USA > New York > Jefferson County > Genealogical and family history of the county of Jefferson, New York, Volume I > Part 59
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Emory J. Pennock grew up on his father's farm, which has ever been his home except during two years spent at Canton, New York. He attended the district school at Great Bend, going in summer until nine years old, and continuing during the winter terms until seventeen. He was early accustomed to mow with a scythe, keeping along with the men employed on the farm. Being industrious and helpful to his father he continued at home and saw very little money until his marriage. For two years thereafter he worked by the month for his father in the summer, and cut cordwood and otherwise employed himself during the winter. In those days he received twenty-five cents per cord for cutting wood, and paid for his board by doing chores about the farm night and morning. During two winters he threshed wheat with a flail, receiving every eighth bushel as compensation. In 1853 he bought a farm of over fifty acres at Canton, on which he settled, but was in- duced to return to the parental home at the end of two years in order to care for his parents in their declining years. The original farm con- tained ninety acres, and he has bought and sold, now holding one hundred and eleven acres. From the most humble beginnings, having enough money to pay the clergyman's fee at his marriage, a worker, looking for improvements in all matters, he has become one of the most inde- pendent farmers of the town, and is a much respected citizen. In years past he has produced large amounts of the celebrated Black river pota-
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toes, and now gives considerable attention to dairying. His influence is always cast in favor of the highest morality, and he is ready to foster every movement calculated to benefit mankind. He was one of the organizers of the Good Templars' lodge at Great Bend, and among its most faithful supporters during its existence. For many years he has been a leading member of the Methodist church at Great Bend, in which he is class leader and district steward. He adhered to the Republican party in its early days, but has been active in the Prohibition party dur- ing the last sixteen years. He refused a nomination for supervisor on the Republican ticket, but has frequently been the candidate of the Prohibitionists for that office.
Mr. Pennock was married November 10, 1852, to Miss Cordelia M. Lewis, who was born in Champion, October 5, 1833, a daughter of Abel P. and Mary Lewis, of that town. Abel P. Lewis was a native of Canada, a son of Nicholas and Barbara ( Potter) Lewis. Mary Stod- dard was a daughter of Stephen and Elizabeth (Beardsley) Stoddard, the latter a native of Vermont. The Lewis family has been traced to Richard Lewis, a native of Rhode Island. His son, Arnold Lewis, took up seven hundred acres of land in the town of Champion. He had served seven years as a colonial soldier in the French and Indian war, and was for a like period a continental soldier in the revolution, holding the rank of colonel. In the last struggle he acted as surgeon, and became a preacher of the Baptist church after peace came. He died in 1824 in Champion. His son Nicholas came to Champion in 1804, and occupied the farm now owned by Norman J. Fuller, between Great Bend and Champion village, where he died. He had two children-Robea and Abel P. The latter was born in 1800, in Galway, Saratoga county, this state, and succeeded his father on the homestead farm. He died February 12, 1888, at the home of his son, in Rutland. His wife died in 1858, after which he retired from farming. They had thirteen . children, of whom eleven grew to maturity. Of these eleven, Mrs. E. J. Pennock is the sixth. She is the mother of seven children, four of whom are living: William Emory, born June 12. 1853, resides on his father's farm, which he tills. He married Emma, daughter of John Floyd Peck, and granddaughter of Joseph Peck, a Revolutionary soldier ( see Peck ). Lillian C., November 10, 1854, is the wife of Fred Cooper, residing in Philadelphia, this coun- ty. Elva Estelle, wife of William King, was born February 5, 1859, and died January 13. 1885. in Champion. Arthur F., April 2, 1861. is a Methodist clergyman, now pastor of Grace church, Utica. Cora B., June
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9, 1863. is the wife of Frank Phillips, of Carthage, New York. Frank WV .. born September 5, 1865, died July 24, 1873. Grace M., May 30, 1874, died June 20, 1892.
WILLARD AINSWORTH. The Ainsworth family is first found of record in Lancaster, England, A. D. 1369, when John Ainsworth owned lands there. The coat-of-arms is: "Gules, three battle axes, argent ; crest, two battle axes in saltire, proper ; motto, courage sans peur."
(I) The founder of the American family was Edward Ainsworth, who is first of record in this country at the time of his marriage, January II. 1688, at Roxbury, Massachusetts, to Joanna Hemingway. She was born September 21. 1670, a daughter of Joshua and Joanna (Evans) Hemingway. She died December 23, 1748, and he passed away March 5, 1741, aged about eighty-nine years, which indicates his birth to have occurred about 1652. ( Tradition says that he was called to this country from England by his uncle, Daniel Ainsworth, who had no other male heir. Being uneasy he went to sea, and after being wrecked on the Georgia coast, settled down at Roxbury.) In 1703 he sold out his pos- sessions at Roxbury, and removed to Woodstock, Connecticut, where a large contingent from Roxbury had previously settled. He was a husbandman, and gradually added to his lands, which were made over to his son in 1725, with provision for the maintenance of himself and wife. He increased his estate fourfold, beside providing in his lifetime for ten children, and the inventory shows it to have been valued at more than eight hundred and one pounds, sterling. His children were : Joshua, Hannah, Edward, Elizabeth, Daniel, Joanna (died an infant), Joanna, Judith. Dorcas, Thomas, Mary, Smith and Nathan.
(II) Edward, second son and third child of Edward and Joanna (Hemingway) Ainsworth, was born August 18, 1693, at Roxbury, and was married April 5, 1722, to Joanna Davis, of Pomfret, Connecticut (the town adjoining Woodstock on the west). She was a daughter of Matthew and Margaret (Corbin) Davis, was born October 22, 1696, and died April 25, 1753. Their children, all born in Woodstock, were: Abigail, Daniel, Alice, Edward and William. All were living June 28, 1758, when all agreed that the youngest son should administer the estate. This date fixes, approximately, the time of the father's death.
(III) Daniel, eldest son and second child of Edward (2) and Joannah (Davis) Ainsworth, was born October 21, 1724, in Woodstock, and was married June 1, 1746, to Sarah Bugbee, who died July 14, 1763.
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He was married (second ) January 7, 1766, to Elizabeth Corbin, of Dud- ley, Massachusetts (adjoining Woodstock on the north). He died in 1810 at Cherry Valley, New York, aged about eighty-six years. He was a heavy loser by the depreciation of continental money during and after the revolution. His children by the first marriage, all born in Wood- stock, were: Sybil, Candace, Elizabeth, Henry, Joannah, Daniel, Leon, Wyman, Sarah and Willard. The children of the second marriage were : Elijah, Perley, Dolly and Philip.
(IV) Henry, eldest son and fourth child of Daniel and Sarah (Bugbee) Ainsworth, was born January 3. 1753, in Woodstock, Con- necticut, and immediately after attaining his majority settled in Pomfret, Vermont. There he was married December 18, 1777, to Frances Throop, daughter of Judge John Winchester Throop, of Pomfret. She was born May 23. 1757, and died January 29, 1829, in Milton, Vermont. In 1797 Mr. Ainsworth moved to Fairhaven, Vermont, and thence in 1807 to St. Albans, same state. He died in Milton July 11, 1827. All of his children, except the last, were born in Pomfret, and were named as follows: Danforth, Avery, Alfred, Henry, Frances Throop, Willard, Sarah, Judah Throop ( died an infant ). Judah Throop and Amos Throop.
(V) Willard, fifth son and sixth child of Henry and Frances (Throop) Ainsworth, was born November 22, 1791, in Pomfret, Ver- mont, and was married August 21, 1815, to Sarah Green, of St. Albans, same state. She was born August 6, 1795, and died October 24, 1866, surviving her husband by one year and six days. He passed away October 18. 1865, in Cape Vincent, this state. He settled in that town in the year 1819, and became an extensive and successful farmer and man of affairs. His farm was on the present line between Lyme and Cape Vin- cent, both towns being one under the former name until April 10, 1849, many years after his arrival. He was a Presbyterian, in early life a Whig, and from its organization a supporter of the Republican party. For a period of nine years he served as supervisor of his town, before the division, and in other ways aided in the advancement of the public interests. He was a friend of education, and was ever ready to con- tribute to the material and moral growth of his neighborhood and the world at large.
A brief account of his children follows: Fanny Marilla, married Augustus Carrier, of Cape Vincent, and died in Washington, D. C. Mary Simmons became the wife of Henry Esselstyn. of Clayton, and died in 1892, at Detroit. Sidney W. died at Crown Point, Indiana. Eliza
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H. married S. B. Hance, a United States consul at Kingston, Canada, and died at Cape Vincent. Henry G. died at Pleasant Hill, Missouri. Judah H. died at Cape Vincent. Sarah G. died at Bloomington, Illinois, while the wife of Spencer R. Briggs. Corydon died when one year old.
(VI) Willard, youngest son and eighth child of Willard ( I) and Saralı (Green) Ainsworth, was born March 6, 1830, in the town of Cape Vincent. He was early trained in the habits of industry and thrift peculiar to our New England ancestry, and attended the public schools of his native town. From the completion of his studies until he attained tlic age of thirty-five years he devoted his entire attention to agricultural pursuits. He then entered upon a mercantile career, and the following five years was associated with G. W. Warren in the management of a general store at Cape Vincent. He then organized and became president of the Lake Ontario Fish Company, a stock concern extensively engaged in the wholesale fish business, which bought up or consolidated several fishing interests. In 1893 he disposed of his interests and retired from active business pursuits. Under his management the business had in- creased from year to year until the annual sales aggregated many tons, averaging in value fifteen hundred dollars weekly. It gave constant em- ployment to eigiity men, and to meet the demands of the trade required twenty-five boats, fifty miles of gill-nets, and one hundred and twenty pound-traps and hoop-nets, the value of which was forty thousand dol- lars. Before engaging in the fish business, Mr. Ainsworth served as deputy collector of customs at Cape Vincent for four years, and his adiministration was characterized by the utmost integrity and fidelity. He holds membership in the Presbyterian church of Cape Vincent, and for the long period of thirty years served as chairman of its board of trustees. He supports the principles advocated by the Republican party.
Mr. Ainsworth was married June 2, 1858, to Mary C. Herrick, of Clayton, New York, born March 4, 1835, daughter of Martin and Lucy (Colborn) Herrick. Lucy Colborn was a daughter of Rev. Ebenezer and Lucy (Chandler ) Colborn, and traced her lineage to William Chandler, who settled in New England in 1637, and also to John Eliot, the "Apostle to the Indians," whose descendants have made bright pages in the history of the country. Mr. and Mrs. Ainsworth's children are: Nellie A., wife of Frank Sears McGraw, mother of two children, John and Sears McGraw; they reside in Buffalo, New York. Corydon Everett, who married Florence Mead, and they are the parents of two daughters, Mar- garet and Frances Ainsworth, and reside at Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.
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Emma G., Mrs. William R. Gray, mother of two children, Joseph How- ard and Mary Ainsworth Gray, residing at Elizabeth, New Jersey. Elton E., who married Helen Grube, and one son was born to them, Willard .Ainsworth, now deceased ; they reside at Seattle, Washington. Sally Green, wife of James Burt Smalley, who died in Bay City, Michigan, in 1901 ; she was the mother of one son, Darwin Covert Smalley, now de- ceased. Mary Willard Ainsworth, who was an invalid from birth, died at the age of fourteen years.
JOHN W. SPRATT. Among the citizens of Watertown who, during the last half century, have contributed largely toward building up the material prosperity of the city and also toward securing good municipal administration, John W. Spratt holds an honored place. His ancestors were English and Scotch-Irish. His grandfather, who was the proprietor of a hotel in Belfast, Ireland, was the father of a son, Henry, who came to the United States in 1825, and learned the printer's trade at Watertown, where he arrived when a boy, his parents being then deccased. He lived for a time in Watertown, and married Mar- garet, sister of the celebrated Judge Joseph Mullin, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Spratt were the parents of four children, only one of whom is now living, John W., mentioned at length hereinafter. In 1838 Mr. Spratt died in Vicksburg, Missis- sippi, at a comparatively early age. His wife survived him fifty years, passing away in 1888.
Jolın W. Spratt, son of Henry and Margaret ( Mullin) Spratt, was boru February 16, 1833, in Watertown, where he received his education in the common schools. Over fifty years ago he went into the hardware business, being employed by various firms, with all of whom he acquired a reputation for ability and trustworthiness. Forty years ago he engaged in business for himself as a member of the firm or Sargent & Spratt. In the course of time this firm was succeeded by that of Gates & Spratt, which conducted a flourishing business for many years. Since 1890 Mr. Spratt has been the sole proprietor. As a hardware merchant his trans- actions are large and his commercial relations extensive, but notwith- standing his business cares he is never unmindful of the duties of a citizen, and so convinced are his townsmen that the administration of municipal affairs could not be intrusted to better hands that he has for some time past filled the office of alderman.
Mr. Spratt married in December, 1865, Annie M., daughter of
Joseph Spratt
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Mark Taylor, and two children were born to them, Annie May and Joseph H. The latter enlisted in the Ninth Infantry Regiment during the Spanish war, and participated in several battles about Manila. After surviving the perils and hardships of the campaign he died in San Francisco while on his way home. This affliction fell with double force upon Mr. Spratt, inasmuch as he had a few years before been bereaved of his estimable wife whose death occurred in 1893.
Joseph Spratt, son of Henry and Margaret (Mullin) Spratt, and brother of John W. Spratt mentioned hereinbefore, was born in 1831, attended the common schools, and received a military education at West Point. He studied law, was admitted to the bar, and entered upon the practice of his profession in Watertown. He was successful in a marked degree, and the future seemed to be full of promise for him when the country was agitated by the outbreak of the civil war. Mr. Spratt was among those who responded to the call to arms. Gladly foregoing at the call of duty the bright prospects which seemed opening before him, he exchanged the office for the camp, the forum for the battlefield, and went to the front as captain of Battery H, First New York Artillery. No battery did more or better service than this one, which was pronounced by General Barry, Chief of Artillery, to be the best in the Army of the Potomac. Later Captain Spratt aided in organ- izing the Tenth Heavy Artillery, with which he went out as major, being subsequently promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel. His whole term of service covered a period of three years. He was wounded at the battle of Fair Oaks, and in 1865 died from discase contracted while in the army, thus laying down his life for his country. In grate- ful recognition of his self-sacrificing services his name has been given to the Grand Army Post of Watertown.
LORENZO THURBER KELSEY, a retired agriculturist of Cape Vincent, Jefferson county, New York, is a native of the town in which he now resides, born December 28, 1828, a son of Silas L. and Sally (Powers) Kelsey, and grandson of Eber and Lucy ( Leet ) Kelsey.
Eber Kelsey was born in Killingworth, Middlesex county, Connec- ticut, in 1757. He was a resident of his native state until 1806. when he located at Cape Vincent, New York, where for many years he was the proprietor of a hotel on Market street, which was a stone structure of renaissance architecture, and in addition to this undertaking he oper- ated a ferry to Wolf Island. He was one of the earliest settlers of Cape
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Vincent, remaining there until his death. His wife, Lucy ( Leet ) Kel- sey, a New Englander by birth, who died January 7. 1824, aged fifty- five years, bore him the following named children: Zilpha, born April 19, 1783 ; Mary, March 21. 1785 : Eber Lewis, January 4, 1787 : Eli, Oc- tober 20, 1789: Laura C .. December 15. 1791 ; Gideon Leet, November 21, 1792; Uriah Alson, December 21, 1794: Lucy Ann, November 14, 1796; Silas Lender, December 20, 1798: Sarah S., December 9, 1800; and Lorenzo Alson, February 22, 1803.
Silas L. Kelsey, ninth child of Eber and Lucy (Leet ) Kelsey, was born in Lewis county, New York, December 20, 1798. He obtained a common school education, and at the age of thirteen years came to Cape Vincent, where he resided for the remainder of his life, devoting his entire time and attention to agricultural pursuits. He was united in marriage to Sally Powers, born in St. Albans, Vermont, a daughter of David and Anna (Day) Powers, and their children were: Harriet Adeline, wife of Charles Smith, born October II. 1824, died July 24, 1880; she was the mother of one son, Silas Avery. Helen Maria, wife of Henry Ainsworth, born May 21, 1826, died May 6, 1847; she was the mother of two children, Hattie and Silas Henry Ainsworth. Lorenzo Thurber, born December 28, 1828, mentioned hereinafter. Hannah Sophia, Mrs. James T. Borland, born July 7, 1833, died October 27, 1867, at Cape Vincent ; she was the mother of three children, Nellie E., Dwight Mather, and Wilbur Porter Borland. Leander Gideon, born April 26, 1841, resides at Cape Vincent. Silas L. Kelsey, father of these children, died August 5, 1865, aged sixty-seven years, and his wife. Sally (Powers) Kelsey, passed away March 10, 1868, in the sixty-fourth year of her age.
Lorenzo T. Kelsey attended the common schools of his native town, and thereby acquired a practical education which prepared him for the activities of life. His business career was devoted to the occupation of farming, and by intelligent and careful management he obtained satis- factory results, and was able to accumulate a competency which enabled him to retire from active business pursuits in the year 1870, and since that time. a period of thirty-four years, he has enjoyed a well-earned rest. For eighteen consecutive years, beginning shortly before leaving the farm, he was the incumbent of the office of assessor of the town of Cape Vin- cent, having been elected on the Democratic ticket. He adheres to the tenets of the Presbyterian church, in which he holds membership, and is affiliated with Cape Vincent Lodge No. 293. Free and Accepted Masons.
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On October 15, 1851, Mr. Kelsey married Margaret Baird, born November 18, 1830, at Johnstown, Fulton county, New York, daughter of Azariah, born January 18, 1803, at Johnstown, New York, died Sep- tember 28. 1864, and Katherine (McGregor) Baird, born May 3, 1809, at Johnstown, New York, died May 14, 1894. One child was born to Mr. and Mrs. Kelsey, Hattie Evelyn, born October 6, 1860, died Sep- tember 25. 1882.
RICHARD DAVIS, a highly respected citizen of Cape Vincent, is a representative of that class of men of foreign birth, who, after their adoption in a new country, are true and loyal to the interests of the same, and are willing if need be to sacrifice their all for its safety and honor.
He was born in Crowny Horan, in County Wicklow, Ireland, May 15, 1827, and emigrated to this country at the age of twenty-two years. His ancestors came from Wales to Ireland, long ago. His maternal grand- father, Richard Doyle, was a blacksmith at Berlingate, Ireland. His parents, James and Winifred (Doyle) Davis, died in Ireland, but one brother, John, and two sisters, Margaret and Mary, all of whom are now deceased, came to America and settled in Kingston, Canada. John was the father of one child, who died in early childhood; Margaret be- came the wife of Michael Donahue, and three children were born to them-Florence and Mary Hannah, now deceased ; and Mary, who resides with Mr. Davis; Mary, the other sister, died unmarried, in Kingston. After a residence of two years in Kingston, Richard Davis removed to Cape Vincent and secured employment with the Rome, Watertown & Ogdensburg Railroad Company, with which he remained for twenty years, and during the greater portion of this time he served in the capacity of watchman. The following nine years he was occupied as a cartman, and then entered into partnership with William Sheely in the coal business. This connection continued for two years, and at the expiration of this period Mr. Davis purchased his partner's interest, and has since conducted the business, assisted by his sons, under the firm name of R. Davis & Sons, dealing extensively in coal, wood and ice. and achieving a large degree of success, the direct result of honor- able business methods. He is a devout member of Saint Vincent DePaul Catholic church, and a staunch supporter of the principles of the Democratic party, with which he has always cast his vote. For five years he was a trustee of the village of Cape Vincent.
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Mr. Davis was married early in 1855, at Cornwall, Canada, to Mary Cummins, who was born in 1833, in the same parish as her hus- band, and was his schoolmate in childhood. She died September 14, 1903. Their children were: Richard, who married Mary Burns, and has two children, James and Helen Davis; Winnifred, residing with her father ; John, a resident of Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, who married Nellie Dough- erty, and their children are James Lawrence, and John Valentine Davis; James, who married Mary Brady, and their children are Richard, Anna, Margaret and Mary Louise Davis; Thomas, who married Anna Aiken, no issue ; Anna, Mary, Sarah, and Martha, the last four deceased.
THOMAS JOSEPH DAVIS, resident manager of the Cape Vin- cent Seed Company, with which he has been connected for the past nine years, is a native of Cape Vincent, born in 1870, a son of Richard and Mary (Cummins) Davis.
Thomas J. Davis acquired a practical education in the common school and high school of Cape Vincent, New York. He then became associated with his father in the coal business under the firm name of R. Davis & Sons, and for nine years he was thus engaged, during which time he added materially to the growth and prosperity of the enter- prise. On July 1, 1895, he entered the employ of the Cape Vincent Seed Company, Limited, serving as foreman, and by conscientious and faith- ful labor lie advanced step by step during the first six years of his con- nection with the company, and finally, in 1901, was appointed to the responsible position of resident manager of the business now known as the Cape Vincent Seed Company. It is in a prosperous and flourishing condition and increasing wonderfully yearly, their manufacture being pea meal and split peas for consumption in the making of soups. The business was established about sixteen years ago, and the manufactory is owned by H. C. Gibbs, whose office is located in the Produce Exchange, New York city. Mr. Davis is a devout member of Saint Vincent DePaul Catholic church, Cape Vincent ; casts his vote with the Democratic party ; and is affiliated with the order of Knights of Columbus, No. 259, Water- town, New York.
At Oswego, New York, September 24, 1902, Mr. Davis was united in marriage to Anna L. Aiken, a native of that city, born in 1870.
HECTOR ADAMS, of Chaumont, who after an active business life of nearly one-third of a century, is living in pleasant retirement,
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is the representative of an old and honored English family, as is attested by its coat-of-arms : A shield, upon which is borne a red cross and five stars, surmounted by a lion ; motto: "Sub cruce salus Adams."
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