USA > New York > Jefferson County > Genealogical and family history of the county of Jefferson, New York, Volume I > Part 57
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MICHAEL MARTIN, a prosperous farmer of the town of Wilna, has lived all his life on the farm where he now resides, some three miles from the village of Carthage. His father, John Martin, was born in Dublin, Ireland, and came to America in 1818. He settled in Jefferson
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county, and was employed as a farm laborer for some years. In the meantime he purchased fifty acres of land on credit, and as soon as it was paid for out of his earnings he settled upon it and lived there the re- mainder of his days. To this he subsequently added twenty-five acres. and this has been increased by his son until the latter, with his sons, owns and tills three hundred acres. John Martin was an industrious farmer, respected wherever known, and was one of the faithful mem- bers of St. James's Roman Catholic church of Carthage. Like most of his compatriots he supported Democratic policies and candidates. Within a few years after his arrival here he was married to Ellen Con- nelly, who was born in the same place as himself, was early left an orphan, and came to this country in 1821 with the family of John Mur- ray, an early resident of Wilna. Mr. and Mrs. Martin were the parents of seven children. The eldest, Thomas, is now a resident of Carthage. Ann, the second. lives in the same village, being the wife of James Far- mer. James died in Antwerp, at the age of sixty-four years. Michael is the fourth. Margaret is the widow of John McGowan, residing in Car- thage. Rose Ann died in 1901, unmarried. Ellen married Thomas Burns, and resides in the town of Croghan, near the home place, which adjoins the town line. John Martin died at the age of ninety-two years, and his widow survived him three years, dying at the age of eighty-eight years.
Michael Martin was born May 16, 1832, on his present farm, and attended the district school of the neighborhood, continuing during the winter termis until he was twenty years old. In the meantime he aided in the labors of the farm in the summer from an early age, and agricul- titre has been his lifework. He cared for his parents in their old age, and succeeded to the ownership of the farm upon their death. By pa- tient industry and prudence in the management of his resources he has been able to add to his domain, and now has one of the most valuable farms of the town. His sons are also industrious, and the family is one ot the most respected in the vicinity. They are intelligent and in har- mony with the progress of events, so that thrift characterizes all that per- tains to the home and farm. A dairy of sixteen cows forms part of the farm equipment and adds to the income. Mr. Martin is a member of Carthage Grange, and a liberal supporter of St. James's church, with which all his family are identified. He is an independent Democrat, and has served as school trustee of his district.
He was married, April 17, 1865, to Ann Burns, who was born in
I. G. Alarbottle,
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Wilna, a daughter of Patrick and Ann ( Clark ) Burns, natives of county Meath, Ireland. Mrs. Martin died November 27. 1894, at the age of sixty-five years. She was the mother of eight children, most of whom arc now living. The first, John Henry, resides with his father. Mary, the second, died in March. 1896, while the wife of George Burns, of Watertown. Francis Patrick is engineer at the Island Paper Mill in Carthage. William Vincent is at home. James Joseph is a bricklayer by trade, and is now employed in the St. Regis paper mill at Deferiet. Ilelen married Charles Hoter, and resides in Carthage. Rosa died at home, of diphtheria, April 7. 1897. George died August 24, 1901, of appendicitis.
JOHN GUY HARBOTTLE, who died May 10, 1891, at his home in Watertown, spent all his active business life in that town, where he was a prominent merchant and worthy citizen. He carried the standards of private life into his business affairs, and was known for his unimpeachable honesty. A stanch friend and earnest supporter of any cause that appealed to him as just, he was reckoned among the most upright and progressive citizens of the community.
In the county of Northumberland, England, is a town named Har- bottle, and near this place was born, March 9, 1779, John Harbottle. In 1800, at the age of twenty-one years, he left his native land and settled at Poughkeepsie, New York, where he was married, May IO, 1806, to Sophia Vassar, who was born December II, 1784, in the county of Norfolk, England, a daughter of James and Annie Vassar, who came to America in 1796. Their son, Matthew Vassar, was the founder of Vassar College, the most prominent woman's college on the western continent. The Vassar family is of French descent, their ances- tors having migrated to England early in the eighteenth century.
When he sailed from Gateshead, near Newcastle-upon-Tyne, March 25, 1800, John Harbottle received from his maternal grandfather, Chris- topher Herron, a pocketbook, suitably inscribed, which is still preserved by his descendants in Watertown. He engaged in the manufacture of woolen cloth, and is said to have been the first in this state to install and use machinery for carding wool. He learned the potter's trade in youth, but turned his attention to cloth-making, after coming to this country, and was successively located in that industry at Oriskany, Trenton, Chittenango and Mottville, and settled in Watertown in 1833.
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Here he died in 1843, his wife surviving him until 1861. They were the parents of eleven children.
John G. Harbottle, sixth son and eighth child of John and Sophia (Vassar) Harbottle, was born June 4, 1819, in Trenton, New York, and was fourteen years of age when he came, with his parents, to Watertown. He soon went to Poughkeepsie, where he attended school, and learned the tinsmith's trade. Returning to Watertown in 1836, he was thirteen years foreman in the shops of Norris M. Woodruff & Son, which sufficiently testifies to his ability and integrity. He engaged in business for himself in 1851, and was located in a short time in the store which he purchased in 1852, at the east end of the public square, where his grandsons are still carrying on the business founded by him. This is a double brick store, and he astonished his friends by paying one thousand dollars down on the purchase. The industry and thrift which made this possible were continued through his life, and the block was soon paid for in full. The business is now conducted by an incor- porated company bearing the name of its founder, and is in a flourish- ing condition. Mr. Harbottle dealt in hardware and also did a large business in expert tinning. He was master of all details of this work, and was possessed of a high order of executive ability, so that his busi- ness always prospered. It is now limited to the installation of heating plants, and general expert jobbing, and is the leading establishment of its kind in northern New York.
Mr. Harbottle united with the Baptist church when nineteen years old, and was always thereafter an earnest worker in its interest, and was many years a deacon of the Watertown society. He served as trustee, treasurer and clerk, and was thirty years chorister. He was a member of the American Bible Union, the American Baptist Mis- sionary Union, a life member of the American Baptist Home Missionary Society, and represented his church in the state conventions. In political principle he was a stanch Republican, but desired no political favors for himself. A consistent Christian and an upright man, Mr. Harbottle enjoyed the confidence, respect and esteem of all who were privileged to know him.
He was married about 1841 to Victorine R., daughter of Lathrop Huntington, of Watertown. She died in 1843, leaving a son, George Vassar, who died at the age of fourteen years. Mr. Harbottle married, on May 28, 1848, Miss Marcia Cryden Wise, daughter of John and Sophronia (Smith) Wise. Mrs. Harbottle still survives her husband.
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She was born March 11. 1827, at Milford, Otsego county, this state. Her father. John Cryden Wise, was born at Milford, and was a son of Deacon Cryden Wise and his wife, Lucy Nash, the latter a descendant of an old New England family. Deacon Cryden Wise was a native of Ballston-Spa, and was a farmer all his adult life at Milford. Only three of the eieven children of John G. and Marcia C. Harbottle survived the period of childhood. The youngest son, Frank B., died in 1897, aged about forty years. John C. and Edward G. are residents of Watertown.
JOHN WHALING, one of the selfmade men of Carthage, demon- strates in his career the possibilities of this great country in general, and of Jefferson county in particular. His parents, John and Ann ( Don- nelly ) Whaling, were born in the counties of Kings and Queens, Ireland, respectively, and were married in their native land. They were reared on farms, and when the husband set out for America in 1848, it was with the hope of owning a farm some day. After a voyage of seven weeks he arrived at the port of New York, whence he set out on foot, accom- panied by a fellow voyager, to go to Canada. While walking along a path in Sterlingville, in the town of Philadelphia, he encountered a boy- hood friend who had previously settled there. The latter recognized Mr. Whaling and purposely got in his way, thus attracting attention to him- seif, and a joyful meeting was the result. By the advice of his friend Mr. Whaling decided to go no farther, and soon found work in the em- ploy of James Sterling, about the furnace at Sterlingville. In 1853 he took up thirty acres of land in the town of Wilna, near Sterlingville, and subsequently added four acres to his domain. Here he lived the remainder of his years, and led a most industrious life. During the greater part of the time lie worked for others, taking care of his own work in the evenings and at odd times.
When Mr. Whaling had been in this country two years he had accu- mulated sufficient money to send for his wife and only living child. Five children had previously died in Ireland, and four were born in this coun- try. The eldest, Michael, is now a practicing attorney at Los Angeles, California. John is the second. Mary is the wife of James Hogan, re- siding in Sterlingville. Catherine died, unmarried, in Wilna. Eliza lives on the homestead, being the wife of Ambrose Flick. Mr. Whaling was a Democrat in his political affiliations, and he and his family were communicants of St. Mary's Roman Catholic church of Sterlingville. His death occurred in April, 1880, aged over sixty years.
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John Whaling, son of John and Ann ( Donnelly ) Whaling, was wont to make himself useful about the small farm which constituted his home from the time he was a small boy, and had little education before attaining man's estate. As a boy he did not appreciate the need of educa- tion, and preferred boyish diversions and even hard work, to going to school. At about the age of sixteen years he went to work for Peter Wichard, of Le Ray, during the summer months, and remained with him doing chores for his board, and attending school during the winter months. The following summer he worked for Joseph Schhoofty, in Philadelphia, and that winter ( 1868-69) he came to Carthage and clerked in a store. The following spring he went to work for George Pe- tric, with whom he remained seven years. In the meantime he had be- come convinced that learning is an aid to one in any calling, and is a necessity if one would rise in the social scale. During the first three years of his residence with George Petrie he attended school during the winter; the two following winters he taught school; and the two last years he attended Ives Seminary, at Antwerp, during the fall, in order to still further prepare himself for teaching, which vocation he followed during the succeeding winters in the towns of LeRay, Philadelphia and Wilna, New York. Being possessed of ambition, he hired as helper in a cheese factory in order to learn the art. After one season in the cheese factory he took charge of Sanford's Corners factory the following sea- son, and was subsequently in charge of a factory at Philadelphia for four summers. He had previously borne his share in the arduous work of making charcoal, and surprised his employer by not drawing his earn- ings as fast as due to buy tobacco and other useless "necessities." Hay- ing saved his earnings, he bought a farm of one hundred and fifty-three acres in the town of Philadelphia, which he still owns. For a period of five years he was clerk for M. E. Akirich in a general store at Philadel- phia. In the spring of 1902 he bought the Collins farm, on Alexandria road, near Carthage, which he occupied two seasons and now rents. He is the owner of business property in Carthage, and started a laundry in December, 1903. in order to keep things moving. With the same indus- try which characterized his early life he keeps doing something, and is the right kind of a man to have in the town to help it.
Mr. Whaling became a resident of Carthage in 1885, and worked one year as a clerk in the drug store of Bachman & Carter. Having been appointed deputy postmaster by Lewis H. Mills, he served until the death of Mr. Mills, carrying on the office until his successor was ap-
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pointed. During this time he became interested in a furniture business with Eugene A. Walsh, the business being conducted by Mr. Walsh, under the title of Walsh & Whaling, and this connection continued for nine years. In 1894, during President Cleveland's second administra- tion, Mr. Whaling was made postmaster of Carthage, and held the office four years. In the course of his active career he has operated a sawmill, dealt extensively in himber, and for some years gave considerable atten- tion to the breeding of trotting horses. In 1891 he was elected supervisor of the town of Wilna, and held that office three years, resigning it to take the office ot postmaster of Carthage. He is a consistent Democrat in poli- tics, and an active member of St. James's church. He is a member of the Carthage Grange, and the local lodges of Knights of Columbus and Royal Arcanum, in both of which he has filled official stations.
Mr. Whaling was married, September 23, 1895, to Miss Lucy Col- lins, who was born in Carthage, a daughter of Thomas Collins, whose biography is a feature of this work. Their children are: John Collins, George Collins, and Helen Alice.
THOMAS NELSON STEWART, a successful farmer of Cham- pion, residing near Great Bend, is a grandson of one of the pioneer set- tlers of the town. James Stewart, a native of Vermont, came to Cham- pion in 1812 and soon after took up land in the bend of the river, above the present village of Great Bend, which he cleared, and there he died February 22, 1835, aged sixty-three years. His wife Mary survived him nearly three years, passing away February 5, 1838, at the age of sixty years. Their children are accounted for as follows: Rachel, the first, married Dr. El West, of Carthage, where she died. Thomas dwelt near his father in Champion, where he died. Alfred died at Great Bend. Orson receives further mention in a following paragraph. Sarah became the wife of Ira Paddock, and died at Great Bend. Abner C., born in 1821, enlisted in August, 1862. in Company C, Thirty-fifth Regiment New York Volunteers, and was discharged in the following year on ac- count of disability from injuries received while going up the bank of Antietam Creek at the battle of Antietam. He died in 1897 at Great Bend.
Orson Stewart was born February 22, 1808, in Grand Isle county. Vermont, and was, therefore, just twenty-seven years old on the day of his father's death. Soon after his majority he commenced buying land which he cleared up, and had one hundred and fifty acres at one time.
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He sold this and in March, 1855, purchased one hundred acres on lot 2, where his son now resides. The stone house and part of the barn which now occupy the place were then in existence, and he subsequently made additions to the barn, so that the appearance of the buildings has been little changed in the last forty years. From this place he sold off twenty- six acres and still had a fine farm, beautifully located. He operated a home dairy many years, making butter for the market, but had the advantage of local cheese factories in his later years. Mr. Stewart was very fond of horses, and dealt in them considerably at one time, bring- ing them from Canada and selling them to his contemporaries. He was a man of strong sentiment and firmly fixed in principle. If one offended him he sought to prevent a repetition of the offense by avoiding inter- course with the offender. To his friends he was ever loyal, and he sought to serve the general welfare in all things. He acted with the Whigs upon assuming the duties of citizenship, and was among those who gave first allegiance to the Republican party.
Mr. Stewart was married, March 24, 1840, to Miss Sophronia M. Clark, daughter of William Clark (see Clark). She was born Septem- ber 22, 1816, in Champion, and died September 11, 1891, in the stone house where most of her married life was passed, being eleven days less than seventy-five years old. Mr. Stewart passed away August 16, 1896, int his eighty-ninth year.
Thomas Nelson Stewart, only son of Orson and Sophronia Stewart, was born March 7, 1847, near Black River, north of his present home, and grew up from the age of eight years in the stone house which still shelters him. He attended the village school at Great Bend until he was eighteen years old, and continued to bear a share in the labors of the home farm until twenty-two years of age. He then went to Michigan, in which state he spent two years, being engaged a part of that time in driving the stage between Traverse City and Big Rapids. On account of his father's advancing years, he was then persuaded to return and manage the farm, which became his by inheritance. About 1873 he acquired by purchase forty-seven and one-half acres on the opposite side of the road, which he continues to cultivate in connection with the paternal acres. His dairy contains fifteen cows, and he gives some at- tention to the growing of young stock. He is a member of Great Bend Grange, in which he has held office, and is a steadfast Republican in polit- ical faith. For two years he served the town of Champion as constable.
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Industrious and progressive, Mr. Stewart is respected as a citizen and farmer, and enjoys a peaceful, contented life.
He was married, in January, 1867, to Minnie Slack, who died June 16, 1869, aged seventeen years and nine months, leaving a daughter, Minnie, now a resident of Watertown. In 1871, Mr. Stewart married Mary Chard, who died July 18, 1895, aged forty-six years, leaving seven children. William, the first of these, is now employed in Carthage. Carrie married William Davis, a farmer of Rutland. James and Eugene reside at home, being employed at Deferiet. Nellie, Mary Belle and Abner are at home, the last-named being a student of the village school. Mr. Stewart was married a third time, March 18, 1896, to Olive Hub- bard, a daughter of Moses and Margaret (Ensign) Hubbard (see F. D. Hubbard).
JOHN G. GONSETH, a resident of Depauville, New York, where for the past four years he has successfully conducted a general hardware, carriage and harness-making business, is a man of keen discrimination, sound judgment, diligence and enterprise, and these characteristics be- speak for him a brilliant success in the future and a richly merited pros- perity. He was born in Canton Berne, Switzerland, October 9, 1874, a son of Christian and Louisa Gonseth, and grandson of Christian Gonseth, who was born in Switzerland in 1810, was one of a number of children, and he spent his entire life and died in the home of his childhood; he was a glassblower by trade and made fancy articles of spun glass which were readily disposed of at advantageous prices.
Christian Gonseth (father) was also a native of Canton Bern, Switzerland, the date of his birth being 1844. He was reared on a farm in his native village, obtained a common school education, and later in litc came to the United States in 1884, settling in New York state near Sanfords Corners. He was accompanied by his wife, Louisa Ador, born in Switzerland in 1846, one of a large family of children, and several of their elder children who were born in Switzerland. Their family con- sisted of the following named children: 1. Louisa, became the wife of Jake Stalder, living near Lafargeville, New York, and they are the parents of three children. 2. Christian, married Emma Stalder; their son Fred is now employed on the police force in New York city. 3. John G., mentioned at length hereinafter. 4. Alice. 5. Frederick, mar- ried Stella Wilrath, of this county, has one child. 6. Miles. 7. Bertha. S. Christine. 9. Charles.
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The early years of the life of John G. Gonseth, third child in order of birth born to Christian and Louisa ( Ador) Gonseth, were spent at Sanfords Corners, New York, where he acquired a practical education in the common schools, and whence he removed, in 1899, to Depauville, New York. Here he first established a harness and bicycle business, but finding that there was a constant demand for hardware of all kinds he added a new department to his establishment, which is fully equipped with a select line of general hardware and carriages. By his straightfor- ward and progressive method of conducting this enterprise he has won the public confidence in an unusual degree and gained a liberal patronage.
Mr. Gonsetli was united in marriage, August 22, 1900, to May E. Nellis, born in Depauville. New York, January 20, 1879, daughter of Edgar and Eva (Seeber) Nellis, who were the parents of three children : May E., the eldest, wife of Mr. Gonseth; Bertha, born December 5, 1886; Orlando, born July 11, 1892, died May 10, 1895.
Mr. Nellis is a farmer in Depauville, where he and his family have spent all their lives.
HERBERT J. FRAME, M. D., of Clayton, is the present repre- sentative of a family which for four consecutive generations has fur- nished to the medical profession of Jefferson county some of its most distinguished members.
His great-grandfather, William Frame, was born in 1776, in Ver- mont, graduated from Fairfield College, Herkimer county, New York, and there practiced his profession in the township of Russia, till 1822, when he came to Jefferson county and settled in Depauville as the suc- cessor of Dr. Page, who was the first physician in the village. He mar- ried Clarissa Joy, a native of Vermont, and their children were : Luke E., mentioned at length hereinafter ; Solomon V., Betsey and Ann. Dr. Frame, the range of whose practice extended over many miles of the neighboring country, from Pillar Point, Brownville, to Gananoque, Canada, continued in the active discharge of his professional duties until his death, which occurred at Omar while on a visit to a patient, Septem- ber 5, 1845, at seventy years of age. His wife died March 25, 1882, at ninety-six years.
Luke E. Frame, son of William and Clarissa (Joy) Frame, was born in Russia, Herkimer county, and in 1840 began the study of medicine under the guidance of his father and afterward attended lec- tures at the Geneva Medical College, from which he received, in 1844,
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the degree of Doctor of Medicine. He settled in Depauville, where he speedily established such a reputation that upon the death of his father he succeeded to the latter's practice. While placing fidelity to his obli- gations as a physician before every other duty, he yet found time to take an active part in public affairs and received frequent proofs of the high regard in which he was hield as a citizen. He served for five consecu- tive years as supervisor of the town of Clayton, and for one year was president of the board. He held the office of postmaster, and in 1838 was adjutant of the Two Hundred and Twenty-fifth Regiment of the State Militia in the Patriot war. June 8, 1869, he joined the Jefferson County Medical Society, of which, in 1870, he was vice-president and in 1878 president. He was a stanch Democrat of the free soil branch of that party. Ile married Louisa Hunt, by whom he had three chil- dren : George B., who is now deceased; Silas Wright, who is a practic- ing physician in Belleville, and Solomon V., mentioned at length herein- after. Like his father, Dr. Frame continued in active practice until his death, which occurred March 20, 1883, when he had reached the age of seventy-one years. At that time he was the oldest practicing doctor in the county, having practiced in Depauville thirty years. His wife died May 8, 1896, at seventy-eight years.
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