USA > New York > Jefferson County > Genealogical and family history of the county of Jefferson, New York, Volume I > Part 50
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Christian Kennel, father of Mrs. Yousey, was a farmer in Wellesley Island. Christian and Lena (Albrecht) Kennel were the parents of six children: John, who lives in Nebraska; Barbara, wife of John Bost, and they reside in Wellesley; Susan, wife of Peter Yousey; Christian and Joseph, both of whom reside in Wellesley; Mattie, wife of John Leahman, and they reside in Wellesley.
FREDERICK LEWIS HALL, a successful business man of Carth- age, was born January 16, 1861, in the town of Lawrence, St. Lawrence county, New York, where his ancestors were among the pioneer settlers. His father, Theodore A. Hall, was born July 24, 1834. at Malone, and died at Gouverneur, June 7, 1903. His mother died at his birth, and his father, Thomas Hall, passed away when he was a child, and he was reared by his maternal grandfather, Oscar Ladd. The last named was a son of a sailor who commanded a privateer during the war of the Revo- lution, and was among the earliest to locate in northern New York, be- ing a native of Portland, Maine. Thomas Hall was a millwright, and his son inherited strongly the "Yankee" mechanical genius.
Theodore Hall grew up in the village of Fort Jackson, in the town of Hopkinton, St. Lawrence county, and enjoyed the educational advan- tages supplied by the common schools, at least during the winter months, for several years. He was early accustomed to labor in the starch factory and chair factory operated by his relatives. With his natural mechanical bent he became familiar with the operation of machinery and the use of tools, and developed into one of the most successful millwrights and builders in the state. In early life he made clock cases, and built up a good business by securing clock works from Connecticut factories and setting them up in cases for the trade. For many years he lived at Nor- wood, New York, where he built more than ninety houses. He was also engaged in Jefferson, St. Lawrence and Franklin counties, and in Can- adia, in the construction of some of the largest mills of the section. His last eighteen years were passed at Gouverneur. He is described as a man
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of extraordinary industry, ambition and endurance. In the prosecution of his millwright work he was often obliged to stand in cold water up to his waist, but by taking care of himself he avoided injurious results. It is related that on one occasion, having severely injured his hand on a circular saw, after lying by two days, he became impatient of delay in his work. and made a box to cover the injured member which fitted over the wrist, and continued his labors. His fatal illness extended over only ten days, and he reached the age of nearly sixty-nine years. With his wife, who survives him, he was affiliated with the Unitarian church, and was an independent Democrat in politics, having voted for Garfield, Har- rison and Mckinley for president. He was frequently a candidate on the labor ticket for local offices, but did not aspire to political honors. All his sons are staunch Republicans.
Mr. Hall was married in 1856 to Miss Mary M. West, a native of Malone, daughter of Robert M. and Agnes R. (Palmer) West, the last named a native of Bristol, Vermont. Robert M. West was a native of Delaware, and enlisted in the regular army, serving in the Seminole and Mexican wars. He was subsequently stationed at Fort Covington, New York, where he was discharged, and settled at Fort Jackson, St. Law- rence county, New York. He lived in Potsdam during the last twenty years of his life.
Frederick L. Hall grew up in Norwood, and attended the public schools of that village until he was seventeen years old. Having a taste for fine mechanical work, he entered a jewelry store there to learn the art of watch-making, and after a year at that place went to Potsdam, where he continued his studies with a jeweler, and was subsequently em- ployed in the same manner at Gouverneur. At the latter point he opened an establishment of his own in 1883. In 1888 he located in Carthage. where he has since continued, and has built up a very satisfactory busi- ness and made himself popular with the public. He has been active in civil affairs and in church work, and soon earned recognition as a pro- gressive and useful citizen. His first store was on the south side of State street, and he subsequently bought a brick store on the north side, which he occupied for a time and sold. During the last eight years he has been located in the Strickland Block. He is the owner of three brick stores on State street, and in 1903 erected on Upper State street a handsome resi- dence, which is an ornament to the town.
With a taste for music and much ability in its composition and ren- dition, it is natural that Mr. Hall should take a leading part in musical
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circles. While in Gouverneur he was leader and director of the choir in the Baptist church, and took much interest in the choir of the Method- ist church soon after his arrival here. This he reorganized, and his fine tenor voice was of much assistance in rendering the part of that body in devotional exercises. This talent has been made useful on numerous public occasions, and is appreciated by the people of the town. Beside carrying a jewelry stock of about six thousand dollars, his store is head- quarters for musical instruments and merchandise.
He is a member of the local Masonic lodge, and also of the lodge and encampment of the Odd Fellows, and has passed the chairs of the Odd Fellows' lodge. He was treasurer of the village one term, and for a period of five years served as president of the board of water commis- sioners. For four years he was a member of the Republican county com- mittee, and for a like period was chairman of the town committee. He is among the active members of the Methodist church. He was married in 1885, at Gouverneur, to Miss Emma Kitts, who bore him a son, Stan- ley Dean, now thirteen years of age.
Mr. Hall was married in October, 1902, to Miss Gertrude Horr, daughter of Charles A. and Jennry ( Van Pelt) Horr, natives of Carthage. The Horr family is among the oldest of Massachusetts, and the Van Pelt among the oldest Dutch families of New York.
PATRICK R. WRAPE, a prominent citizen of Carthage, New York, is one of the self-made citizens of that place. He was born July 2, 1845, in Toledo, Leeds county, Canada, and is a son of John and Bridget Wrape.
John Wrape was born in October, 1806, in county Mayo, Ireland, where his father lived and died. When about twenty-five years old he crossed the Atlantic and settled in Canada, where he met and married Bridget Wrape (no relative). Her parents, Michael and Catherine ( Hart ) Wrape, came from Ireland when she was three years old and settled in the wilderness, one and a half miles from the present village of Toledo. Leeds county, Ontario. Michael Wrape died there in 1867 at the age of eighty-four years, he still having a double set of sound teeth. His wife survived him two years and reached the age of eighty years. They had four sons and three daughters, all if whom settled in that neigh- borhood, and one son, John, is now living in Toledo, Ontario, aged over seventy years. John Wrape had a sister Barbara, who came to America
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and became the wife of Thomas Wrape (no relative), whom she sur- vived, and died in the town of Wilna, this county, in 1900.
John Wrape engaged in farming in Canada with success, retired in 1865, and moved to this state, dying in December, 1885, at Port Ley- den, Lewis county, New York, aged seventy-nine years. His wife sur- vives him, and now resides with her daughter in Utica. He was a con- servative in Canadian politics, and a Democrat after becoming a citizen of the United States. Both he and his wife were communicants of the Roman Catholic church. Nine of their ten children grew to maturity and are now living ; one died in infancy. The names of the surviving members of the family are as follows: James, who resides in Canada ; Patrick R., the subject of this sketch, the second in the family, born in Canada ; Michael and Jolin, the third and fourth, reside at Binghamton, New York ; Thomas is at Port Leyden ; Mary Ann is the wife of Timothy Dunn, residing in Utica : Katy is Mrs. Frederick Nebergall, of Lowville; Eliza married Dennis Monaghan, and resides at Boonville, and Bridget is the wife of Dennis Phelan, of Lowville.
Patrick R. Wrape grew up on the Canadian farm of his father, and was early accustomed to industry in the performance of his home duties. He had the advantage of excellent common schools, and was so fortunate as to have among his teachers some who had formerly acted in that capacity at Edinburgh College. Near the close of his seventeenth year he set out to make his own way in the world, and arrived in Carthage on May 5, 1863, and has since continued to reside there. He soon found employment in a brick yard, and with the exception of one year from 1865 to 1866 when he was a clerk in a general store, and a short time when he was engaged in farming, he has been continuously connected with the manufacture of brick. His industry and application soon made him warm friends, and he was advanced to responsible positions which lic filled with credit to himself and satisfaction to his employers. For five years he was foreman of Charles Rugg's yard at Carthage, and was for two years superintendent of a brick business at Theresa. From 1885 to 1890 he was superintendent of the Houghton yards at Carthage, and since the latter date has been proprietor of a yard here in partnership with Allen G. Peck. The firm of Wrape & Peck purchased fifteen acres of land in 1890 and immediately began the production of brick thereon. Since then they have constantly added to their holdings, and now ( 1904) own about one hundred and twenty acres, and in connection with their brick industry cultivate the land not required for brick making. The
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yard is located near West End avenue, and adjacent to the tracks of the Cartilage & Watertown Railroad. The product is always in demand, and the business lias been continually prosperous. Mr. Wrape has also been somewhat interested in lumber, but now gives his entire attention to the brick business, which he personally superintends, and its success is largely due to his practical knowledge gained through years of industrious atten- tion.
Mr. Wrape is among those who supported the Disciples' church while it was in existence here, and he now attends the Baptist church, in which his wife has long been a most active inember. She is now an in- valid, and has been obliged to give up her labors in that field. Mlr. Wrape is a member of the Improved Order of Red Men, the Royal Ar- canum, the Independent Order of Foresters, and the Tribe of Ben Hur, in all of which he has passed the principal chairs of the lodge, and has also been representative in various of their state bodies. He is an ardent Republican in political principle, and his ability and integrity have been recognized and utilized by his fellows. In 1899 and 1902 he was pres- ident of the village of Carthage, and is now ( 1903) serving his fourth term as supervisor of the town of Wilna. He is also president of the water board of the village of Carthage.
He was married September 18. 1866, to Miss Angelia Matthews, a native of Carthage, daughter of Pitt and Harriet Lucretia (Fowler) Matthews, of old American families. Five children complete the family of Mr. and Mrs. Wrape: I. Walter Norman, the eldest, superintendent of Bradstreet's office in Bay City, Michigan: he married Myra Cowan, daughter of Edward and Hannah Cowan. 2. Mary Angelia, married Robert Baxter, a prominent insurance man and justice of the peace of Mechanicsville, New York, and they are the parents of four children- Dorothy J., Jean A., Kenneth G. and Robert. 3. Harriet Lucretia, mar- ried Henry V. Gould, a printer, residing in Carthage, and they are the parents of two children-Walter F., and Marion. 4. Azelia Grace, mar- ried W. J. G. Potter, of Watertown, New York, who is engaged in the shoe business, and they are the parents of two children-Sterling W., and Hazel IIelen A. 5. K. Belle, who, April 27, 1904, was united in marriage with Mr. James L. Phillips, a civil engineer, formerly of Watertown, New York.
On December 25, Christmas day, 1903, eighteen persons, includ- ing children and grandchildren, sat down to the table with Mr. and Mrs. Patrick R. Wrape.
V. Pyrin
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PATRICK H. FLYNN. Among the influential and public- spirited citizens of Jefferson county, New York, who were reared amid only ordinary surroundings and were without the advantages of for- tuitous circumstances, none have demonstrated the problem of life more successfully or acquired a more important and prominent place in the sphere of business than Patrick H. Flynn, of Carthage, New York, familiarly known as H. P. Flynn. He was born in Middletown, Sus- quehanna county, Pennsylvania, April 14, 1839, the fourth in a family of ten children. His parents were descendants from the sturdy yeo- manry of Ireland, who upon arrival in this country devoted their ener- gies to the establishment of a home. This was eventually accomplished at the expense of infinite industry and economy, and their last years were passed in comparative ease and comfort.
Patrick H. Flynn inherited the parental characteristics, and he early determined upon carving out for himself a successful career. At the age of twelve years he left home to make his own way in the world, and when sixteen he was an apprentice in a tannery. The occupation proved con- genial, and was the means of determining his future course of life. Be- ing active, willing and ambitious, he made himself profitable to his em- ployer, and his quick perception and close application soon enabled him to acquire a technical knowledge which increased his usefulness. Aside from this he improved every opportunity to add to his fund of informa- tion, and to this end attended night school after the labors of the day were ended. His employer, Mr. Clark, seeing that he was capable of larger tasks and greater responsibilities, gave him charge of the sta- tionary engine in the tannery in Maine, Broome county, New York, and, in order to become more familiar with the duties committed to him, the young engineer purchased a number of books treating upon the care and management oi engines, and gave his spare time to their study, and these volumes he yet treasures as souvenirs of his early struggles. Mr. Flynn, now just come of age, accompanied his employer to Callicoon, Sul- livan county, as chief engineer in the Monroeville tannery, and served in that capacity until 1863, when the plant was destroyed by fire. He was now sent by Mr. Clark, while the shops were being rebuilt, to Middle- town, New York, where he remained about a year, overseeing the con- struction of the steam equipment-engine, boilers, etc. While thus en- gaged he made great advancement in his profession, having the advant- age of close association with Mr. John Mackey, an accomplished ma- chinist, who was in charge of the works, and who was so impressed with
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his capability that he made him flattering offers to take him into his own services. These proffers were firmly but gratefully declined by Mr. Flynn, who was bound to Mr. Clark by ties of friendship as well as con- siderations of loyalty, and similar reasons moved him to also decline the offer of a position as third assistant engineer in the United States navy. Having seen the completion of the machinery, he returned to the tannery at Callicoon, where he remained until 1865, when he entered a machine sinop in Binghamton, New York, where he was employed set- ting up boilers, repairing engines, etc., in various parts of the state. In the fall of the same year he went to Red Rock, at Great Bend, Penn- sylvania, where he took a position as general manager of a tannery, in which he continued until 1873.
In 1873 Mr. Clark located in Natural Bridge, Jefferson county, New York, to manage a tannery for Thomas E. Proctor, of Boston, Massa- chusetts, acting as his agent. Here Mr. Flynn served as superintendent until Mr. Clark resigned, whom he succeeded as agent, and he dis- charged the duties of this position with fidelity and ability until 1893, when the tannery passed under the control of the United States Leather Company, a corporation which had been formed with Mr. Proctor as its president. During this time Mr. Flynn had increased the output of the tannery so that in the last twenty years it had risen from twenty- four thousand to one hundred thousand sides of sole leather per annum. After being strongly urged by the new company he was finally induced to continue in his position as agent, but the incorporating of the new company added greatly to the cares and responsibilities of the position. During the years of his connection with Mr. Proctor it had been a part of his business to purchase the different tracts of woodland, the trees of which furnished the bark for the several northern New York tan- neries which Mr. Proctor then operated, his business at that time being very extensive. When this property was transferred to the United States I.eather Company, owing to Mr. Flynn's thorough knowledge he was called upon to estimate the value of the bark on the trees cover- ing about two hundred and fifty-thousand acres of land, and his figures were accepted without question and made the basis of the transaction. The constant strain and close attention to the details of this enormous business proved too great for his constitution, and September 1, 1897, after two attacks of nervous prostration, he was finally induced by his physician to resign. After traveling for a time and taking a much needed rest. Mr. Flynn moved in 1899 to Carthage, New York, where
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he has since maintained an office in the Strickland Block. Since the death of Mr. Proctor, in 1895, he has acted as agent for the estate, disposing of its lands to the extent of about fifty thousand acres, and transacting all other business in connection therewith. He has also dealt to some extent in real estate upon his own account, having bought and sold prop- etty in New York and Pennsylvania. His great ability as a man of affairs is further evidenced by the fact that he was chosen as one of the original directors of the Carthage National Bank, of the West End Pa- per Company. and of the Northwestern Telephone Company. For a time he served as water commissioner of the village of Carthage, but resigned on account of the demands of his personal affairs upon his time. He is a steadfast Republican in politics, and has exercised a potent in- fluence in the councils of his party. In his religious faith he is a Uni- versalist, and has always been an earnest and liberal supporter of the church of that sect at Natural Bridge, which his wife also attended. In all movements tending to the advancement of community interests and tite uplifting of mankind, he takes a deep and abiding interest, and af- fords his earnest support to all such purposes. In 1902 he purchased his beautiful home on State strcet, which he has made one of the principal ornaments of the residential portion of Carthage.
On September 24, 1868, Mr. Flynn celebrated the happiest event of his life in his marriage to Miss Hannah Squires, who was born in 1845, in Connecticut, but for many years was a resident of Great Bend, Pennsylvania. On October 24, 1869, a daughter, Lena Belle, was sent to gladden the household, and happiness reigned supreme. This con- tinued until April 3, 1876, when the dark winged messenger of death entered the household and bore away the devoted wife and mother, at the early age of thirty-one years. She was sincerely mourned by a large circle of friends and acquaintances, and the loss to her husband and daughter was irreparable. On September 28, 1878, as a result of scar- let fever, Lena Belle, the daughter, was called to join hier mother in that brighter world, and both are interred at Great Bend, Pennsylvania. The sadness of the severe blow to Mr. Flynn in the loss of his wife and daughter has never been dissipated, and, although a young man at this time, he never again married, but lias since devoted himself only to his business affairs, therein seeking after surcease from that bitter sorrow which has ever cast its gloom upon him.
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HENRY EUGENE SIMMONS, one of the active business men of Carthage, whose father served under two flags, was born June 29, 1858, at Natural Bridge, in the town of Wilna. His great-grandfather, James Simmons, lived at Milton, near London, England, and died there about 1833 at an advanced age.
James, son of James Simmons, married Ann Collins, a native of the same locality, and lived and died at Dorkin, two miles from Milton, in Surrey, England. He owned twenty-five acres of land there and, be- side farming, dealt in horses. Four of his five children grew to maturity, and all save one remained in England. The first, a daughter, died in infancy. The others were: Martin William, Arthur J., Henry, and Maria. The last was the wife of Benjamin Ball.
Arthur John Simmons, born May 5, 1829, at Dorkin, remained there until he was in his sixteenth year. At that time he enlisted in the British army and was sent from the Isle of Wight on the man-of-war "Belle Isle" to Canada, where he served nearly five years. For three years he was stationed at Quebec, and the last three months of his serv- ice were passed at Kingston, where he was discharged.
In 1849, as soon as he received his discharge from the army, he came to Watertown, in this county, and has been a citizen of the state ever since. He took employment, such as offered, chiefly on farms, spending nine months in Oswego county. In the spring of 1851 he rented a farm in the town of LeRay on which he continued three years, engaged in dairying, and subsequently spent a year in the same way in Philadelphia. He next located on land at Natural Bridge, and continued farming there several years.
In 1862 he enlisted as a soldier in defense of the Union in Company D, Tenth New York Heavy Artillery, and served three years. The regi- ment stayed about New York city for six months in preparing for active service, and was subsequently employed chiefly in the defenses about Washington, and through Maryland and Virginia. Mr. Simmons par- ticipated in the battles of Cold Harbor, Cedar Creek and the actions about Petersburg, the last being on April 2, 1865. In front of Petersburg he was stunned by a bullet which passed through his cap, grazing the head, though it drew no blood, and he was reported dead-causing much anxiety to his wife, who received the bad news before its contradiction could be forwarded. While he was absent in the army his wife was left with four small children to care for. Being proud, she was determined that she would receive no aid from the town, and went into the woods
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in the town of Croghan, where she peeled bark for tanning, and chopped wood. being aided by her eldest son, then eleven years of age. The ab- sence of men in the army made wages high, and she was able to earn more than a livelihood for herself and children. With the aid of the wages which her husband sent home she purchased twenty-five acres of land, and when the soldier returned he found his family installed in a log house which she had built on the place. This was replaced in time by a frame house and the property was subsequently sold. After renting land for some time Mr. Simmons was compelled by ill health to abandon farming, and lived for some time in West Carthage. After recovering something of his former strength, in 1884 he settled on a small farm on South James street, near the limits of the village of Carthage, where he now resides. He belonged to the Disciples' church while it existed in Carthage, and now attends the Baptist church and is a firm and faithful adherent of Republican principles in politics.
When he began farming in LeRay Mr. Simmons took a helpmeet who has ever proved her worth as such. Their wedding occurred April 30, 1851, the bride being Miss Lydia A. Belcher, who was born in Fow- ler, St. Lawrence county, New York, a daughter of Elisha and Hannah Belcher. Three children of the five of Mr. and Mrs. Simmons are living. Edgar Adelbert, the eldest, is a builder residing in Carthage. Ellen Maria married William Roderick, and died March 14, 1903, in Carthage. Lavine Adel married Jarvis Simmons (no relative), of Carthage. Henry E. is the fourth. Emma Amelia married Charles Matthews, of Black River.
H. Eugene Simmons passed his youthful days on farms and attended the district schools until he was ten years old. For the next ten or twelve years most of his time was spent in the lumber woods, where he aided in getting out timber and in sawing it into lumber. During six years he was a farm laborer, and then he decided to acquire a trade. Coming to Carthage, worked with Peter W. Weichard and became master of the mason builder's art. For some time he worked independently at such jobs of mason work as came in his way, and in 1891 he formed a partner- ship with James E. Jones (see Jones). This association has proved ad- vantageous to both, and the firm of Jones & Simmons is now doing a very prosperous business in building and the retailing of builders' sup- plies and coal. Some wholesale trade is also carried on, and to this was acided in 1903 a flour store, which was purchased advantageously and is supplying a large trade. This last feature is under the personal charge
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