USA > New York > Jefferson County > Genealogical and family history of the county of Jefferson, New York, Volume I > Part 43
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In 1872 Mr. Hitchcock returned to Watertown, where he organized the Hitchcock Lamp Company, which was incorporated and capitalized for one hundred thousand dollars, Governor Flower becoming the prin- cipal stockholder. The building now occupied by the New York Air Brake Company was erected under the supervision of Mr. Hitchcock and he also superintended the building of special machinery which was made in New England. In 1895 the company was re-incorporated under the name of the Jefferson Brass Works, with Governor Flower as president
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and Jolin B. Taylor as secretary and treasurer. Mr. Hitchcock with- drew four years later and continued the manufacture of his lamp in Con- necticut. In recent years he made many improvements, bringing his invention to the highest degree of perfection, and it now has a world- wide reputation, being sold in almost every civilized country on the face of the globe. He possessed not only inventive genius, but also business capacity which enabled him to turn the labors of his inventive mind into profit on the markets of the world. The Hitchcock lamp is now being manufactured by the New Haven Clock Company of New Haven, Con- necticut, Mrs. Hitchcock still retaining her interest in the business.
Robert Hitchcock was a Republican in his political affiliation, and for many years he was connected with the Masonic fraternity in Water- town. He advanced to high rank in the order, taking the degrees of both the chapter and the commandery. He attended the Presbyterian church and his active co-operation was given to many measures for the material, intellectual and moral advancement of his city.
Robert Hitchcock was married May 15, 1855, to Miss Eveline Hunt- ington, who was born in Watertown, New York, in 1835, a daughter of Ambrose W. Huntington, whose birth occurred in Hartford, Con- necticut, in 1805. Her grandfather, William A. Huntington, was born in Tolland, Connecticut, in 1758, and came to Jefferson county, New York, as a pioneer settler, in January, 1804. He purchased two hundred acres of land, and afterward the village of Huntingtonville was estab- lished and named in his honor. He cleared his land which, when it came into his possession, was in the midst of an unbroken wilderness and, developing a fine property, he made it his home throughout his remaining days, his death occurring when seventy-two years of age. His wife passed away at the age of sixty-five years. Their children were William, Hiram, Dyer, Ambrose, Cyrus, Lathrop, Priscinda and Lucia. In April, 1776, he entered the Revolutionary army and served until November of that year at New York. In April, 1777, he enlisted for three years, which he served out, spending the last winter at Valley Forge.
Ambrose Huntington, father of Mrs. Hitchcock, was reared in the town named in honor of his father and like his father he rendered his country military service in the war of 1812, and in the days of peace followed the occupation of farming. He reached the age of seventy-two years, while his wife attained the very advanced age of one hundred and one years. Both were members of the Presbyterian church. Her maiden name was Prudence Tyler and her birth occurred in Oneida county, New
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York. She was one of a family of eight children, namely: Rufus, Alanson, Sylvanus and Sylvester (twins), William, Rebecca, Polly and Prudence. Mr. and Mrs. Ambrose Huntington were the parents of two children. The elder, Horace Huntington, spent his life in Water- town and in New York city, following the profession of bookkeeping throughout his business carecr. He died in 1897.
To Mr. and Mrs. Hitchcock were born three children: Julia, who died at the age of twenty-three years; Lizzie, who died at the age of twenty-six years : and Anna H., who was married September 18, 1892, to Philip H. Winchester, a civil engineer, and resides in Watertown. Mr. Hitchcock was a most devoted husband and father, regarding no personal sacrifice on his part too great or any labor too strenuous that would promote the happiness and welfare of his wife and children. His life motto was "Home, first, last and always." He also held friendship inviolable and was a most pleasant and congenial companion, because of his fine conversational powers and the sterling worth of his character.
JAMES HENRY DECKER was born in Troy, New York, Octo- ber 18, 1832, and died in Watertown, New York, October 16, 1867. His parents were James and Azubah A. Decker.
James Decker ( father) was born in 1808, and was a jeweler con- ducting a large wholesale and retail establishment in Troy, New York, for a number of years. He afterward removed to Denmark, Lewis county, and thence to Watertown about the beginning of the civil war. He invested in western real estate, owning a quarter section in the pres- ent city of Maquoketa, Jackson county, Iowa, where he built an exten- sive hotel and other buildings. Subsequently he returned to Water- town and purchased the home at No. 48 Arsenal street, which is now occupied by Mrs. James H. Decker. His attention was also given to the supervision of his invested interests in the west and in Lewis county, New York. He was recognized as a successful business man, so placing his investments that they brought a good financial return. His death occurred in 1881, aged seventy-three years. His wife, Mrs. Azubah A. Decker, nee Betts. was born in Lansingburg, New York, in 1810, and died in 1891, when about eighty years of age, at Maquoketa, Iowa. Both Mr. and Mrs. Decker were members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and took an active part in its work. Mr. Decker was a stanch Republican. Their family numbered four children : Emily Antoinette, wife of H. G. P. Spencer; James H., mentioned hereinafter; Victoria
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Eugenia, wife of Edwin R. Woley, of Chicago; and Leonard Wesley, who died in 1900, at Maquoketa, Iowa.
James H. Decker spent the greater part of his boyhood days in Troy and Denmark. New York. He pursued his education in the common schools, and for some time thereafter was engaged in farming, making his home in Denmark. A lover of fine horses, he became the owner of many animals of great worth. He owned seven that were especially valuable, and for one of these he refused an offer of two thousand dollars, eventually obtaining a much higher price. His busi- ness efforts were capably conducted, and his sound judgment brought to him prosperity.
James H. Decker was married September 8. 1852, to Miss Caroline A. Reynolds, who was born in Valatia, Columbia county, New York. Her father, Raymond Reynolds, was born in the same county in 1802. a son of Nathaniel Reynolds, whose father was born in Manchester, England. Raymond Reynolds was a master mechanic, long in the em- ploy of Nathan Wild's cotton mills at Valatia. He died at Valatia, in 1857, at the age of fifty-five years. He was a firm adherent of Repub- lican principles, and a liberal, religious and upright man. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Christine Phillips, was born in Columbia county in 1809. and died in the first week of November, 1896. at the age of eighty-seven years. She held membership in the Presbyterian church. By her marriage she had five children. three of whom attained years of maturity. but only two are now living-Caroline, widow of James H. Decker, and Adelaide, the wife of Dr. T. R. Waugh, a lead- ing and highly respected medical practitioner of St. Albans, Vermont. The eldest child, Celeste, was the wife of Charles Duane Squire, who raised a company and commanded it in the Civil war under General Bradley Winslow.
Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Decker: I. James R., born January 15, 1857, in Watertown. He pursued his early education in the common schools, afterward attending the high school, and later St. Michael's College at Toronto. Subsequently he took up the study of medicine, attending lectures two years in New York, but failing health forced him to abandon further study. He married Miss Flora Smith, who was born in Salem, Massachusetts, and they had two chil- dren : James Henry, and Marguerite. The former, educated at Purdue University, Lafayette, Indiana, is now a mechanical engineer, occupy- ing a position with the New York Central Railroad Company at Lima,
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Ohio. The latter is living with her aunt, Mrs. Dr. Waugh, in St. Albans, Vermont. 2. Anna C., the only daughter, is now the wife of Charles F. Smith, a native of Jefferson county, New York, and they have one son. Charles Palmer, who was educated in St. John's Military School near Syracuse. New York. Mr. and Mrs. Smith reside at Lima, Ohio. Mr. Decker died October 3, 1886, at the age of twenty- nine years. Mrs. Decker resides in her beautiful home on Arsenal street, one of the finest residential districts of Watertown, the house being located nearly opposite the court house.
GEORGE A. DEVENDORF, an esteemed resident of Depauville, New York, for the past eight years has been living in retirement from active pursuits as his untiring and well-directed business efforts in for- mer years brought to him a competence sufficient to supply him with the con:forts of life. The rest is well-merited, for his business career was characterized by great energy and unceasing industry. He was born in Mindon, Montgomery county, New York, May 22, 1835.
Abraham G. Devendorf, father of George .\. Devendorf, was also born in Montgomery county, New York, a son of George and Cath- erine Devendorf, native of the same county, who were the parents of eight children, all of whom are now deceased. George Devendorf was a farmer and inn-keeper in the Mohawk Valley. His death, which occurred in the fifty-third year of his age, was caused by a runaway team. Ilis wife passed away in 1841, at the age of seventy-two years. Abraham G. Devendorf ( father) was reared and educated in Mont- gomery county, and he began business as a farmer, his spare time being put in on the Mohawk Canal, as was the case with many farmers along the "Ditch." In 1837 he located near Depauville, New York, purchased the Cowen farm, which consisted of one hundred and fifty acres, to which he subsequently added sixty-five acres, and this tract of land was devoted to general farming and dairying purposes. He was one of the first dairymen in this section of the state. He served on the board f assessors in the town for eight years, and among the members of that body at that time was Abmer Smith, Simon G. Johnson, and Will- iam Lingenfelter (sketches elsewhere), who are all still living, aged wer eighty-five years each. He was united in marriage to Catherine Timmermann, who was born in Montgomery county, New York, De- cember 2, 1807, a daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth ( Sanders) Tim- mermann. The following named children were born of this union:
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Elmira, wife of John Howell, of Depauville, New York; George A., mentioned at length hereinafter; Eugene, died in 1877; Mary Jane, who died at the age of seven years; David, a resident of Depauville : and Clark, a citizen of Watertown. Abraham G. Devendorf died at the age of seventy-three years, February 5. 1882, and his wife passed away AAugust 12, 1900, in the ninety-fourth year of her age. Solomon Sanders, grandfather of Mrs. Abraham G. Devendorf, was a native of Switzerland, and after his arrival in this country settled in Mont- gomery county, New York; he was one of the pioneer residents, and cleared a tract of land consisting of six hundred acres. During the early years of his life he learned the trade of clockmaker, and being naturally endowed with great mechanical skill and ability he became an expert at this business, and after his arrival in this country devoted considerable time winter evenings to whittling out clock works with a jack-knife. Mr. Sanders died at the age of ninety-seven years; his wife died in the eighity-sixth year of her age. They were members of the Lutheran church. Their family consisted of the following named children : David, who now resides on the farm where he was born, and who was one hundred years old on November 3. 1903: Benjamin, deceased ; John, who was one of the "forty-niners" who went to Cali- fornia by the overland route: he now resides in that state and has attained the extreme age of ninety years : Solomon, deceased: Catherine, deceased; Betsy, deceased; and Polly. deceased.
George A. Devendorf has spent his whole life near Depauville, New York. He obtained his preliminary education in the common school adjacent to his home, and later was a student at the select school at Perch River, fall terms of two months each for four consecutive years, conducted by H. E. Morse (a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work). and by diligent and close application to his studies obtained a liberal education. The first four years of his business life were spent in driving a meat cart from his father's farm into Water- town, a distance of twelve miles, reaching his destination by sunrise. The following three years he conducted a prosperous trade in buying and selling cattle, after which he returned to the old homestead, and for ten years devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits. At the expiration of this period of time he engaged in the business of buying hay in large quantities, shipping and baling from six to ten thousand tons a year for New York and New England markets. This enterprise, which he conducted up to the year 1896, proved a profitable means of
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livelihood. Mr. Devendorf still owns the old homestead, which he prizes very highly, it having been purchased by his father in 1837, and the house erected by him is still standing in a good state of preservation. .As trustee of the Depauville Free Baptist church he was largely instru- mental in collecting the funds for the repairing of the exterior and interior of the old stone church and the erection of a parsonage. In addition to the money subscribed by the parishioners he received a liberal amount from Mrs. McCormack, of McCormack reaper fame, who formerly attended Sunday-school there with her mother, Mrs. Fowler, and also from the late Hon. Roswell P. Flower. He is a Democrat in politics. He became a member of the Masonic fraternity at Stone Mills Lodge in 1857, and later became a charter member of Masonic Lodge No. 688, of Depauville: is a charter member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows No. 848, of Depauville; and also charter member of Mount-Calin Encampment No. 160, of Odd Fel- lows, in Clayton, New York. He is a charter member of Valley-View Lodge of Rebekah No. 304, Depauville ; a member of Depauville Grange No. 59: of Jefferson County Pomona Grange; of the Order of the Eastern Star No. 125, Depauville ; and also of the Jeffersonian Club of Watertown.
In 1858 Mr. Devendorf was united in marriage to Lucretia Luther, born in Clayton, New York, in 1835. a daughter of Stephen and Mar- garet Luther. One child was born of this union, Stephen A. Deven- dorf, who resides in Lafargeville, New York, where he is engaged in baling and shipping hay, and the manufacturing of cut clover and clover meal; his business is large and profitable. He married Emma Winslow, and they are the parents of two children-Perl and Mabel Devendorf. Stephen Luther, father of Mrs. George A. Devendorf, was born in Herkimer county, New York, and came as a pioneer settler to this section of the state, clearing a large tract of land. He and his wife. Margaret, reared a family of five children-Jeremiah, deceased; Cynthia, deceased : John, deceased ; Lucretia, aforementioned as the wife of George .\. Devendorf : she died June 22, 1893; and Andrew, now a resident of Minnesota. Stephen Luther, father of these children, died at the age of seventy-five years; his wife died in the seventy-seventh year of her age.
Two and one-half years after the death of his wife, George .1. Devendorf married Carrie McCormick, who was born and reared
Arsenal Street Methodist Episcopal Church, Watertown
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near Limerick, Jefferson county, New York. With her he now resides at his old home in Depauville, New York.
HIRAM S. BARNEY. The family of which Hiram S. Barney, a prosperous agriculturist of Ellisburgh, is a representative, is descended from Edward Barney, who died in Braddenham, England, about 1645. (II) Jacob, son of Edward Barney, was born in 1601, and died in 1673, in Massachusetts. (III) Jacob (2), son of Jacob Barney (I), was born in England, and died February 12. 1669. (IV) Joseph, son of Jacob Barney (2), was born March 9, 1673. in Salem, Massa- chusetts. and settled in Rehoboth, same colony, from which town he was representative in the colonial legislature. (V) Jolin, son of Joseph Barney, was born April 2, 1703. in Rehoboth.
(VII) Edward, son of John Barney, was born August 18, 1749, in Rehoboth, and was educated for a physician. He settled in practice in Guilford, Vermont, where he continued until the spring of 1804. when he removed to Ellisburgh, in this county. The journey was made with an ox-team and sled, and consumed three weeks. He purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land at one and one-fourth dollars per acre, upon which he settled his large family. He died August 9, 1839, 3 > at Belleville. He was a deacon of the Baptist church. His first wife, Elizabeth Brown, bore him ten children, and died in Guilford, Vermont. He married (second) Phebe Bennett, who was the mother of six of his children, the last three born in Ellisburgh. The first of his children, Betsey, was born December 2, 1771. Susannah. the second, born in 1772, became the wife of Liberty Goodenough, whom she survived (see Goodenough). She subsequently married Elijah Gove, with whom she removed to Ellisburgh, and whom she also survived. The others of Dr. Barney's children were named as follows: John, Aaron, Ben- jamin, Eliakim, Rebecca, Miriam, Hannah and Caroline: (second family ) : Lydia, Darius, Damaris, Jeshuron, Caroline and Eunice.
John Barney, son of Dr. Edward and Elizabeth ( Brown) Barney, was born in Guilford, Vermont, in 1778. He came from the town of Lyndon, Vermont, in March, 1806, to Ellisburgh, New York, and located on a farm near Belleville: the journey was made by him on foot, driving an ox-team and one horse. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and served at Sacketts Harbor. He was one of the organizers and served as one of the first directors of Bellevue Union Academy. His religious views were in accord with those advanced by the Baptist
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church. Ile was over six feet tall. and his shoulders were in proportion to his great height. In 1801 he married Cynthia Potter, and they were the parents of the following named children: Orrilla, who became the wife of John Littlefield, and mother of Colonel Calvin Littlefield (see Littlefield). Hiram H., who was a graduate of Union College at Schenectady, New York, was a lawyer, following that profession in Cincinnati, Ohio, and for many years was state superintendent of schools of Ohio. David Potter, mentioned at length hereinafter. Julia, wife of the Rev. Ebenezer Ward, who was a Baptist preacher, later a farmer, and resided near Cleveland, Ohio. Harriet, wife of Jonah Sanford, of St. Lawrence county, New York, a lawyer and judge, and who served as colonel during the Civil war. Lura, unmarried, who served in the capacity of teacher. Samuel, who followed farming on the old homestead farm. John, whose death occurred in Ellisburgh, was a farmer in that town and in Adams, and was one of the men who went to California to seek for gold in 1849. Electa, wife of the Rev. Albert Ellis, a Baptist preacher, of Michigan.
David Potter Barney, second son of John and Cynthia (Potter) Barney, was born on the homestead farm in Ellisburgh, located next west of the one now owned by Colonel Calvin Littlefield. He was reared on the farm, and educated in the common schools of the day. He was united in marriage about 1843 to Lucinda (Knapp), widow of Nathan Cushman. She was born in Henderson, New York, in 1810, a daughter of Henry and - (Rogers) Knapp, who came as pioneers to Jefferson county from the state of Vermont, and their children were: Hiram S., mentioned hereinafter; and Cynthia Lovica, unmarried, who resides in Belleville. After his marriage, Mr. Barney began farming on the tract of land owned by his wife, remaining there until his decease. He was a Whig and Republican in politics, a strong anti-slavery advocate, and a member of the Baptist church of Belle- ville. His wife died April 9, 1889, and he survived her only fifteen days, passing away .April 24, 1889.
Hiram Sanford Barney, only son of David P. and Lucinda Barney, was born on the farm where he now resides, November 24. 1847. He attended the common schools of Ellisburgh, and the knowledge thus gained was supplemented by a course at Union Academy. He then began farming on the old homestead, which is located one mile west of Belleville, and consists of one hundred and twenty acres, and main- tains a dairy of thirty cows all the year, and usually keeps about fifty
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head of cattle in all. In addition to this property he is the owner of a three hundred acre farm in Lorraine, an eighty-five acre farm in Ellis- burgh, and a one hundred and twenty-five acre farm in Henderson. He is practical and progressive in his methods, and in this way his extensive operations yield him a goodly income. He casts his vote with the Republican party.
On June 4, 1873, Mr. Barney married Dora E. Williams, of Belle- ville, New York, born May II, 1854, a daughter of Alexander D. and Nancy ( Myrick) Williams. Alexander D. Williams was born Feb- ruary 17, 1830, in Boylston, Oswego county, New York, and was a hotel keeper and farmer; his wife was born September 30, 1830, at Pierrepont Manor, Jefferson county, New York. They were the par- ents of eight children, four of whom attained years of maturity, namely : Ida R., wife of Theodore C. Colon, a hotel keeper; Dora E., afore- mentioned as the wife of Hiram S. Barney; Jennie N., who became the wife of Hugh Mellon, of Watertown, who served as secretary of the Watertown Pressed . Brick Company, and during the latter years of his life was proprietor of the Walton House at Clayton ; and Lorena A., wife of George C. Gildersleeve, of Weedsport, New York, a com- mercial salesman for Wyeth & Co., of Philadelphia. Two sons were born to Mr. and Mrs. Barney: Howard W., born March 29. 1877, was educated at Belleville Union Academy, and taught school five years. He is now engaged in farming ; he married Carrie G. Bell. Alden T., born November 24, 1879, educated in the common schools and Union Academy, and is now engaged in farming on the old homestead.
FREDERICK WILLIAMS, a prosperous and progressive agri- culturist of Ellisburgh, Jefferson county, New York, traces his ancestry to Roger Williams, a native of Wales, who was ordained a clergyman of the Church of England, but soon became an extreme Puritan and emigrated to New England. For his opposition to the New England theocracy he was driven from Salem, taking refuge at Plymouth, where he studied the Indian dialects. Banished from the colony in 1635, accompanied by a few adherents, he escaped in midwinter to the shores of Narragansett Bay, where he purchased lands of the Indian chiefs, founded the city of Providence, and established a government of pure democracy. In 1654 he was elected president of the colony, and his death occurred in 1683. He was the father of three sons: Providence, Daniel and Joseph. The line of descent is traced through the latter.
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Joseph Williams, born December 16, 1645, was the father of a son, Joseph, Jr., born November 10, 1673, and his son Jeremiah, date of his birth unknown, died .April 13, 1789. His son Jeremiah, Jr., born July 6, 1736, married Bethiah, daughter of Thomas and granddaughter of Joseph Williams, Jr. Their son, Othniel, Sr., born March 31, 1761. married Dorcas Field. born July 22, 1766, at Providence, Rhode Island. They were among the early pioneers of Chester, Vermont, when that state was but a wilderness, where they made for themselves a home and became one of the prominent families of that state. Dorcas (Field) Williams was a daughter of James, son of Jeremiah, son of Thomas, son of William Field, who was one of the early settlers of Providence, and one of Roger Williams's most trusted friends.
Alexander Williams, son of Othniel and Dorcas (Field) Williams, was born at Chester, Vermont, April 21, 1794. He received a prac- tical education in the common schools of New England. In 1818 he came to Ellisburgh, New York, being one of the early settlers of that town, and purchased one hundred and fifty acres of unbroken forest from Nathan Lapham, located about two miles west and north of Belleville, which he cultivated and improved until it became one of the best farms in that section of the county. He was an honored and respected citizen of that community, remaining there until his demise. He was not a member of any church, but was regular in his attendance at the Baptist church at Belleville, aiding liberally in its support. During the early years of his life he was a Whig, but after the organ- ization of the Republican party ably supported its candidates and meas- ures. In 1819 he returned to Vermont, where he married Rhoda Reed, a native of Rockingham, Vermont, and daughter of Frederick Reed, who was a soldier in the Revolutionary war and drew a pension for the same in the latter part of his life. Alexander Williams died April 21. 1876.
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