USA > New York > Jefferson County > Genealogical and family history of the county of Jefferson, New York, Volume I > Part 47
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66
1 grafton
+59
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY.
appointed by Governor Flower a member of the state board of health, and has been connected with the Flower family in a professional capacity for nineteen years. He was for seven years on the board of the Orphans' Home, and served as a member of the staff of the Henry Keep Home for thirteen years. He is still acting in that capacity and he is also a member of the State Homeopathic Medical Society. For three years he was a member of the city board of health, preceding a similar service on the state board. In addition to his profession he has valuable realty interests in Watertown, including a fine block four stories high and a sixty-foot front on Court street, which was erected by his father. This contains four store rooms. He is also the owner of a number of offices on Jackman street.
Dr. Adams is prominent in Masonic circles, belonging to Water- town Lodge, No. 49, F. and A. M .; Watertown Chapter, No. 59, R. A. M .: and Watertown Commandery, No. 1I, K. T. He is also identified with Media Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He and his family are members of the First Presbyterian church. He served for seven years as organist in the Methodist church, possessing the musical taste and talent for which his father and mother were noted.
Dr. Adams was married in 1890 to Miss Chrilla M. Doolittle, who was born in Russell, St. Lawrence county, New York. Her father, Oswald Brody Doolittle, was also a native of that place, and was a land agent for the Brody estate. For many years he resided in Russell, where his last days were spent. Dr. Adams and his wife have one daughter, Alice Doolittle. He erected their present fine home on Massey avenue in 1901, it being one of the most beautiful residences in that section of the city.
JOHN GILBERT GRAFTON, M. D., noted as a surgeon, lec- turer and scholar, was born December 3, 1811, in London, England, of distinguished ancestry, but spent most of his life in Canada and the United States. His father was among the youngest graduates of Ox- ford, being the best Greek scholar of his class, and was offered the chair of Greek in that famous university.
The son was also a graduate of Oxford, where he took many honors and prizes for scholarship, even including the theological prizes. He completed the course at the extraordinarily early age of twenty-one years, and his health became impaired by his exceeding industry in the pursuit of knowledge. Hoping to receive benefit by a change of
460
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY.
climate, he went to Quebec and established himself as a physician and surgeon, having prepared himself for that profession. Just as he was making a reputation and becoming firmly established, he lost every- thing he had in a fire, and was forced to begin the world anew. Coming to this state, he located at Brownville, this county, and soon began to build up a valuable practice. At this time he suffered a severe hemor- rhage of the lungs. and was forced to give up his profession for a time. Going to the far west, he camped on the plains and hunted and ex- plored, for the benefit of outdoor life. His next location was at Janes- ville, Wisconsin, where he remained two years. Returning to Brown- ville, about 1856, he rapidly grew into a large practice. At this time Dr. Gilbert Parker, the leading physician of New York city, offered him large inducements to locate there, but he preferred to be independ- ent. After remaining seven years at Brownville he moved to Water- town, which city continued to be his home during the balance of his life. His time was almost wholly given to surgery, which called him much throughout this and other states, also receiving patients at his home from many distant states.
Records at Washington, D. C., show that Dr. Grafton performed successfully upon Mrs. George Yost, of Theresa, a major operation for hysterectomy twenty-five years before it was done by any other surgeon of his time. He designed all the instruments for this operation and superintended their preparation. These designs have since been adopted and used as standard. Many who condemned his methods at first were afterward glad to secure his aid in caring for patients, and though he was the object of much jealous malignment, he never bore any malice toward others. He had a great aptitude for surgery, and was often called long distances to perform the most difficult operations.
Aside from the practice of his profession, Dr. Grafton was known in the lecture field, and in both lines of endeavor he conquered admira- tion and esteem, attested by many valuable tokens and memorials of silver, which are treasured by his family. He was a man of large charity, and careless of financial rewards. When he left Janesville, Wisconsin, after a practice of only two years, largely through the south and west, there were outstanding accounts on his books amounting to fifty thousand dollars. He was very industrious, enduring many hard- ships, and achieved success by his own originality. energy and skill. During his minority he enjoyed all the blessings commanded by wealth, but, through his misfortunes was sometimes in closely straitened cir-
461
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY.
cunstances, but endured its discomforts without complaint, and was . never so poor that he was not ready to divide with others. His skill was at the command of all, rich and poor, and many a case among the latter class was undertaken without any charge for his services. He seldom partook of a meal without reserving a portion for some unfor- tunate neighbor. He affiliated with the Masonic fraternity, and rose to the rank of Knight Templar in the order. In the autumn of 1879, he contracted a severe cold. and his poor, overwrought frame could no longer withstand the inroads of insidious disease. He died October 10, of consumption, at the age of sixty-five years. Only his determination, aided by a strong constitution, enabled him to survive the numerous hemorrhages he suffered, in the midst of a most rigorous life. His death was an irreparable loss to his profession and the community lost a good citizen, the poor a kind benefactor.
Dr. Grafton was married May, 1844, in London, to Mary Abbott, a native of that city, who is now living in Watertown, at the age of eighty-five years. Of her five children, only one is now living, namely, Kate, the wife of Silas L. George, of Watertown.
SILAS LEVI GEORGE, one of the best known citizens and busi- ness men of Watertown, is a leading jeweler of that city, and the second of the name among mercantile mmen of Jefferson county.
His father, Silas Levi George, was born in Lorraine, this county, a son of John and Phebe George, of English ancestry. About 1840 he located in the village of Theresa, and engaged in mercantile business, which he continued until his death, in 1862, at the age of forty-one years. His wife was Caroline Flower, daughter of Nathan Monroe Flower, and sister of the late Governor Flower, of New York (see Flower V. for ancestry). She died in 1888. Both Mr. George and his wife were active members of the Presbyterian church. They were the parents of three children. Jolin S., the eldest, is a real estate and mine owner, residing in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Nathan M. is a wealthy citizen of Danbury, Connecticut. Silas L. receives further mention in following paragraphs.
Silas L. George, Jr., was born September 8, 1852, in Theresa, and attended the public schools there until he was fourteen years of age. He then came to Watertown and spent nearly a year as clerk in the dry goods house of Hoffman & Weinberg. On leaving this employment, he became an apprentice in the jewelry establishment of R. P. & A. R. Flower,
462
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY.
where he continued as an employe until 1878, when he purchased the establishment and has since conducted it with gratifying success. He is identified with other interests, both of business and social nature, that pertain to the life of his city. About 1889 he became a stockholder in the Watertown Gas Company, and has been its secretary and treasurer since 1806. Hc is also a director of the Chamber of Commerce and trustee of the Watertown Savings Bank. He was for nine years a mem- ber of the volunteer fire department, being chief during the last two years. For twenty years he has been secretary of the board of trustees of the Henry Keep Home. He is a member of Trinity church, of the Union Club, the Royal Arcanum and of Corona Lodge No. 705, Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows.
Mr. George was married October 31, 1878, to Kate, daughter of the late Dr. John G. Grafton (see Grafton). Two sons have been given to this union. Roswell Silas, the elder, is a graduate of Cornell Law School. and is now a resident of New York, engaged in the brokerage and banking office of Flower & Company. John Gilbert, the younger, is a student in the mining and engineering department of Vale Univer- sity, in the class of 1906.
GEORGE BACON KIMBALL, who throughout his entire life has been identified with agricultural pursuits in the town of Pamelia. Jef- ferson county, was born March 12. 1845, on the farm which is still his home.
The family is of Scotch-English descent, and has been represented in this county for nearly a century. His grandfather, William S. Kim- ball, who was born in Chester, Vermont, in 1785, came to New York with an ox-team, locating first in Brownville, where he purchased sev- enty-five acres of land and some years afterward removed to Brown- ville and purchased a farm, on which he made his home during the greater part of his life. He died, however, at the home of one of his (laughters, at the very advanced age of ninety-seven years. He married Lucy Bryant, who was born in Vermont in 1787. a daughter of John Bryant, and died at the age of eighty-three years. They had a family of ten children : Lucy, Mary, Orinda, William, John, Amos, Horace, Emily, Louisa, and George H. The last mentioned, the youngest of the family, is the only one now living. and is still hale and hearty, at the age of eighty-six years. He was educated in the common schools of his rative town. and for twenty years followed shoe-making in Dexter
463
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY.
and Brownville. He married Alvira Baker, and they had five children. but Fanny is the only one now living, and with her George H. Kimball makes his home. She married William Knox and has three children, Rue, William and Florence, aged respectively fourteen and twelve years, and four months.
William Kimball, father of George B. Kimball, was born in Chester, Windsor county. Vermont. July 16, 1805. He spent the days of his boyhood and youth in his native place, and acquired his education in the common schools. At an early age he learned the stonemason's trade at which he worked for a number of years, and then turned his attention to farming. He came to this locality before he was of age and worked on the Oswego canal locks. He returned to Vermont, and induced his parents to accompany him to this county, arriving in Watertown in February, 1823. He began clearing land preparatory to placing it under the plow and for many years was actively engaged in agricultural pur- suits whereby he attained prosperity. When he first located in Pamelia township he had but a small farm, on which he built a log house and log barn, but when he had cleared the original eighteen acres, he added to his place and from time to time made additional purchases until he was the owner of three hundred and twenty-five acres of valuable land, on which he erected fine, modern buildings, and placed all the accessories and conveniences of a model farm. He was a very successful farmer and was a man of most indefatigable energy and industry. Throughout his entire life he cut all of his own wood, although he lived to the advanced age of ninety-one years. He was a man of very rugged con- stitution, strong and robust, was six feet four inches in height, and weighed two hundred and twenty-five pounds. He had no aspiration for public office or political honors, but upheld Democratic principles and once served as constable. He married Almeda Bacon, who was born in Brownville. New York, March 18, 1806. Her father, Moses Bacon, a millwright by trade, was one of the first settlers of the county and resided on a farm in the village of Watertown that includes the site of the public square of that city. His only son was killed by the falling of a tree that stood where the American House is now seen. Moses Bacon was killed in a mill at Chaumont. Mrs. Kimball was one of his four children and her death occurred March 18. 1845. She held membership in the Universalist church. To William and Almeda Kimball were born eight children, of whom four are now living : Lucy, who is the widow of Charles Law- rence and resides in Watertown. New York : Laura, the wife of Brayton
464
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY.
Brown, of Watertown ; Elvira E., who is living with her brother George B., who is the youngest of the family. His twin sister, Mira E., became the wife of George Shaw and died in Oberlin, Kansas, in 1902.
George B. Kimball spent his early years on the home farm, attended the common schools, and when not engaged with the duties of the school room assisted his father in the labors of field and meadow, so that he soon gained a practical knowledge of farming methods. After attain- ing his majority he assumed the management of the home farm, and has since been in control of the property, which he now owns, and which is very valuable, the well-tilled fields returning to him an excellent income in return for progressive methods and careful and systematic cultivation. In duties of citizenship he is not remiss, and his political support is given to the Democracy. He was a charter member of the Watertown Grange.
Mr. Kimball was married to Miss Maria Obrey, who was born near Depauville, New York, and died January 24, 1871, at the age of twenty-four years. In 1872 Mr. Kimball wedded Alice L. Gale, who was born in the same house in which her husband's birth oc- curred. Her father, Elijah Gale, was a native of Brownville, was a farmer by occupation, and died in his native town in 1851. His widow is still living at the age of seventy-four years. In their family were six children, of whom three are yet living: Simon, a resident of Rochester, New York; Robert Gale, of Watertown, and George, who is living on the old homestead.
Mr. Kimball has two children: Lois L., married Frank C. Wood- ward, resides on a farm near the old homestead, and they have one child, George H. Lottie M. is the wife of Earl Woodward, and they have one son, Paul K. Mr. Kimball also lost one child. Vera, who died at the age of seventeen years.
ALBERT G. SNELL, a well-known resident of Clayton Center, Jefferson county, New York, and a veteran of the civil war, is a farmer and the owner of the largest apiary in that section. His farming opera- tions are not on a large scale, but are conducted with a view to the highest adaptability of the soil, and in accordance with the most approved meth- ods. He finds in his bees an unfailing source of interest and pleasure as well as a substantial means of income.
Leonard Snell, father of Albert G., was born in Manheim, Herkimer county, New York, October 9, 1817. He grew up there and learned the trade of tailor. He worked at lis trade for a time in Manheim, and later
465
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY.
went to Iowa. Returning to Jefferson county, he worked on a farm in Orleans for a year, when he rented a farm in Clayton, where he stayed ten years. At the end of this time he bought the farm of one hundred and fifty acres that has since been his home. His wife was Eliza Spoon- enburg, born in Herkimer. New York, who was one of a family of seven children. She died at the age of seventy-five, and of her six children, but four are now living, as follows: Marietta, who married Alec Suell, of Herkimer county; Albert G., who receives special mention later in this narrative: Jane, who married Herbert Fox, of Watertown, New York: Ella, who married David Bretch, of Alexandria Center, New York.
Albert G., first son and second child of Leonard and Eliza ( Spoon- enburg) Snell, was born in Manheim, Herkimer county, New York, April 13, 1845. His early years were spent on his father's farm and in attendance in the common school. In September. 1864, he enlisted with the Union forces, serving in Company H. One Hundred and Eighty-sixth Regiment New York Volunteers; attached to the Second Brigade, Second Division, Ninth Army Corps. The regiment was commanded by Colonel Bradley Winslow, a native of Watertown (see sketch elsewhere), who had made a record of gallant service earlier in the war. This detachment was stationed in front of Petersburg, and bore an important part in. the siege of that Confederate stronghold. Colonel Winslow's regiment led the attack that captured Fort Malone, and took an active part in the capture of the Weldon railroad. The capitulation of Petersburg signalizing the fall of Richmond and the end of the war, Mr. Snell was discharged after nine months' service. He returned to his father's farm, where he worked until his twenty- seventh year, and for the seven years following he occupied the fain of M. W. Wright. At the end of that time he bought the farm of seventy acres which he now owns. He carried on general farm work until 1880, when he made a beginning in bee culture. The venture proved successful, and he has extended the business until he now has two hundred hives, and is the largest producer of honey in that locality. Mr. Snell is a Republican, and has been active in county politics. He has been often a delegate to the county conventions, was town collector one year and is now ( 1904) serving his third term as assessor. He is a member of Grand Army Post, No. 410, of Clayton, a member of Clayton Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, and both he and his wife are earnest workers in the Congregational church. He has the esteem and confidence of the whole community.
30
466
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY.
He married. January 1, 1868, Eliza Wright, born in Herkimer county, a daughter of M. W. Wright. The father was born in Otsego county, and settled in Clayton Center in 1834, where he bought a large farm which he managed up to the time of his death at the age of seventy- five. His wife was Mary Smith, of Clayton, daughter of Amasa and Clarissa (Hubbard) Smith ; she died February 14. 1904, at the age of eighty-one years. Amasa Smith spent the whole of the seventy-nine years of his life in Clayton. His wife was one of a family of seven children, of whom only one besides herself is now living. Richard, of Michigan. M. W. Wright and his wife were the parents of five children, of whom Mrs. Snell is the oldest. Of the other members of the family, Sarah married Edward Walrath of Clayton; Walstein is a farmer in Michigan; Annie and Berri are living on the old homestead. The one child of Albert and Eliza (Wright) Snell, Mary B., born November 29. 1869, married Louis Schnauber, a farmer of the town, and is the mother of one child, Earl A.
IRA SYLVESTER, who is practically living a retired life upon his farm at Clayton, but who for many years was actively associated with farming interests in Jefferson county, was born in Pittsfield, Ver- mont. in 1826, and came to Jefferson county with his father in boyhood days.
Ira Sylvester, his ancestor, was born in Vermont in 1769, was reared and educated there, and for a number of years followed farming at Pittsfield. In 1833 he came with his family to Clayton, New York, making the journey with an ox-team and sleigh, in which he brought all of his household goods. He was accompanied by his wife and their six children, who traveled in a covered sleigh, and it required two weeks to make the journey.
Ira Sylvester. Sr., the father of Ira Sylvester, was born in Pitts- field, Vermont, in 1798, and in 1833 came to Jefferson county, New York, settling upon a farm near the present home of his son Ira, but on the opposite side of the road. He first purchased a small tract of land, which he cleared, placing it in cultivable condition. He built a log house, and with characteristic energy began the development and improvement of his place, to which he added as his financial resources increased until he was the owner of one hundred acres of good land. He continued to make his home thereon until his death, which occurred in 1874, when he was seventy-eight years of age. He married Lucy
467
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY.
Davis, who was born in 1796, and died in 1875, at the age of seventy- nine years. They were the parents of seven children, among whom were Delia, who is the widow of Hiram Dewey and now resides in Rochester, New York: Marilla. the wife of Orin Mason of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin ; Isaac, who married Carrie Flansburgh, and now resides in Cooperstown, Otsego county, New York, and Mary Lucy Adelaide, deceased.
Ira Sylvester accompanied his parents on their removal from Ver- mont to Jefferson county, and has since lived in Clayton. In his youth he assisted in the work of the fields. remaining at home until twenty-one years of age, when he went upon the lakes as a sailor. He sailed for five years, and then returned to Jefferson county. About this time he purchased a farm of eighty-seven acres not far from his father and upon the same road, and at once began to clear the tract and make it ready for the plow. As the years went by he continued the work of cultivation and improvement, and now owns two valuable farms of one hundred and eighty acres. His land is valuable, and his attention has been given to the cultivation of the cereals best adapted to the soil and climate, and also to the dairy business. For the latter purpose he now keeps twenty cows. His life has been busy and useful, and his con- tinuous effort in the line of agricultural pursuits has resulted in making him one of the substantial and prosperous citizens of his community.
Mr. Sylvester built his present residence in 1852, and in the same year he was married to Miss Achsa Dixon. Her grandfather, Robert Dixon, came to Jefferson county as a pioneer, located on a farm, and for some years continued in active connection with agricultural pursuits here. He then went west, locating at Grand Haven, Michigan, where he died at the age of seventy-four years. Her father, Hannibal Dixon, was reared in Orleans, New York, was an agriculturist, and spent his entire life upon a farm. He died at the comparatively early age of thirty years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Lois Greenleaf, was born in Ellisburg, New York, and was a daughter of Dr. Chris- topher Greenleaf, who was a practicing physician of Lafargeville, where he died. His wife, who in her maidenhood was Tabitha Dickinson, was also born in Ellisburg, and her death occurred in Geneva, New York. She reared a large family, but all are now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Hannibal Dixon were born five children, of whom three are living : Mrs. Alonzo Hurd, who now resides in Utica, New York; Mrs. Syl- vester; and Elwin, who resides in Lafargeville. The mother died at
46-
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY.
the age of seventy-nine years, having long survived her husband. Both were members of the Presbyterian church.
Mr. and Mrs. Sylvester became the parents of four children. Nettie, the oldest, is the wife of Fred H. Patterson, of Watertown, and they have two children, Ira and Georgiana. Charles occupies the old Syl- vester homestead, opposite his father's farm. He married Alice Bab- cock, and they have three children, Elwin, Fannie and Willie. George Elwin, the third member of the family, is a practicing physician at Black river. After attending the common schools of Clayton and the Adams Collegiate Institute of Adams, New York, he became a student of medicine in the office of Drs. H. G. P. and J. D. Spencer, of Water- town, while later he continued his preparation for the profession in the medical department of the University of Michigan and Bellevue Hos- pital Medical College. He was for a time assistant physician in the Outdoor Poor Department of Bellevue Hospital, and on resigning that position entered upon the private practice of medicine at Black River. He married Minnie E. Vincent, and has three children-Bula A., Nettie G., and W. Boyd. William Sylvester, who was a cheesemaker and made his home with his father, died in 1890, at the age of thirty-six years.
Ira Sylvester gave his early political support to the Democratic party, but has long been a stanch Republican. He takes an active inter- est in community affairs looking to the welfare of his town and county, is a member of the Grange, and has held the office of overseer for a number of years. He attends the Congregational church, and is a most highly respected citizen of his community.
CAPTAIN J. A. TAYLOR, a resident of Clayton, Jefferson county, New York, who valiantly fought and suffered while defending the honor of his country during the long and terrible period of the civil war, is a man of great public spirit, far-sighted and sagacious in his judgment, and a representative of the men of energy and enterprise who have been instrumental in transforming Murray Hill Park into the beautiful spot it is to-day. He was born in Gananoque, Ontario, Canada, October 3, 1824, a son of Benjamin and Sarah ( Rosbeck) Taylor.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.