USA > New York > Jefferson County > Genealogical and family history of the county of Jefferson, New York, Volume I > Part 51
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of Mr. Simmons, and to his industry and popularity is due much of the success of the firm. In one year they laid more than a million and a half of brick, and their operations have been on a large scale for sev- eral years. In 1897 Mr. Simmons was the first to introduce cement walks into Carthage, and the firm has continued to build them since, and in 1903 laid more than half a mile.
Mr. Simmons is a member of the Methodist church, of the Royal Arcanum, of Carthage Lodge No. 365, Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, and Oriental Encampment, No. 135. of the same order. He is a member of the volunteer fire department, of which he was treasurer four years, and is now in his second year as first assistant chief engineer, and in his third term as trustee of the village. In politics he is an ardent Republican.
He was married, December 25, 1882, to Miss Carrie M. Forbes, who was born in the town of Wilna, a daughter of Ephraim and Malvina (Waite) Forbes, now a resident of Gouverneur, New York. Her mother died November 26, 1903, aged sixty-three years. A son and daughter have been given to Mr. Simmons and wife, aged respectively nineteen and seventeen years, and named Ernest E., and Edith M. Sim- In011S.
JOHN LANSING BARBER, a retired farmer, residing in Carth- age, is descended from an old Massachusetts family. His grandfather. Samuel Barber, came from Massachusetts to New York in an early day. and died while still a young man. Chauncey, son of Samuel Barber, was born in Herkimer county, and never knew his mother. By the early death of his father he was left to the care of a stepmother, who reared him kindly. When a young man he came to Carthage, and here married Melinda, daughter of Colonel Samuel Mack, who built the first dam in Black river. Colonel Mack died here more than sixty years ago.
Soon after his marriage Chauncey Barber went to Boonville, where he was employed as a carpenter and builder. He also acquired the trade of mason, and was enabled to do most of the work of building houses. For a time he was engaged in lumbering at Caulkinsville, and also did some farming. Like most Yankees he could take hold of many kinds of work successfully, and he was always industrious in whatever he undertook.
In the spring of 1856 he came to Carthage, and was engaged several years in building houses here. On account of an injury he was
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compelled to abandon the use of tools, and spent two or three years in a vineyard in New Jersey, whence he returned to Carthage, locating on the west side of the river, where he was engaged for a time in gardening. Subsequently he purchased a farm on Pleasant street, in the town of LeRay, and continued to till it until his death, in the fall of 1895, at the age of eighty-three years. He was a Spiritualist, and always adhered to the Democratic party in politics. Three of his four sons are now living. Edwin, the first, died at the age of twenty-four years. Henry H. is a resident of West Carthage. John L. is the third. June resides on the paternal farm in LeRay. The mother died on Pleasant street a number of years before her husband.
John L. Barber was born December 1. 1840, in Brownville. He was fifteen years of age when his parents came to live in Carthage, and he received his education in the district schools at Boonville and here. He was early accustomed to aid his father in building operations, and became familiar with the use of carpenter's tools. He began to learn the trade of blacksmith, but his preceptor enlisted and went to the war, and he then turned his attention to farming. He purchased a farm in the town of Champion, which he operated with such industry and suc- cess that he was enabled to buy another in the same town. After a time he sold one of these and bought a farm in Denmark, Lewis county. which he tilled ten years. After a life of severe toil, in which his health became somewhat broken, he finally disposed of his rural property and moved to the village of Carthage in 1889. Here he built several tenant houses, and gives his time to the care of his property, which is located in the vicinity of James and West streets, his own residence being on the latter, near Mechanic street. Mr. Barber is a stockholder in the Carth- age National Bank and the local Building and Loan Association. His mother was reared a Methodist in religious faith, and he adheres to her teachings. Always a Democrat in politics, he has been nominated fre- quently for official position, but has uniformly declined to be a candi- date.
Mr. Barber was married July 4, 1865, to Miss Lucy Ann Phillips, a native of Champion, born September 7. 1843, a daughter of Josiah and Lorean (Crook) Phillips. Her brother Orrin, who resides in Champion, was born May 29, 1842. Her parents were of early families in that town. Mrs. Barber's first known ancestor was Ebenezer Phillips, whose will, dated November 20, 1745. and proved August 21, 1746, mentions his
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wife Mary. By this it is known that his death occurred at Southboro, Worcester county, Massachusetts, between those dates.
2. His son, Ebenezer, resided in Southboro. He married Hannah Lyscom, born .April 29, 1722, being the second child of Israel Lyscom (or Liscomb).
3. Ebenezer, son of Ebenezer Phillips (2), was born February 23, 1752, in Southboro, and was a very powerful man, being six feet and two inches in height and well proportioned. He served in the Revolu- tionary army and participated in the battle of Bunker Hill. He mar- ried Rachel Gale, and they had twelve children.
4. Silas, son of Ebenezer (3), was born October 27, 1775, in Grafton, Massachusetts, and settled in Rutland, Jefferson county, New York, in the spring of 1805. He was an influential citizen of the town, in whose reclamation from the wilderness and organization he bore an active part. served eighteen years as collector, and was a leading member of the Methodist church. He died August 29, 1850. His wife, Lucretia Scott, of Ward, Massachusetts, died May 1, 1852, aged seventy-six years. They had eleven children, of whom Josiah was the seventh.
5. Josiah Phillips was born September 11, 1810, in Rutland, and lived most of his life in Champion, dying in Denmark in 1885. He was married February 20, 1839, to Lorean Crook, who was born January II, 1821, and died November 6. 1898, at the home of her daughter, Mis. Barber, in Carthage. Mr. and Mrs. Phillips were members of the Methodist church, in which he was trustee, class leader and steward. In early life he was a Democrat, but became a Republican before the civil war.
JAMES EMERSON JONES, a leading business man of Carthage, whose industry, energy and sound business probity are doing much to build up the material interests and good name of the town, is a native of Lewis county, this state, born October 29, 1853, in the town of Turin, where his father, Warren R. Jones, is a lifelong resident.
His paternal grandfather, Stephen Evan Jones, son of Roland and Elizabeth ( Roberts) Jones, was born May 8, 1805, in Wales, and came to this country at the age of fifteen years, in 1818. His parents were born respectively in 1776 and 1775. He sailed from the port of Liver- pool and landed in New York, and after spending two years in the vicinity of New York city settled at Turin in 1820. He learned the trade of mason, and lived over sixty-five years at Turin, where he died
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January 3, 1896, near the close of his ninety-first year. He married at Turin, in 1832, Maria Deitz, who was born in 1806, in Berne, Albany county, this state, daughter of Henry and Catherine ( Dupont) Deitz, of Dutch and French extraction. Colonel St. Pierre Dupont, father of Catherine Dcitz, was one of the French soldiers who came over with Lafayette, to aid in securing the independence of this country in the Revolution. After that struggle he settled in Berne. Maria (Deitz) Jones died February 2, 1896, in her ninetieth year. She was reared in the town of Greig, adjoining Turin, where her father was a farmer. Of her eight children all are now living, Warren R. being the eldest. Elizabeth, wife of Henry Hopkins, resides in Glenfield. Anna, the third, is the widow of James Crofut (who died in 1901), and resides in St. Paul, Minnesota. John is a resident of Constableville, New York. Olive is the widow of John Jones, junior, residing on a farm near the village of Turin. Samuel, a mason, is a citizen of Lowville. Maria is unmarried, living at Turin, as is also Alson T. S. Evan Jones was a leading member of the Methodist church at Turin, which he was in- strumental in organizing, helped build the house of worship there, and was always an officer of the society, serving as choir master, and at times the choir was composed wholly of members of his family. Beside working at his trade he taught music, and was a most useful member of society. He always supported the political principles enunciated and typified by the Republican party, in whose organization he bore a part.
Warren R. Jones was born in 1833, and has passed his entire life at Turin. For fifty years he was a mason builder in that vicinity, and . has spent the last twelve years in official duties, being constable of the town and village. Like his father he is an ardent Republican, and is a progressive citizen. He was married to Almira, daughter of Rich- ard and Betsey (Rea) Dickinson, of old Turin families. She was a daughter of Philip Rea, for many years a teacher, and recently de- ceased. Charles, the eldest son of Richard Dickinson, has served some years as consul to Constantinople, having been appointed by President McKinley, and reappointed by Roosevelt, still serving. He was active in securing the release of Miss Ellen Stone, who was held for ransom by brigands in the realm of the Turkish Porte. He also is proprietor of the "Broome County Republican," of Binghamton, New York. Mrs. Almira Jones died at the age of twenty-seven years, leaving three children. The name of the eldest is at the head of this article. The others are Stephen R. and Cary, the former a resident of Herkimer,
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New York, and the latter of New Haven, Connecticut. For his second wife Mr. Jones married Esther Ryel, who bore him four children- Roscoe, Merrill Frederick, Henry Deitz and Lulu.
James E. Jones grew up in his native town, and attended the dis- triet school of the neighborhood. At the age of fifteen years he began to learn the mason's trade, working with his father and grandfather, and continued thus until 1885, when he became a resident of Carthage. Ilere he began taking building contracts, and has since borne a large share in building operations here. Among his creations are the Atwood residence and the Miller Block. On the first of April, 1891, he formed a partnership with H. Eugene Simmons, and since that time Jones & Simmons have been the leading mason builders of the place. Their miost pretentious work is the Strickland Block, and during the season of its construction they built thirteen stores and the village pumping station. They have recently given much attention to building cement walks, and during the season of 1903 made considerably more than half a mile of these, beside other concrete work. They do a large business in the sale of builders' supplies and coal, and in 1903 purchased a flour and feed store and also a mill for custom grinding, and carry on a profit- able trade.
For a period of five years Mr. Jones was a member of the volunteer fire department, of which he was treasurer, and has served as trustee and as collector of the village of West Carthage. He accepts the faith of the Methodist church, and is a straightforward Republican in political principle. He is a member of the Royal Arcanum, of Carthage Lodge, No. 365: Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of the Lincoln League of Watertown, and the Carthage Social Club.
Mr. Jones was married October 29. 1879, to Miss Stella Allen, a native of Turin, whose father was a soldier of the civil war, in which he lost his life. Two children complete the family of Mr. Jones- Bertram and Vera, both at home, the former being bookkeeper in the office of Jones & Simmons.
EDWARD VILLARS, of Edward Villars & Company, druggists, of Carthage, is one of the progressive and enterprising business men of the town. He is a native of Jefferson county, born March 23, 1861, in the town of Antwerp. His grandparents, Edward and Mary (Brown) Villars, lived and died in county Limerick, Ireland, where Mr. Villars was a farmer. His ancestors were French refugees who settled in Ire-
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land. His wife was a daughter of Patrick Brown, a farmer of the same locality.
Patrick, son of Edward and Mary Villars, was born August 12, 1827, at Castletown Conyers, county Limerick, Ireland, where he re- mained until he was twenty years of age. . Having determined to seek his fortune in the new world, he sailed from Liverpool upon a sailing vessel in May, 1847, and after a voyage of four weeks landed in Boston on June 3d. Proceeding at once to the town of Antwerp in this county, he was employed for some time in the blast furnaces there. He bought and sold farming land and passed the best years of his life on a farm midway between the villages of Antwerp and Philadelphia. In 1873 he left the farm, and spent three years in weighing coal at the Sterlingville furnace. Since 1876, Mr. Villars has been a resident of Carthage, and for several years he was in charge of Nuun's pump factory in this place. In 1887 he joined his son in establishing a drug store, which has ever since been conducted under the style of Edward Villars & Company. Since 1894 it has been located in a block which they built for the pur- pose, on State street, above Mechanic, and which is one of the most substantial and handsome business blocks of the town. The business is conducted chiefly by the son, who is a graduated pharmacist. Mr. Villars has always taken an intelligent interest in the progress of his adopted country, and is one of her substantial and patriotic citizens. He is inde- pendent in politics, with a leaning toward the Democratic party, and is a faithful member of St. James' Roman Catholic church. While a resident of Antwerp he served as school collector, but has usually avoided any proffers of official position. He was married, April 8, 1855, in Carthage, to Miss Ann McNulty, who was born in 1835, in Ballynagh, county Sligo, Ireland, and came to this country with her widowed mother, Ellen (Clark) McNulty, and sisters in 1849. Her father, James McNulty, was a farmer, and had been some years deceased when his family left their native land. Mrs. Villars passed away in Carthage, October II, 1902, aged sixty-seven years. Three of her six children survive. Maria, the first, died at the age of seven years. James, the second, died at the age of forty-two years, in Menominee, Michigan. Edward is the third. Ella is the wife of Edward Burns, and they have two children, Loretta and Catherine, residing in Carthage. Carrie A. is Mrs. George Haberer, of Lowville, and has one son, William B. John Thomas died when ten years old.
Edward Villars attended the public schools of Antwerp, Sterling-
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ville and West Carthage, and spent two years at Villanova College, Villanova, Pennsylvania. After spending four years in the drug store of C. L. Fredericks, in Carthage, he pursued the course of the Albany School of Pharmacy, a branch of Union College, and graduated in the spring of 1887. He at once entered business, in association with his father, and has since so continued. He is genial, industrious and com- petent, and has established a desirable business, second to none of its kind in the vicinity. He is a director of the National Exchange Bank, and a trustee of St. James' Church parish, which controls a very fine property on ground presented by LeRay de Chaumont in 1818. With a hearty interest in all that makes for the best interests of his home town, he is a member of the Carthage Club, of the local lodges of Knights of Columbus, and Royal Arcanum, in the latter of which he has served two terms as regent. He is also a member of the village school board. Of independent ideas in politics, he is usually a Democrat, and it has sometimes happened that he found himself on the opposite side from his father, though both are Democrats.
Mr. Villars was married, June 13, 1900, to Miss Carrie A. Carroll, of an old Pinckney family, whose history will be found in connection with mention of her sister, Mrs. James Galvin, of Carthage.
PETER McQUILLAN, who was an industrious and successful farmer of Wilna, New York, and a soldier of the Union army, passed away at his home in Carthage, New York, July 6, 1898, at the age of fifty-six years. He was born June 29, 1842, in the town of Wilna, a son of James and Mary (McManus) McQuillan, of County Meath, Ire- land. When a young man, James McQuillan (father) came to America and settled in the town of Wilna on a farm, where he was killed by a falling branch when but thirty-five years old. His widow survived him many years, reaching the age of eighty-three. Both were faithful mem- bers of St. James's Roman Catholic church, in whose yard Mr. Mc- Quillan's body was interred. Mrs. McQuillan's remains were deposited in the new cemetery at Carthage. They were the parents of four sons, namely : Paul, who died in Wilna, where he was a farmer ; Dennis, who died in the oil regions of Pennsylvania; Peter, mentioned hereinafter ; and James, who died in Wilna.
Peter McQuillan was reared on the parental farm, and received a limited education in the district school of the neighborhood. At the age of fourteen years he set out to maintain himself, his school days be-
Fler Mc Quillen
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ing over, but as he was ambitious to be well informed he studied dur- ing the evenings, even after he was the head of a family, and became a learned and intelligent citizen. He served as a farm hand until August 22, 1864, when he enlisted in Company A, One Hundred and Eighty- sixth Regiment New York Volunteers, which was commanded by Cap- tain H. J. Welch, of Carthage. This regiment was used chiefly for guard duty, and participated in cne battle of note, that of the fall of Petersburg, shortly after which it was mustered out of service. While on a march Mr. McQuillan had the misfortune to step in a hole, and the result was that he sustained a rupture which incapacitated him for further duty, and from the effects of which he never fully recovered. He was discharged from service with his regiment on June 2, 1865.
Returning to Carthage after the war, Mr. MeQuillan took up team- ing and became a contractor in that line, following it for several years. About 1875 he bought a tract of land in the town of Wilna, near Car- thage which he proceeded to drain, clear and improve, and developed a fine farm where some of his acquaintances predicted failure. This he tilled about twenty years, until failing health compelled its sale and a return to village life. Previous to his purchasing the land an experi- ment had been made to manufacture peat. Along in the early seventies the Carthage blast furnace tried peat instead of coal for iron manufac- ture. A peat bed was opened at this point, but the experiment was a failure. The few acres of tillable land were sold cheap to Mr. McQuillan, who was a practical farmer, some of it at one dollar and twenty-five cents an acre, and the wood on it paid for the land. Several hundred acres adjoining were given up to huckleberries and second growth ash. The soil was a black muck, rather swampy, although close to Black river, just a ridge of land separating the two, over which the road runs. The farm netted Mr. McQuillan thousands of dollars, and he sold it at a figure that prevailed only in war times. It was purchased by John E. Strickland, the wealthy hardware dealer of Carthage. The elegant farm house overlooks Black river, and there is a picturesque view of the river flats and the rising Denmark hills across, presenting a bit of New Eng- land scenery seldom met with outside of the down-east states. Besides being industrious, Mr. McQuillan was a shrewd calculator, and he became one of the well-to-do citizens of the town of Carthage, having been asso- ciated with others. in developing new industries there. In connection with A. E. Maxwell and Peter Yousey he developed a water power in the Black river and built a pulp mill. This was succeeded by the Island
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Paper Mill, after which Mr. McQuillan sold out his interest. On retir- ing from the jarin he built the home which is still occupied by his fam- ily, en South James street, and where he died. While living on the farm and previous to that time he spent several winters in lumbering in the forests of this section. He was a leading member of St. James's church, in which he served at one time as trustee, and of the Grand Army of the Republic. In politics he was a Republican, but never de- sired office.
Mr. McQuillan was married, at Carthage, New York, September 21, 1869, to Miss Catherine Riley, who was born three miles from Car- thage, in the town of Wilna, daughter of William and Bridget (Mc- Gowan ) Riley. William Riley was a native of county Meath, Ireland, and came to this country when a young man, being among the early settlers of Wilna. Here he met Miss McGowan, who was born in County Sligo, Ireland, and they were married at Carthage. He died July 23, 1879. at the age of seventy-three years, and she passed away Janu- ary 13, 1887, aged seventy years. All except one of their four children are living : Matthew, the eldest, died March 28, 1889. in Wilna. Mrs. McQuillan is the second child. Emma, the third, is the wife of Joseph McGraw, residing in Annapolis, Maryland. Andrew, the fourth, resides in Watertown, New York. Mr. and Mrs. McQuillan were the parents oi seven children, two of whom-Peter and Lillian-died in infancy. The surviving members of the family are: Alice, wife of Frederick Macomber, station agent at Harrisville, New York, and they are the parents of two children-Edna and Irving Macomber. Jennie, wife of Everett Davis, and mother of three children-Leon, Irene and Paul Da- vis ; they reside at Oswegatchie, New York. Margaret, wife of William Largett, of Carthage, New York. Susan, who resides with her mother. William, who also resides with his mother. Mr. and Mrs. McQuillan sought to provide educational advantages for their children, and they have lived lives of usefulness and integrity.
JAMES GALVIN, one of the most substantial citizens of Carthage, is the son of a Jefferson county pioneer, and sustains the sturdy and in- ciustrious character of his ancestors. He was born March 6, 1835, in the town of Wilna, and most of his life has been passed, as his home has always been, within its borders.
His father, Edward Galvin, was a native of county Wexford, Ire- land, born in 1791, and came to this country when a young man. Ile was
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married, at Carthage, in 1820, to Mary Walsh, who was born in 1792 in county Monaghan, Ireland. Edward Galvin was early left fatherless, and cared for himself from early youth. He left his native land May 22, 1815, and crossed to Canada, and took up land in the vicinity of Perth. This location did not satisfy him, and he crossed to New York in 1816. His first year in this state was passed in the town of Rutland, Jefferson county, where he was employed on a farm.
In 1817 he came to Wilna (then called Long Falls) and took a con- tract in company with another man to chop some thousands of cords of wood for charcoal, then in great demand by the furnaces just built in the vicinity. In 1818 he bought a piece of land on the present Alexandria road, which he proceeded to clear, producing much charcoal in the process. After living in this place twelve years he sold it and bought an- other tract nearer to Carthage, which is now in possession of his son. There he lived until 1861, and then rented his farm and moved into the village of Carthage. He was a shrewd and successful farmer, and was able to retire before entirely worn out by the labors of the farm. He died August 18, 1872, and his wife passed away just seven days later. Both were faithful members of St. James's Roman Catholic church, of which Mr. Galvin was one of the first trustees. He aided in building the first church edifice in 1818, when the clearing of the site furnished the timbers used in the construction. It stood on the ground now occupied by the handsome and substantial church of that society, the ground hav- ing been donated by James LeRay de Chaumont. Mr. Galvin took a keen interest in the politics of the country, being a Democrat, but would never accept office. Six of his nine children grew to maturity, and have proven useful and successful citizens. Morgan, the eldest, died in Watertown, May 8, 1903. John, the second, started for California in 1852, died at sea, and was buried at Acapulco, Mexico. Judith was the wife of Michael Gallagher, and died in May, 1903, at her home in Newport, Herkimer county, this state. Eliza died in 1892 at the parental home- stead in Carthage. Edward made the journey to California in 1852, and died in Columbia, that state, in 1880.
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