USA > New York > Jefferson County > Genealogical and family history of the county of Jefferson, New York, Volume I > Part 44
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Frederick Williams was born on the homestead farm in the town of Ellisburgh, west of Belleville, March 17, 1828. He resided on the old homestead until twenty-four years of age, in the meantime acquir- ing an excellent education in the common schools and Union Academy of Belleville. In 1852 he purchased a farm of seventy acres located about two miles east of Belleville, and in 1861, nine years later. he sold this and purchased the farm where he now resides, three-fourths of a mile east of Belleville, upon which, in 1872, he erected a modern and commodious residence, one of the finest in the town. From early
Theo. L. Haunho
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youth to the present time (1904) he has been engaged in farming, and for the last thirty-five years has added thereto the occupation of seed growing for the seed trade, principally beans and peas, which has proved a most successful and lucrative means of income. At the age of fifteen Mr. Williams joined the Baptist church at Belleville, and since then has been an active worker and financial supporter of the same, also taking a prominent part in its endowment. He has served in the capacity of trustee of Union Academy, Belleville, taking a leading part in estab- lishing the endowment fund, and also purchased the grounds and devel- oped the park as a gift to the institution. He has been a Republican in politics since the organization of the party, but has never sought or held public office.
Mr. Williams was twice married. His first wife, Cordelia (Swan) Williams, whom he married March 9, 1853, died June 27, 1871. On March 23, 1873, he married Marion Ette Swan, a sister of the first wife. Both were daughters of Dewey and Polly (Rounds) Swan, of Belleville, New York, and both were educated at Union Academy. Dewey Swan, born in 1805. was a son of Joseph and Mary (Barber) Swan, and his wife Polly was a daughter of Jabez Rounds; they were the parents of four sons and three daughters. (See Swan.) Mr. Williams's first wife bore him one son, Frank Martin, born October 5, 1862. He was educated at Union AAcademy and Amherst College, follows the occupation of seed growing, and resides at Belleville. He married Mary E. Edwards, and they are the parents of two sons, Fred- erick E. and Roger Williams.
THEODORE L. HUNT. Few citizens of Watertown are better known or more widely respected than is Theodore Lansing Hunt. Sprung from old New England stock, he is a representative of a family which from an early period took a prominent part in the upbuilding of Connecticut and during the colonial era furnished to the government some of its ablest officials.
(I) The first ancestor whose name appears of record was John Hunt, a pioneer of Connecticut. His wife Mary was a daugliter of John Webster and his wife Agnes. John Webster was the fifth governor of Connecticut, chosen in 1656. His last days were spent in Hadley, Mas- sachusetts, where he died April 5, 1661.
(II) Jonathan Hunt, son of John and Mary ( Webster ) Hunt, was born in 1637, in Connecticut, whence he removed in 1660 to Northamp-
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ton, Massachusetts, being one of the original proprietors of that town. He was a malster by occupation, was made freeman in 1662, and was deacen of the church from 1680 to 1691. He was representative to the general court in 1690, and died September 29, 1691, aged fifty-four years. Jonathan Hunt was a man who wielded authority with wisdom and benevolence, seeking the public good by honorable means. His influence was as much the result of character as of ability and high station.
(III) Ebenezer Hunt, son of Jonathan, was born February 6. 1675, and died February 23, 1743. He was the father of (IV) Simeon, who was born November 3. 1713. and died November 3. 1795, at the age of eighty-two. His third wife was Submit Troup. His son (V) Gad. was born January 16, 1749, in Coventry, Connecticut, and died May 26, 1806. He married Elizabeth Woodward in 1769.
(VI) Elijah Hunt, son of Gad, was born September 20. 1782, in Coventry, Connecticut. He was one of the best known farmers and citi- zens of that region. Successful as an agriculturist and respected as a man, the future seemed full of promise for him, but his career was des- tined to be a short one. His death occurred at the early age of twenty- five and shortly after his widow died in giving birth to a son.
(VII) Horace Stoughton Hunt, only child of Elijah Hunt, was born March 13, 1808, in Coventry, Connecticut. An orphan from his birth, he was brought up in the home of Mrs. Stoughton, in Coventry, receiving his education in the common schools. He learned the clothier's trade and in 1830 came to Watertown, where he engaged in business. After a time he removed to Rodman, where he continued to ply his trade with success, and later went to Postville, Iowa. He subsequently re- turned to Watertown, where he remained a few years, and then went to St. Paul, Minnesota. He married in 1832 Harriet L. Bailey, of Sanger- field. Oneida county. They were the parents of a large family, of whom the following are living : Horace H., who resides in Costa Rica : Clarissa Goodwin, of Chicago: Emmanuel L., who married Jessie J. Hazel, and resides in Pamelia : Theodore L., mentioned at length hereinafter : Julia D., who became the wife of George Pierce and lives in Meona, Iowa : and Martha, who married Gaylord W. Hall of Antwerp, New York. Mrs. Hunt, who was a member of the Congregational church, died at the early age of thirty-nine, when her son Theodore L. was but nine years old. Mr. Hunt subsequently married Esther Van Hooser. His death took place in November. 1896, at St. Paul. Minnesota, when he
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had reached the venerable age of nearly ninety years. His career was a more than ordinarily eventful one, but amid all its changes of environ- ment, he preserved the character of an able and useful citizen.
(VIII) Theodore Lansing Hunt, son of Horace S. and Harriet L. (Bailey) Hunt, was born March 27, 1847, in Rodman. Before he had attained his majority he had served a term of three years in the United States army. He was early accustomed to independent effort, and received a meager education, as far as text books go, in the country schools of his native town. Though he spent little time in school, he has been many years in the great university of observation and deduction, and by intelligent reading has become a well informed man. Before he was eighteen years old he became a recruit in Company D. Second Bat- talion, Eleventh United States Infantry, then stationed at Boston. After spending some time in recruiting service in Watertown, he was with the conquering force that entered Richmond, Virginia, upon its evacua- tion by the Confederates in April, 1865. About a year was spent in garrison and patrol duty at that point, and some eleven months in similar service in Texas, the closing days of his term being passed in Louisiana. He was honorably discharged at Shreveport. in that state, March IO, 1867. The experiences of this era in his life have always been of value to him. as he began the life of peace with broad views and has continued to progress with the lapse of time.
Since leaving the army Mr. Hunt lias resided in Watertown. Be- fore he enlisted he worked some with carpenter's tools and continued in that line during his military service. He continued jobbing and contract- ing in Watertown and the surrounding country until 1876, when he was appointed to his present position as superintendent of the school build- ings of the city. With the growth of the city his responsibilities have in- creased, and he now requires several assistants at times in caring for the thirteen school buildings of Watertown. He has never flinched from any duty or responsibility in any relation of life, and his long tenure in his present position is evidence of his ability and fidelity. He is active in moral and intellectual movements, and fulfills the part of a good citizen.
Mr. Hunt is an active, useful and valued member of Watertown City Lodge No. 291, Independent Order of Odd Fellows : of Montezuma Encampment No. 27. of the same order, in which he has filled all the prin- cipal chairs: and of the highest branch of the fraternity. Canton Ridge- ley No. 14. Patriarchs Militant. He affiliates with the Independent Order of Foresters, and Joe. Spratt Post No. 323. Grand Army of the Republic.
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He is an exempt fireman, and a director of the Volunteer Exempt Fire Department. While a strictly moral man, in sympathy with every benev- olent and moral movement, he is not a member of any religious body. In politics lie is an ardent Republican.
He was inafried, February 8, 1869, to Miss Gertrude L. Loftus, who was born March 17, 1846. in County Galway. Ireland, a daughter of Peter and Margaret Loftus. The father died in Ireland, and the mother came to America with her children and died in Watertown. Brief account of the children of Theodore L. and Gertrude L. Hunt follows: Harriet Mary is the wife of Edward Gaubrue, of Watertown. Lillian E., Mrs. Will Warren, resides in Utica. Margaret E. is in Belleville, Canada, the wife of Clark C. Gerow. Florence K. is a teacher, and Gertrude C. is a stenographer in Watertown Theodore L. is now a student at Pratt In- stitute, Brooklyn.
CHARLES ETHAN BUTTS. A list of the enterprising manu- facturers of Jefferson county would be incomplete without the name of Charles Ethan Butts, of Watertown. He is a grandson of Laird Butts, who was born in Port Hope. Canada, and came with his family to Jefferson county.
Jared Butts, son of Laird Butts, was born June 22, 1828, at Port Hope, Canada, where he obtained his education, and then came to Le Ray, where he was for a time engaged in farming. For some years he worked as a cabinetmaker in Hounsfield, and later returned to the pursuit of agriculture, for ten years leading the life of a farmer in Lorraine township. He married Elizabeth, who was born in 1845, in Plattsburg, daughter of Jeremiah and Maria (Penny) Carpenter. The former, who was of French descent, owned and operated a sawmill in Plattsburg, and was an accomplished violin player. The other chil- dren born to him and his wife were: Jenny, deceased; John, who is a dairyman; James, who is a resident of Lorraine; Maria, deceased ; Frank, who lives in Saginaw, Michigan: Catharine, who is the wife of Frank Brennan, of Canada; and Abraham, deceased. The death of Mr. Carpenter occurred in Lorraine, when he had reached the advanced age of eighty-six years. His wife died aged over eighty-five.
Mr. and Mrs. Butts were the parents of four children: Emma, who married Benjamin Van Brocklin, of Adams; Frank, who lives in Watertown; Mary, who is the wife of George Van Nornam, of Adams Center; and Charles Ethan, mentioned at length hereinafter. The par-
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ents of these children were active and respected members of the Protest- ยท ant Episcopal church. Mr. Butts died February 21, 1901, at the age of seventy-three, and his widow died at the home of her daughter, in Adams, April 27, 1904, aged sixty-nine years.
Charles Ethan Butts, son of Jared and Elizabeth (Carpenter) Butts, was born September 20, 1871, in Lorraine, and was educated in Worth. At the age of sixteen he came to Watertown, where for a number of years he was employed on a farm. Later he entered the service of the H. C. Dexter Chair Company, at Black River, remaining with them seven years. He then became connected with the Water- town Paper Company, gradually advancing, by dint of industry and merit, from the position of a helper to that of superintendent of the mill. He has held this position since April, 1899, and has in every possible manner demonstrated his fitness for the post. He is a promi- nent member of the Masonic fraternity, affiliating with Bethany Lodge No. 821, of Black River. In politics he is an earnest Prohibitionist. He and his family attend the State Street Methodist Episcopal church.
Mr. Butts married, in 1896, Lulu Lowe, and they are the parents of two children: Ralph, who was born August 5, 1897, and Ray- mond, who was born August 7, 1903.
Mrs. Butts was born November 13, 1873, at Pillar Point, a dargli- ter of George and Fanny Lowe. The former was among the early set- tlers of Pillar Point, where he owns and cultivates a fine farm. He and his wife were the parents of two children: Lulu, who became the wife of Charles Ethan Butts, as mentioned above; and Nettie, who mar- ried Professor A. C. Lewis, principal of a school at Chaumont.
MICHAEL GILTINAN. Few residents of Brownville are more highly respected or more deservedly held in esteem as a good citizen than is Michael Giltinan. On both sides he comes of worthy Irish an- cestry.
Daniel Giltinan, his father, was born October 26, 1790, in the par- ish of Glenn, county of Limerick, Ireland, one of a family of eight chil- dren, all of whom remained in Ireland. He himself led the life of a farmer in his native county. He married Mary, a native of the same county, daughter of James and Bridget (Moran) Haley. The former was a very successful farmer and market gardener. He died when his daughter Mary, who was an only child, was very young, and Mrs. Haley subsequently married James Lynch, of the same county. Mr. and Mrs.
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Giltinan were the parents of the following children, all of whom were born in Ireland: 1. James Haley, who married Bridget Sheehy, and spent his life in his native land. 2. Jeremiah, who married Johannah McCarthy, and in 1850 came to Brownville, where he died in 1899, leav- ing four children. Mary, the eldest of these, is the widow of John Far- rell, of Albany ; Anna married James Kenny, of Watertown, and is now a widow with one daughter, Mary, who was born in Watertown; Eliza- beth married Andrew Seegrist, of Watertown, a very successful farm- er and dairyman: Richard went west, and is now supposed to be de- ceased 3. Bridget lived and died in Ireland, where she married Wil- liam Lavery. 4. Johannah married James Neville. 5. Daniel came to the United States and went to Illinois, where he died in 1860, and is buried at Alton. 6. Michael. mentioned at length hereinafter. 7. John died in Ireland when very young. The death of Daniel Giltinan, the father of this family, occurred in his native county in 1849; he sur- vived his wife one year, and both are buried in Raccail.
Michael Giltinan, son of Daniel and Mary ( Haley ) Giltinan, was born September 30, 1830, in the county of Limerick. Ireland, where he passed his youth in assisting his father in the labors of the farm. In 1850 lie emigrated to the United States and settled on a farm near Syracuse. In 1852 he came to Brownville, and in the autumn of that year went west. The time is fixed in his remembrance by his memory of the elec- tion of Franklin Pierce to the presidency of the United States, which occurred in the autumn of 1852. Mr. Giltinan went first to Chicago, then to Rock Island, and from there to St. Paul, where he obtained a posi- tion as captain of a vessel used for transporting produce down the Mis- sissippi river to Memphis. The following spring he went to Davenport, Iowa, and later returned to his old occupation of sailing a boat on the Mississippi, but afterward, desiring a change, left the boat at St. Louis and went to Montgomery county, Illinois, where he obtained work in constructing railroads. He then sent for his brother Daniel. who also obtained employment on the railroad and subsequently became a bridge builder. Before returning to Jefferson county Mr. Giltinan had the thrilling experience of passing through the worst cyclone the west , had ever seen, when the town of Comanche, Iowa, was destroyed in 1867.
Mr. Giltinan settled in Brownville, where for many years he led the life of a prosperous farmer, but has now retired from active labor. Ilis sterling worth of character and genial nature have won for him
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a host of friends. He and his family are all members if the Immaculate Conception church (Roman Catholic) of Brownville, to the support of which Mr. Giltinan has always liberally contributed.
Mr. Giltinan married, in 1869, Mary Crawford, and two children were born to them: Katharine, who was born in 1870, and died in 1882. at the age of twelve years ; and Mary, who was born in 1873, educated in the common schools, graduated in 1889, and is now a clerk in the store of A. Bushnell & Company, of Watertown.
Mrs. Giltinan is a daughter of John and Katharine ( McMahon) Crawford, of county Limerick, Ireland. They were the parents of three daughters all of whom were born in Ireland. I. Ellen, who married George Gregory, of Watertown, and has four children, Mary Ann, Ellen, Christopher and Catherine. 2. Ann, who married Patrick Mead, of Brownville, and has two children. The second, Catherine, was born in July, . 1865, and became the wife of Miles Robertson, a native of Scotland, who was a stonecutter, and was killed while in the service of Milo Cleveland, the well-known bridge contractor. His widow now resides with her father in Brownville. The eldest child of Mr. and Mrs. Mead is William, who was born January 1, 1863, in Brownville, where he was educated in the common schools. He married Lottie Tay- lor, of Black River, and they had two children: Flora, who was born February 5, 1885; and Charles, who now resides with his grandmother. his mother having died in 1891. 3. Mary, who was born September 12. 1837, and became the wife of Michael Giltinan, as mentioned above.
JOHN WALTER McCULLOCH, general superintendent of the Brownville Paper Company, at Brownville, New York, was born June 14, 1858, in Clarksville, Albany county, New York. His paternal grand- father, Walter McCulloch, was born in Albany county in 1795, of Scotch descent, followed farming throughout his entire business career, and died at the age of eighty-six years. He married Sarah Horton, who was born in 1800 and died in 18 -. In their family were eight chil- dren, but only two are now living, William and Peter.
Peter McCulloch was born in Clarksville, New York, May 10, 1838. and spent the days of his boyhood and youth in Albany county. After acquiring his education in the public schools, he was connected with farming there until his removal to Stillwater, Saratoga county, New York, where he was employed as a millwright for a number of years. He afterward retired and returned to the old homestead, upon which
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he now resides. . He married Polly Van Wie, who was born in Albany county, New York. in 1840, a daughter of Peter Van Wie, who was born in 1800, and was a representative of an old and highly respected Dutch family of Albany county. He became a prominent and influen- tial farmer. He removed to Saratoga county, and afterward to Bemis Heights, New York, where he was engaged in merchandising for a number of years. Subsequently he took up his abode in Washington county, New York, and finally returned to Stillwater, Saratoga county, where he purchased a large farm, conducting it until his retirement from active business cares. He was supervisor of that town for a number of years, and took a prominent part in all matters pertaining to public progress and improvement. He died at the age of eighty years, while his wife, who bore the maiden name of Maria Flansburg, and was born in Clarksville, Albany county, in 1805, survived him and died at the age of eighty-two years. She belonged to the Dutch Re- formed church, and was a member of an old and influential family of her native county. In her family were four children. To Mr. and Mrs. Peter McCulloch were born two children, the daughter being Augusta, now the wife of Everett A. Little, of Boston, Massachusetts. Mrs. McCulloch died in 1862 at the age of twenty-two years, when her son John was but four years of age. The father afterward married Lucretia Kipp, who died in 1899. She was a member of the Baptist church, and by that marriage there were two children, Belle and Alida.
John W. McCulloch, following the removal of the family to Me- chanicsville, Saratoga county, New York, pursued his education in an academy at that place. Throughout his business career he has been identified with the paper industry. On putting aside his text books, at the age of seventeen years, he entered the employ of Howland & Sons, paper manufacturers of Mechanicsville, and during his five years' con- nection with that house he became thoroughly familiar with the business in every principle and detail. He left Howland & Sons. in order to accept a better position as superintendent of the machinery department of the paper mills owned by D. A. Bullard & Sons, at Schuylerville, New York. Subsequently a more advantageous position was offered him by the Ontario Paper Company of Brownville, and when a year and a half had passed in that connection he accepted a still better offer from the St. Lawrence Paper Company of Dexter, New York. In 1893 he was offered and accepted the position of general superintendent off the extensive plant of the Brownville Paper Company at Brownville,
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where he has since remained. In the mill employment is furnished to sixty operatives, and all kinds of colored paper are manufactured. Because of his practical and comprehensive understanding of the busi- ness in all of its departments, Mr. McCulloch is a well qualified man for the responsible duties which now devolve upon him.
His political allegiance is given to the Democracy, and he has been influential in local political circles. He served as president of the village of Brownville from 1894 until 1898, and in 1901 was super- visor of his town. His personal popularity and the confidence reposed in him by the public is indicated by the fact that he is the only Democrat that has been elected in Brownville in a quarter of a century. He has several times been a delegate to conventions of his party. He belongs to Brownville Lodge No. 53, F. and A. M., and was formerly senior warden of a Masonic lodge in Schuylerville. His religious faith is indi- cated by his attendance at and support of the Presbyterian church.
Mr. McCulloch has been twice married. He first wedded (June 5, 1880) Nettie Ford, of Stillwater, New York, a daughter of George W. Ford, who is a millwright and a resident of Stillwater. He had two children, Mrs. McCulloch, and Laura, the wife of Albert Bratt, of Stillwater. Mr. and Mrs. McCulloch were the parents of two children, but both have passed away, and the wife and mother died in 1886, aged about twenty-one years. In December, 1890, Mr. McCulloch wedded Sadie M. Johnson, who was born at Perch River, a daughter of John and Sarah ( McConnell) Johnson. Mr. Johnson was formerly proprietor of a hotel in Brownville, and is now deceased. Mrs. McCul- loch died in 1898, at the age of thirty-two years, leaving a daughter, Margaret McCulloch, born March 6, 1892.
CONSTANTINE GANTER, a real estate dealer of Watertown, New York, was born in Tutlingen, Wittenberg. Germany, May 17, 1847, and represents an old family of that country.
Christian Ganter, grandfather of Constantine Ganter, was born in 1785 in Wittenberg, and there spent his entire life, passing away at the age of seventy years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Mary Merz, was born in Wittenberg in 1790, and she also reached the Psalmist's span of three score years and ten. They were the parents of three children, all of whom died in Germany.
Lukas Ganter, father of Constantine Ganter, was born in Witten- berg in 1817, and was there reared and educated. He became a promi-
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nent agriculturist of his locality, and this occupation he followed up to the time when he was killed by an accident, in the thirty-eighth year of his age. By his marriage to Katharine Honer, six children were born. five of whom are living at the present time ( 1904), namely : Constantine, mentioned hereinafter; Kate, the wife of Fred Pohl, of Evans Mills, who lost her only child, Mary, at the age of twenty-one years ; Anthony, a resident of Pamelia, who is the father of five chil- dren-four daughters and a son ; Rupert, who resides in Germany; and Elizabeth, the wife of Anton Merz, of Wittenberg, Germany. Chris- tina, the eldest child of this family, died in Pamelia; she was the wife of Frank Miller, and two sons and two daughters survive her. Kath- arine ( Honer) Ganter was born in Wittenberg in 1820, a daughter of Joseph and Mary (Wenzler ) Honer. Joseph Honer was a millwright by trade, and in 1852 he came to the United States with his family and located in Lafargeville, New York, where he led a retired life. Mr. Honer and his wife were the parents of eight children, all of whom have passed away : both he and his wife died at the age of eighty years.
Constantine Ganter spent his early boyhood days in the Father- land, and he is indebted to the public school system of that country for the educational privileges he enjoyed. After completing his studies he served an apprenticeship at the trade of wagon-making in his native country. In 1867, at the age of about twenty years, he came to Amer- ica, being anxious to benefit his financial condition by the utilization of the better business opportunities of the new world. He first worked for farmers in the vicinity of Lafargeville, and later he leased a farm in Pamelia consisting of two hundred acres, upon which he resided until 1880, when he bought the same, continuing its cultivation for a number of years. He afterward became the owner of two hundred and twenty-five acres on another tract, on which he erected good build- ings-the barn alone costing four thousand dollars. He continued its cultivation until 1903, when he placed his farm in the care of his son and took up his abode in Watertown, where he is now dealing in city real estate. Previous to this time, however, he began operating in property here, having in 1898 purchased a number of houses and lots, also several business blocks, and at the present time he has on his rent roll fifty-four different families. He is associated in business with Silas Ball, under the firm style of Ball & Ganter, and they are among the most extensive real estate operators in the county. Mr. Ganter is a man of keen business discernment, making judicious investments and
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