USA > New York > Jefferson County > Genealogical and family history of the county of Jefferson, New York, Volume I > Part 58
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Solomon V. Frame, son of Luke E. and Louisa ( Hunt ) Frame, was born January 22, 1841, in Depauville, where he received his education. Deciding to follow in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, he en- tered the Medical College of the University of Buffalo, from which he graduated in 1862 as Doctor of Medicine. He had not been long en- gaged in practice when, feeling that duty called him to take up arms in defense of the government, he enlisted September 3, 1863, in the Four- teenth New York Heavy Artillery. He served only a short time and did not go to the front. He was then appointed assistant surgeon, January 27, 1864, in the Sixteenth New York Heavy Artillery, and served until the close of the war, having participated in the battles of Dutch Gap, Chapin's Farm, Laurel Hill, the operations about Petersburg, Fort Fisher, Wilmington, North Carolina, North Branch Cape, and Fear River, North Carolina. On his return to civil life Dr. Frame practiced for some time at Three Mile Bay, and in 1868 came to Clayton, where the remainder of his life was passed. In 1870 he joined the Jefferson County Medical Society. He was a prominent G. A. R. man and was the first commander of the post. Politically he was a Democrat.
Dr. Frame married, October 8, 1862, Avis D., who was born in
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Depauville, daughter of James and Deborah (Fry) Johnson (sketch elsewhere). The former, who was a native of Herkimer county, was a merchant in Dcpauville, where he held the office of sheriff, and was elected to the assembly. His last years were spent in mercantile business in Clayton, where he died February 6, 1890. Dr. and Mrs. Frame were the parents of three children : Merton E., who engaged in business in Clayton, married Fannie, daughter of William and Maryette (Johnson) Hills, of Chaumont, was the father of two daughters, Corinne M. and Mary V., and is now deceased; Herbert J., mentioned at length hereinafter, and Vivene B. Dr. Frame died December 8, 1899, in the fifty-seventh year of his age, leaving a vacancy in the ranks of the med- ical profession of Jefferson county which will not soon be filled. His widow is still living.
Herbert J. Frame, son of Solomon V. and Avis D. (Johnson) Frame, was born September 10, 1866, and when two years of age was brought by his parents to Clayton, where he received his education. Choosing as his life work the profession which might be said to be hereditary in his family, he pursued a course of preparatory study under the direction of his father, and then entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Baltimore, Maryland, graduating in the class of 1896 with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. The following year he began practice in Clayton, being associated with his father until the death of the latter, since which time he has practiced alone. His standing both with the public and with the profession is deservedly high. He is examiner for a number of lodges (F. & A. M., Clayton Lodge, Cape Vin- cent Chapter, Watertown Commandery) and insurance companies, and is health officer of the town and village of Clayton. He is a member of the Jefferson County Medical Society, the I. O. O. F., the Foresters and a number of minor organizations. In politics he is a Democrat.
COLONEL ROBERT P. GRANT, of Clayton, Jefferson county, New York, a prominent financier, and whose activities have been use- fully employed in various large industrial and commercial enterprises, is a native of the state, born in Neversink, Sullivan county, May 6, 1844.
The Grant family is of Scotch origin, and that its members yet preserve the sterling qualities of the ancestral stock is attested by the career of Colonel Grant, whose attainment to prominence and success in life is due to unflagging industry and indomitable resolution. Robert
1 P. Granh
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P. Grant, paternal grandfather of his namesake, Colonel Robert P. Grant, was a second cousin of the illustrious Ulysses S. Grant. He was born in Stonington, Connecticut, and was a captain in the state militia. He died in Liberty, New York, in 1852, at the age of thirty years. His wife Elizabeth was a daughter of Benjamin Crumb, who was a major in the Revolutionary army, and died in Liberty at the advanced age of eighty-eight years. She was twice married, and was the mother of nine children, three of whom were by her marriage with Robert P. Grant; these were Isaac, Benjamin and Lucy, and the last named, who married one Cargill, is still living at Livingston Manor, Sullivan county, New York. The mother of these children died at the age of eighty years.
Isaac, son of Robert P. and Elizabeth (Crumb) Grant, was born in 1822, in Liberty, New York, and died in 1865 at Neversink, New York. He received only three months' instruction in the public schools, and early learned carpentering and joiner work. He was for many years a builder and contractor, making a specialty of putting up tan- neries, of which he built twelve in Sullivan county alone, and a number in Pennsylvania. He followed his trade in Neversink, New York, where he was a successful merchant during his later years. He was a man of excellent ability, was active in public affairs, and served for many years as supervisor. He was a methodist in religion, a trustee of the church, and his political affiliations were with the Democratic party. He married Hannah, a daughter of Peter Leroy. Her father was the first settler in the locality, when he located in Neversink, New York, reaching the spot by following blazed trees through the forest, and living the strenuous life of a pioneer. He died at the age of eighty years. His wife was Gertrude Leroy. With her husband she was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. She died at the age of forty-eight years, having borne to her husband eight children, of whom five are living -- Colonel Robert P. Grant, Elmer, Icilla, Myron and Hattie.
Robert P. Grant, eldest child in the family named, was reared to a life of industry, and bore a man's part in labor while he was yet a boy. Meantime he acquired the elements of an education in the district schools and afterwards managed to obtain two winters' tuition in the high school, and this preparation, with his natural ability and subse- quent attainments, proved au ample equipment for the duties of a stirring and useful life. After leaving school he took employment as clerk in
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a store at a wage of twenty-five cents a day, boarding himself. Ilis compensation was afterwards increased to fifty cents a day, and by flint of close economy he made some savings with which he purchased a few sheep, adding to his flock from time to time as his means would permit, until at the end of five years he sold out and found himself in possession of a capital amounting to $500. Young Grant then learned the tanner's trade, in which he was employed in 1863. when he tem- porarily abandoned his work to respond to the call of his country. He recruited Company C. Ninety-second Regiment, National Guard, State oi New York, was elected captain, and by reason of his proficiency in tactics was made drill master of the regiment. When the rebel General Early moved up the Shanandoah Valley to the invasion of Pennsyl- vania in 1864, Captain Grant participated with his regiment in a move- ment to the state line. The march, guard duty and scouting involved constant arduous effort, but the crisis passed without an engagement. Captain Grant displayed fine soldierly qualities during this service, and in 1865 he was promoted to the colonelcy of the regiment, although he was its youngest commissioned officer.
After his return from military service, Colonel Grant, with two others, purchased the tannery in which he had served his apprentice- ship, but a year later relinquished the business to engage in farming and store keeping in Neversink. In 1869 he removed to Hawkinsville, New York, where he conducted a tannery store, and a year later he embarked in a similar venture in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania. At the end of another year he went to Cameron county, in the same state. where he bought the bark on a ten-thousand-acre tract and also erected a tannery which he operated until 1874. In that year he disposed of his holdings, and with a capital of a few thousand dollars went to Fort Madison, Iowa, where in association with State Senator Kent he founded, in 1875. the Farmers' & Mechanics' Bank. The business failing to satisfy his desires, he sold his bank stock and returned in the following year to Clayton, New York, and with A. F. Barker estab- lished the Bank of Clayton, which four years later was reorganized uncler the same name under the state banking system. In 1884 Colonel Grant bought the Barker interest, and with fifty others organized the Exchange Bank, an institution which under his masterly direction proved successful beyond all expectations, and afforded opportunity for a splendid expansion. In 1897 he effected a reorganization with one hundred and twenty stockholders, and on January I following placed
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the bank under the national banking system as the National Exchange Bank of Clayton, with a capital of $50,000 and a surplus of $10,000. From the founding of the new bank to the present time, Colonel Grant has occupied the two-fold position of cashier and general manager, and is also one of the largest stockholders. His fine abilities as a financier have not only been well displayed in connection with that institution, but are recognized in various other departments of the monetary world. He is a stockholder in six national banks and a trust company, and is a member of the National Bankers' Association. He enjoys a wide acquaintance with state and national legislators, by whom he is frequently consulted with reference to financial and economical questions
Colonel Grant is also actively interested in the industrial life of the community and state. and is recognized as a prime leader in bring- ing dairying and its allied interests to their present great importance. About twenty years ago he became interested in cheese manufacturing, and he built one factory after another until he is now the managing owner of seven. He has given active and intelligent effort to the pro- tection of dairy products and of the consuming public by placing the seal of official condemnation upon adulterations, and as president of the Watertown Produce Exchange was instrumental in procuring the enactment of various restrictive laws. In 1901 his long continued efforts found their result in the formation of the State Dairy Board of Trade, of which he was elected president. One of the first acts of this body was to urge the passage of a bill prohibiting the false labeling of any dairy or other food products, in any state or territory, which was introduced in the national House of Representatives by Congressman Sherman of Utica.
Colonel Grant has also afforded to the people of his county services of signal usefulness in the capacity of supervisor, to which position he was elected in 1901, but refused a re-election in 1903. His official conduct is characterized by the same lofty ideals of integrity as mark his personal dealings, and he is sagacious in guarding every public interest. An instance in point occurred when he discovered that a $50.000 appropriation for the erection of a new county building had been illegally made, no legal call having been made for the special session of the board at which this action was taken, and in order to avoid further complications he insisted upon full compliance with the law. At the entertainment given in 1903 at Thousand Islands Park by
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Jefferson county, to the State Board of Charities, Colonel Grant was chosen by the board of supervisors to deliver an address of welcome in behalf of that body, and he acquitted himself with such credit as to secure high praise from prominent personages present and through the newspapers there represented.
His activities in the community reach into various useful fields. He conducts a large fire insurance business; is treasurer of the Anglers' Association of the St. Lawrence River; a member and former vice- president of the Fish, Game and Forest League, is now on the Legis- lature and Law Committee and a trustee of the Thousand Islands Park Association. He is also a member of Clayton Grange, No. 647, which belongs to the state association of Granges. In politics he is a Repub- lican, and his leaderlike qualities will in all probability find recognition in his calling to official station in the near future. He is a distinguished member of the Masonic fraternity, and has attained to the Thirty-second degree, Scottish Rite.
Colonel Grant was married September 14, 1870, to Miss Lettie C. Hayes, daughter of Daniel and Isabella (Love) Hayes. Her father was born in Nottingham, Herkimer county, New York, a son of Joseph Hayes, who was a native of the Mohawk Valley, and died in Boon- ville at the age of sixty years; the wife of Joseph Hayes was Ellen Machrel, who bore three children to her husband, whom she long sur- vived. Their son, Daniel Hayes, was a successful merchant and promi- inent in church and community affairs in Hawkinsville, New York, where he died, aged seventy-four years. His wife, who died aged seventy-one years, was a native of Maine, a daughter of James Love, who was an early settler in Oneida county, New York, where he died, aged ninety years. They were the parents of five children, of whom three are living; Oscar W., who resides in Hawkinsville, New York; Lettie C., who became the wife of Colonel Grant; and Belle, who lives in Hawkinsville, New York.
To Colonel and Mrs. Grant has been born a son, Robert D., who at an early age has entered upon a useful and what promises to be a brilliant career. He was educated in the public schools, and then en- tered the National Exchange Bank in the capacity of bookkeeper. He afterwards resigned and engaged in a plumbing and hardware business which he conducted with success for six years. His early training and business interests found reassertion, and January 1, 1903, he returned to the bank to occupy the position of assistant cashier. He was married
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in 1894 to Miss Glenny Skinner, and of this union was born a son, Robert P. Grant, Jr.
WILLIAM MENELEWS THOMSON. One of those men whose solid ability and sterling worth of character render them valuable citi- zens in whatever community they may reside, is William M. Thomson, of Watertown. His ancestors on both sides were natives of the "land of brown heather and shaggy wood."
David Thomson. his father, was born March 25, 1818, in Edin- burg, Scotland, where he received his education in a local academy. He was a papermaker, and followed his trade in his native land until 1854, when he emigrated to the United States and settled in Paterson, New Jersey. There he took charge of a mill, and later removed to Trenton, in the same state, where he remained some years. After spending some time in New Brunswick, New Jersey, he went to West Cummington, Massachusetts, where he made his home for ten years, moving thence to Holyoke, where he had charge of the Franklin mill. After working foi a time in Woodsdale, Ohio, he returned to Holyoke, and opened a grocery store, but subsequently disposed of the business and went to Colbrook, Connecticut, thence to Southport, in the same state, and thence to Ballston, New York. He subsequently lived in Palmer's Falls and Mechanicsville, again in Ballston and then in Rock City Falls. About 1881 he retired from business and took up his abode in Rochester with his son William M. Thomson.
Some years before leaving Scotland Mr. Thomson married Eliza- beth, daughter of William A. Menelews, a stone mason, who died in Scotland at the age of seventy-three. Mr. and Mrs. Thomson were the parents of nine children. five of whom are living: Elizabeth, wife of Frank Hitchcock, who resides in Buffalo; William M., mentioned at length hereinafter; David, who is employed in a paper-mill in Dayton, Ohio : George, who is engaged in the silk business in Buffalo ; and Mary, who married Walter Hunt, and resides in Montclair, New Jersey. The following are deceased: Jessie, twin of Elizabeth, who died at forty- four : James, who died in Michigan, at the age of forty ; Nellie, who died at twenty-two; and George, who was four years old at the time of his death. He was the fourth child, and his name was given to one born after his death. The death of Mrs. Thomson, the mother of the family, occurred May 17, 1887, in Ballston, New York, when she had reached the age of fifty-nine years. She was a woman loved and esteemed by all
37
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who knew her. Mr. Thomson, the father, died in 1892. in Rochester, at the home of his son William M. In all his migrations he had held the position of mill superintendent, and had manufactured paper of all grades. It is probable that in his own line of business he had a wider experience than any other man in the United States.
William M. Thomson, son of David and Elizabeth ( Menelews) Thomson, was born April 28, 1852, at Pennecook, Scotland, in the same house in which his mother first saw the light. At the age of two years he was brought by his parents to the United States, where he was edu- cated in common and high schools. He was associated with his father until reaching the age of twenty-one years. acquiring in the meantime a thorough knowledge of mechanics, when he went to Brooklyn, New York, where he obtained employment as paper machine tender on Red Hook Point. At the end of two years he went to Bloomfield. New Jersey, and then to Chicago, as a tender. After spending three years at Palmer's Falls, he went to Ballston and thence to Troy. His next removal was to Zanesville, Ohio, whence he returned to Ballston, and subsequently spent two years in Herkimer with Warner Brothers. He made his home for seven years in Rochester, and in 1891 went to Felts Mills, where he remained for ten years, being associated with the Taggart Brothers as night foreman. In 1901 he came to Watertown to assume the position of superintendent of the paper-mill of Knowlton Brothers. This posi- tion he still holds, contributing largely by his assiduity and energy to the prosperity of the business, and having under his direction forty-seven men. He is a member of Valley Lodge, No. 109, of the Masonic order, of Rochester, New York, and also of the Royal Arcanum. His political affiliations are with the Republicans, and he is a member of the Presby- terian church.
Mr. Thomson married, in 1882, Louise Dittmar, and they have three children: David, who is in a school of technology in Potsdam, New York : Nellie, who attends the high school ; and Fatanitza, who is also at school.
Mrs. Thomson is a daughter of Matthew Dittmar, who was a roll- ing-mill worker in Zanesville, Ohio. His children are: Nelson, who resides in Zanesville : Frederick, who lives in the same place ; Julius, who was born in Zanesville, but now resides in New Philadelphia, Ohio; Louise, who was also born in Zanesville, and became the wife of William M. Thomson, as mentioned above ; Lena, who resides in Ilion, New York ; Charles : Emma ; and Theodore-the three last named being residents
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of Ohio. Mrs. Dittmar, the mother of this family, is still living. Mr. Dittmar, who was a man much respected in the community in which he resided, died at Zanesville, in 1902, at the age of seventy-eight.
GEORGE S. McCARTIN, an attorney-at-law of Watertown, where he has practiced his profession since his admittance to the bar in 1902, was born August 2, 1878, a son of John C. McCartin, and grand- son of Thomas McCartin, who was born in ISIo in Ireland, came to this country in 1830, and settled in Redwood, Jefferson county, New York. He was a farmer by occupation, which industry he followed in the town of Alexandria for a number of years, and also in the town of Water- town. His death occurred in the town of Rochester, New York, in the eighty-first year of his age. He and his wife were the parents of four children.
John C. McCartin was born in Redwood, New York, March 8, 1840. He spent the early years of his life in his native town, and received a common school and academic education. He assisted with the work of the farm until 1858, when he came to Watertown, studied law with the then celebrated law firm of-Beach & Brown, and was admitted to the bar in 1861, two years later serving in the capacity of managing clerk in the same office. He enlisted in Company A, Fourteenth New York Heavy Artillery, in 1863, and was promoted to first lieutenant of his company. On account of physical disability he was discharged from the service in the summer of 1864, and soon thereafter resumed the prac- tice of law at Watertown. In 1868 he became associated with Hon. Pardon C. Williams, under the firm name of McCartin & Williams, and this connection continued until Mr. Williams was elected justice of the supreme court, in 1883. after which Mr. McCartin practiced alone until his death, January 2, 1892, at which time he was among the oldest and most successful members of the bar. He was a Democrat in politics. took an active interest in national and local affairs, and although the county was strongly Republican, he was elected judge by a majority of over two hundred, and was the first Democrat elected to fill that posi- tion in over thirty years.
In 1872 Mr. McCartin was united in marriage to Julia Sterling, born in Antwerp, New York. daughter of John Riley and Roxanna (Church) Sterling (sec Sterling, eighth generation). One child was born to them, George S., mentioned in the following paragraph. Mrs. McCartin, who died in 1889, was one of five children. In 1891 Mr.
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McCartin married for his second wife Miss Fanny Paddock, of Norwich Corners, New York, who survived him, and is now a resident of Penn- sylvania.
George S. McCartin was reared in Watertown, and his educational advantages were obtained in the common and graded schools of that town, at Andover Academy, and Yale College, from which institution lie was graduated in 1900. He then pursued a course of legal training in the New York Law School, was graduated therefrom in 1902, and at once returned to Watertown, New York, where he has practiced his chosen profession to the present time.
EMORY JOSEPH PENNOCK, a worthy representative of an old New England family, and of the pioneer settlers of the town of Champion, was born on the farm where he now resides, February 28, 1832. His grandfather, Joseph Pennock, was born in Hadley, Massachusetts, as was probably his wife, Chloe Castle. About 1808 they moved from Old Hadley to Athens, New York, where they died.
Wilson Pennock, son of Joseph and Chloe, was born September 16, 1789, in Hadley, and died June 16, 1867, in Champion. His wife, Sarah Pardee, was born September 19, 1792, in Dorset, Vermont, and died February 25, 1873, in Champion. They reared seven children and lost eight before three years old, including a pair of twins. Of the survivors, John Wilson died April 18, 1858, in Champion. George W. died July 3, 1892, in Chaumont, where most of his life was passed. Ames C. is a resident of Omaha, Nebraska, aged eighty-eight years. Hiram, born August 28, 1817, died December 15, 1891, at Grand Rapids, Michigan. Huldah Ann, born October 14, 1819, is the widow of Miner Allen, son of Miner Merrill (see Merrill), and resides in West Carthage, a very sprightly and interesting lady, who furnished much of the dates and other information in this article. Clarissa E. married (first) John C. Peunock (distant relative), and (second) Thomas Crawley, and resides in Ottawa. Canada. Emory Joseph receives extended mention below.
Wilson Pennock became a Methodist preacher, and settled on a farm one mile south of Great Bend in 1809. He was a pioneer minister and rode all over northern New York, being frequently called fifty miles on funeral occasions, and often made trips through the wilderness on horseback, lasting six weeks. In the meantime he eleared up a farm, and became a large dealer in cattle. For fourteen successive autumns he drove cattle to Albany to market, employed by Daniel Potter. He was
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known throughout this region as "Father Pennock." and was universally loved for his kind heart, genial manner, and ministrations to the needy and to the spiritual welfare of all. Every settler in a vast district was personally known to him, and his kind offices were innumerable.
Sarah Pardee, wife of Wilson Pennock, was a daughter of another pioneer of Jefferson county, John Pardee, who was born December 25. 1764, in Salem, Washington county, New York, and died June 3, 1827. in Champion. His wife, Hannah Gage, was born February 28. 1772, in Dorset, Vermont, and survived him almost fifteen years, dying March 27, 1842, while visiting a daughter in the town of Wilna. Previous to 1804 Mr. Pardee settled at Champion "Huddle." and built a mill and distillery, which were operated by the excellent waterpower which then existed there. The destruction of the timber has very much decreased the streams of this section, and those which once carried considerable machinery are now insignificant brooks. In 1804 Mr. Pardee sold out his mill and moved to a farm near Great Bend, where he kept a hotel and postoffice.
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