Denmark, where he followed the trade of carpenter. Mr. Nichols and his wife were the parents of seven children: Caroline, Almira, Jona- than, a resident of Pamelia ; Ellen, Livona, Milton, and Amelia Nichols. The following named children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Pool: I, Esther, who became the wife of Frank Dimock, a farmer of Diana; 2, Jay, who resides on the ancestral homestead, and was married to Julia Palmer, who bore him two children-Myra and Esther: 3, Alice, who became tlie wife of Andrew J. Spencer ; 4, Abbie, who became the wife of Alvin Hart, and they are the parents of one child-Ray Hart.
The union of Mr. and Mrs. Pool, which endured for more than half a century, was terminated by the death of the beloved wife and
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mother, who passed away April 13, 1901, leaving a void in the hearts of her husband and children, and also in those of many warm and devoted friends. Mr. Pool died April 22, 1904, at the ripe old age of eighty-three years, being the last of his generation. His long life was spent at the Bridge, coming there with his parents from the Mohawk valley when one year old, the family making their way from Carthage to the Bridge over a trail several years before a regular highway was laid out from this point to the Bridge. The funeral occurred April 25, 1904, at the Universalist church of Natural Bridge, New York, the Rev. Mr. Fisher officiating. The, services were conducted under the auspices of the Carthage Masonic Lodge, of which the deceased had been a member for the past forty years, and many members of the home lodge attended the ceremony. The remains were interred in the Sand Hill Cemetery. He was survived by his son and three daughters, afore- mentioned.
SIMON G. JOHNSTON. As an authority on all matters per- taining to navigation and boat-building, Simon G. Johnston, of Clay- ton, has no rival on the St. Lawrence river.
He is a son of George Johnston, who was born in 1790 in North- umberland, England, where he received his education and grew to man- hood. On coming to America he settled in Prescott, Canada, and later moved to Ogdensburg, New York. He was a sawyer and millwright, and built at Camp's dock, Sacketts Harbor, the first sawmill ever erected in that town. After operating this for some time he went west, bought land in Wisconsin, and there passed the remainder of his life. He mar- ried Elizabeth, born in Canterbury, England, daughter of Simon Gray, who served for forty-seven years in the Scotch army, was promoted, and at one time had charge of one hundred and twenty-five prisoners. His death took place at the very advanced age of ninety-three. Mr. and Mrs. Johnston were the parents of six children, three of them being: Simon G., the special subject of this article; William, who lived in Minneapolis, Minnesota, died in 1899; and Mrs. Mary Coleman, who resides in Red Wing, Minnesota. Mrs. Johnston, the mother of these children, died at Sacketts Harbor at the age of forty- five. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and was much loved and esteemed. The death of Mr. Johnston occurred when he had reached the age of seventy, and was the result of an accident.
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His character was such as to command respect, both as a man and a citizen.
Simon G. Johnston, son of George and Elizabeth (Gray) Johnston, was born October 9, 1821, in Perth, West Canada. He was ten years of age when the family removed to Sacketts Harbor. It was there that he received his education, and learned the trade of a ship-carpenter in all its branches. Later he came to Clayton, and was for a number of years in business with his brother-in-law. He served for two years as superintendent for the firm of Fowler & Essylstyn, and at the end of that time became by purchase the owner of their large plant, and con- ducted the business with great success until 1872. Ship-building began at Clayton in 1830 and continued for half a century as the chief industry of the village. It was established here by Smith & Merrick, and at times gave employment to more than one hundred men, from three to six vessels being built here each year. The first boats were the "Jesse Smith" and "Horatio Gates," both being built in 1830, the work being begun by Captain Pickering, and completed by George S. Weeks. He continued building for the firm. and built the steamer "Black Hawk." and the schooners "Franklin." "Jefferson," "Morgiana Willetts." "Mon- roe," "Gazelle," "Madison," "Lucinda," "Cleopatra," "Western," "Chesapeake," "Robert Wood." "E. G. Merrick." "Sylph." and others, besides the steamer "Swan." Another early and prominent builder was John Oades, who was the brother-in-law of Simon G. Johnston, and who began operations here in 1841 under contracts of the old firms of E. G. Merrick & Company, and Fowler & Essylstyn. His work- manship resulted in the construction of one hundred boats, including both sailing vessels and steamers. He built the schooners "St. Law- rence," "John Oades," "D. N. Burney," "Superior," "Invincible," "New York," "Quebec," "America." "Flying Cloud," "Sovereign of the Lakes," "Northern Light." "White Cloud," "Northerner," "Sky Lark," "Republic," "Clayton," "Amelia," "Adriatic," "Northern Belle," "Dash- ing Wave," "Monticello," "Adirondack," "Radiant," "Clayton Belle," "M. F. Merrick," "Montana," "Portland," "Kearsarge," and others; and the steamers "Niagara," "Cataract," "Ontario," "Bay State," "New York," "Jenny Lind," "British Empire." "British Queen." "Midge" and "Widgeon." Mr. Johnston became the successor of Mr. Oades and began ship-building for the firm of Fowler & Esselystyn in 1854. He built in all about forty boats for the navigation of the St. Lawrence river, and from the time he began independent operations here he has
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been the acknowledged authority on all subjects pertaining to the river and its navigation. He built the schooners "Grayhound," "Eagle Wing." "Watchful." "Mediator." "Senator." "Snow Bird," "Brook- lyn," "Montpelier." "Montcalm." "Montgomery." "Montmorency," "Mont Blanc," "Irene," "L. B. Stone." "Scud," "William Home," "Hat- tie Johnson." "Henry Folger." and "Black Diamond." He also built the steamers "T. S. Faxton," "H. S. Johnson," "Island Belle," a second "Island Belle," and the "Nightingale," and the palace steamer "St. Lawrence." The aggregate tonnage of these vessels and steamers is about forty thousand tons and cost about two million dollars. The last boat built by Mr. Johnston was the "Nightingale," built in 1894. He was by far the best known of the later boat-builders, and put on the river some of the stanchest smaller boats navigating its waters.
Mr. Johnston is a public-spirited citizen, having proved his claim to the title by the efforts which he has made to promote the well-being and advancement of the community. The introduction of the water- works into the town was largely owing to his labors and influence, and he was one of those most actively engaged in the building of the railroad to Theresa, in which he was a large stockholder. He takes a prom- inent part in the political affairs of the town, and is extremely popular, having held the office of assessor for many years. finally declining a re-election. He has also served as school trustee a number of years. In politics he is a James G. Blaine Republican. He and his family are members of the First Congregational church, in which for a number of years he has served as deacon. He aided in organizing and building the church.
Mr. Johnston married, in 1854. Emily H., a sister of John Oades, of Sacketts Harbor. Mr. Oades was an early and prominent ship- builder of the county, as mentioned above. He was the father of two daughters and one son, who was also a ship-builder. The daughters were: Emily H., mentioned above as the wife of Simon G. Johnston ; and Elizabeth McKee, of Dubuque, Iowa. Mr. Oades died at Sacketts Harbor, where he had passed his life.
Mr. and Mrs. Johnston have had six children, of whom three are living : 1. Irene, who is the wife of J. M. Hungerford, a merchant of Clayton, New York, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work ; they have one son, Stanley I. 2. Henry, who is the captain of the "Nightingale." 3. Belle I. The two last named reside at home. Lucy,
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the eldest daughter, dicd at the age of thirty years. She was a graduate of the Adams Collegiate Institute. Minnie and Jennie died in infancy.
JOHN O'LEARY. The legal fraternity of Jefferson county, New York, has many representatives, yet none are more devoted to their profession or more earnest in their discharge of professional duties than John O'Leary, of Clayton, who was born at Waddington, St. Lawrence county, December 17, 1860.
The parental ancestry of John O'Leary for many generations were residents of the county Wexford, Ireland, and three of the older brothers of his grandfather, Patrick O'Leary, participated in the battles of the uprising of 1798. The male members of the family in those early days followed the occupation of blacksmiths, and in addition thereto carried on a small farm. The farm is still worked, and the neighborhood black- smithing is still done by James O'Leary, who lives in the same cottage in which the father and grandfather of John O'Leary were born.
Patrick O'Leary, with his wife and a family of several children, emigrated to America in the spring of 1847, leaving the oldest son Anthony on the old homestead. Shortly after their arrival their son John died. Later, when the war of the rebellion broke out, David, Moses and Edward went to the front. David was with Sheridan on his famous raid, and was afterwards killed in an engagement in Vir- ginia. Moses, who was a private in the Fourteenth New York Heavy Artillery, lost an arm at the mine explosion before Petersburg and died June, 1903, in California. Edward, who was a private in the One Hundred and Forty-second New York Volunteers, now resides with his family at Port Henry, New York. There was one daughter, who mar- ried James McGinnis and resided in Waddington, St. Lawrence county, New York, until her death in 1903.
James O'Leary in 1857 married Johanna O'Neill, who, with her parents and several brothers and sisters, emigrated from the county Tipperary, Ireland, and settled at Waddington, New York. The O'Neills were descendants of the famous chieftain, "Red Hugh O'Neill." of the north. Mr. and Mrs. Jamies O'Leary, after their marriage, con- tinued to reside in the town of Waddington. Three children were born to them-John, Patrick and David-all of whom were cducated in the district schools of their native town. At an early age David secured a position in Bellows Falls, Vermont, in the stockyards of the C. V. R. R., and later became foreman for the New England Dressed Meat and Wool
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Co. of Boston, Massachusetts, in the Brighton yards, which position he held until the time of his death in 1891. Patrick O'Leary has always been a farmer in Waddington and Pierrepont, except a few years when he was in the employ of the New England Dressed Meat and Wool Co. of Boston, Massachusetts. He now resides at Potsdam, New York.
John O'Leary spent his early years at Waddington, New York. He attended the district school and village school, and taught success- fully in the district schools of Waddington and surrounding towns. He graduated from the village school in 1884, and in September the same year entered St. Lawrence University, from which he was graduated in 1888. During his college course he taught a short term of school each winter vacation, and filled a vacancy that occurred in the Ogdens- burg school the winter before graduation. After graduation he secured the principalship of the Alexandria Bay graded school, which position he held until June, 1893. Much of the success this school has achieved is due to the foundation laid by Mr. O'Leary during the five years of his principalship.
In June, 1893, after the election of President Cleveland, he was appointed deputy collector of customs at the port of Alexandria Bay, New York, which position he held until October 15, 1898, during which term, in addition to performing the duties of collector, he studied law, and in June, 1898, was admitted to practice law in the supreme court. On November 1, 1898, he moved to Clayton and opened an office for the practice of law, which he has conducted ever since. During his career as an attorney at law he has achieved a large degree of success, his serv- ices being called into requisition by the residents of Clayton and sur- rounding towns. By his zealous efforts in behalf of his clients' interests and by his honesty and integrity he has won the respect and esteem of all with whom he has come in contact.
Mr. O'Leary has always taken an active interest in the political affairs of St. Lawrence and Jefferson counties. He has been a lifelong Democrat, and has been honored by his party on various occasions. He has always taken a keen interest in educational matters, and is a mem- ber of the board of education of the Clayton High School, and is a promi- nent factor in advancing all enterprises that tend toward the growth and development of the town.
Mr. O'Leary's father died on the family homestead in January, 1890, and his mother died at Clayton, New York, in May, 1902, where she had come on a visit, and was unable to return to her home.
The Old Ship New Orleans at Sackets Harbor
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In 1888 John O'Leary married Mary A. Hallen of Canton, New York, the daughter of John and Mary Hallen of Waddington, New York. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. O'Leary : Mar- garet J., Mary Ellen, James H., and Gwendolen K. O'Leary.
GEORGE H. MCKINLEY. It is the distinction of George H. McKinley, of Clayton, Jefferson county, New York, to have carved out for himself a highly successful career in his native city, a con- summation which comes to but few out of many. He has not only built up a large and profitable mercantile business, but he has so com- manded the confidence and esteem of the community that almost from the time of his entering upon the active duties of life he has been called to the occupancy of public positions of trust and honor.
He was born in Clayton, January 26, 1852, son of Jolin and Eleanor (Murphy) McKinley. His father, a native of Ireland, came to America in his early youth, and was among the pioneer settlers in this vicinity, where he reared his family of seven sons and one daughter. Of these George H. Mckinley was the fifth. He was brought up to a life of industry, and his early struggles and privations proved a splendid preparation in the development of his character and the for- mation of his habits. From his very boyhood he aided in cultivating the home farm, and in the winter seasons attended the common school, where he was an assiduous student who took the utmost advantage of the meagre opportunities afforded him. At the age of seventeen he found employment in the drug store of Dr. Amos Ellis, with whom he remained two years, attending the village school during its terms, and devoting his mornings and evenings to his duties about the store, and acquired a fair English education, and a fund of general knowledge through his personal reading and keen observation. After leaving Dr. Ellis, at the age of nineteen. he became a clerk in A. F. Barker's general store, the largest mercantile establishment in the village at that time, and remained with Mr. Barker and the succeeding firm of H. S. and S. M. Barker for five years. While he was thus employed he developed a genuine talent for the business, and also laid away a modest sum out of his earnings. In April, 1877. he formed a partner- ship with Captain M. Halpin, under the firm name of G. H. Mckinley & Company, and opened a general store. Success attended the partners from the first, and their association was pleasantly maintained until 1882, when occurred the death of Captain Halpin, whose interest was
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purchased by Mr. Mckinley. Still extending his operations, Mr. Mckinley was enabled in 1899, only twelve years after he had first embarked in business, to erect on James street, directly opposite the Hubbard House, a handsome and commodious block of store rooms and offices-a three-story edifice, with a frontage and depth of eighty feet. This he conducted successfully up to November, 1904, when he disposed of his business, having at that time the largest general store in Jefferson county, outside of Watertown. In addition to this business he had for a number of years, as opportunity offered, bought and sold real estate, and since selling out has given his entire attention to this business.
In the achievement of the results which have crowned his effort, Mr. Mckinley, it need scarcely be said, has been an unusually indus- trious man. At the same time he has ever been a broad-minded public- spirited citizen who has constantly exerted his effort for the advance- ment of the interests of the community. He aided in the organization of the National Exchange Bank, and has been one of its directors from that time to the present. An earnest advocate of education, he has been a most faithful and sagacious member of the school board for upwards of twenty years, and for five years past he has been president of that body, and it is to be said in all truthfulness that no one of his day has afforded such valuable service in the maintenance and improve- ment of the schools of the village. He was for many years a member of the board of village trustees, and in 1893 he was by a unanimous vote of the people elected village president, a position in which he served most creditably and usefully. An uncompromising Democrat, Mr. Mckinley is recognized as one of the foremost leaders of his party in Jefferson county, and yet maintaining the respect and personal friend- ship of his political opponents because of his deep sincerity and his courteous respect for their sentiments. In his personal activity, which is at times almost aggressive in its vigor, he is not, however, actuated by a desire for personal preferment, but by a conscientious conviction that he is discharging the first and most important duty of a citizen in aiding in the conduct of public affairs. His capability in leadership is evidenced by the fact that he has served upon the Democratic county committee for about twenty years. He had charge of the gubernatorial campaign of Roswell P. Flower, in District No. 3. of Clayton, which, uncler his leadership, gave Mr. Flower the largest percentage of votes of any district in the state outside the metropolis itself. In 1895 Mr.
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