USA > New York > Jefferson County > Genealogical and family history of the county of Jefferson, New York, Volume I > Part 60
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(I) George Adams, thie ancestor of the American family of Adams, is found of record in Watertown, Massachusetts, in 1645. He removed to Cambridge Farms, Lexington, in the same province, and there died, leaving a widow Frances, five sons and one daughter. His third son,
(II) Daniel Adams, born in 1652, in Louisburg, was a sergeant in the Louisburg train band, and a member of the general court in 1699, 1702 and 1703. He married September 20, 1677. and died November 17, 1713, leaving a widow with six sons and five daughters.
(III) Benjamin, fifth son of Daniel Adams, was born in 1691, and was captain of a military company in 1733. He was twice married, his first wife being Rachel Chase, and the second Lois Griswold. He died October 3, 1770, leaving five sons and one daughter.
(IV) Timothy, second son of Captain Benjamin Adams, was born in 1716. He married Hannah Chase, and they were the parents of five sons and one daughter. He moved to Hartford county. Connecticut.
(V) Benjamin, son of Timothy Adams, was born January 2, 1738, and died January 3, 1816, aged seventy-eight years. He served with the rank of sergeant in the Revolutionary war. He married Hannah Dyer, who was born January 27, 1742, and settled in Simsbury, Con- necticut. They had three sons and five daughters. The mother died January 3, 1824, in Addison, Vermont, where they had settled about 1802.
(VI) Benjamin, eldest son of Benjamin Adams, Sr., was born October 30, 1765, in Simsbury. He married Susan Snell October 10, 1792, in Burlington, Vermont. In 1807 he settled at South Hero, and in 1836 he removed to Milton, same county, and died April 11, 1842. His wife was born May II, 1768, in Bridgewater, Massachusetts, and died May 4, 1850, at Milton. They had four sons and six daughters.
(VII) Hector, eidest son and fifth child of Benjamin Adams, Jr., was born in Burlington. Vermont, September 27, 1800. He was ad- mitted to the practice of law in 1823, and was a distinguished lawyer at the Vermont bar, as well as in the United States courts, and repre- sented his town in the legislature for five sessions, being the third in descent to so serve, his father and grandfather having also sat in that body. He removed to Battle Creek, Michigan, in October, 1861, and 38
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died in Vermont, May 31, 1875. at the residence of his son in South Hero, whom he was visiting. He married, November 13, 1823, Laura Merriam. She was a daughter of Daniel Merriam, and a descendant in the eighth generation of George Barbour, who was born in 1615. and came to America in 1635.
(VIII) John Quincy Adams, eldest son of Hector and Laura ( Merriam) Adams, was born in South Hero, Grand Isle county, Ver- mont, August 26, 1824, and died in Chaumont, Jefferson county, New York, July 17, 1896. He removed in 1867 to the place last named and purchased a tract of land comprising three hundred acres or more. He was an industrious, progressive man, and conducted a lumbering busi- ness in addition to managing his farm. He was essentially a self-made man, and was held in high respect for his broad intelligence and integrity of character. His wife was Emily Lincoln Ayers, who was born in Mil- ton, Vermont, January 24. 1828, and died in Chaumont, February 18, 1903. They were married September 3. 1846. in Milton, and their children were: I. Agnes C., born in Milton, Vermont, April 6, 1847; died September 1, 1897, at Rices. Jefferson county, New York, being the wife of H. Frank Comins. 2. Ashton Warren, born at Milton, Vermont. February 26, 1851, now a resident of Chaumont. 3. Hec- tor, born in Colchester, Vermont, March 5, 1858. 4. Harry, born in Colchester, March 6, 1860; died October 23. 1862. 5. Jennie, born in Colchester, August 5. 1862; married Dr. W. C. Borden, and lives in Washington, D. C. 6. William Horner, born in Colchester, August 28, 1864: died in August, 1879. 7. May Elizabeth. born in Chau- mont, Jefferson county, New York, May 1. 1868; married George R. Warren, and resides in Chaumont.
Hector Adams, third child and second son of John Quincy and Emily Lincoln (Ayers) Adams, received his education in the common schools of Chaumont. His active years were given to the stone and lime business, trom which he recently retired. He has borne a full share of the advancement of community interests, and is known as a progressive, public-spirited citizen. He attends the Presbyterian church, is a Republican in politics, and is a member of Chaumont Lodge, No. 172, F. and A. M .; and of Chaumont Grange, No. 855, Patrons of Hus- bandry.
Mr. Adams married, April 2. 1800, Miss Sarah E. Haas, daughter of Henry and Cecilia Haas, of Chaumont. To them was born. December 4, 1895. a son, Alton Haas Adams.
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HON. ISAAC L. HUNT, an attorney of Jefferson county, and recently its representative in the state legislature, and now also identified with agricultural affairs, was born in Salisbury, Herkimer county, New York, December 4, 1850. The ancestry of the family can be traced back to Edward Hunt, of Shropshire, England, who was a colonel in Cromwell's army, and one of his most loyal followers. He came to America in 1661. It is a tradition in the family that lie commanded the troops at the time of the execution of King Charles I. His wife was the only daughter of Lord Gilmore, and they became the founders of the Hunt family in New England. Isaac Hunt, the next of the name of whom we have record, participated in a number of the early Indian wars. He was a farmer by occupation, and a very active and influential man in his community. He married Grisel Lord, and they resided in Stratford, Connecticut.
Their son, William L. Hunt, the great-grandfather of Isaac L. Hunt, was born in Stratfield, Connecticut, February 12, 1770, and spent his childhood in Sharon, Connecticut, where he acquired liis education. Learning the tanner's trade in his early youth, he followed it for a long period and spent some time in that pursuit at Hillsdale, Columbia county, New York. In 1812 he removed to Westmoreland, New York, where he spent his remaining days. He married Betsy Calkins, who was born in Sharon, Connecticut, and was a daughter of Elijah Calkins. The founder of the Calkins family in America came from Wales and settled in Rhode Island. Elijah Calkins was one of a family of seven brothers. all of whom served in the Revolutionary war. Elijah Calkins became one of the first residents of Sharon, Connecticut, and was active in found- ing the colony there.
Rev. Isaac L. Hunt, a son of William L. Hunt, was born in Hills- dale, Columbia county, New York, December 5. 1808. He pursued his academic education in Cazenovia Seminary and afterward attended Hamilton College, at Clinton, New York. Preparing for the min- istry, he was licensed to preach in the Methodist Episcopal church and at different times filled the pulpits of the churches in Little Falls, Fulton, Oswego, Lowville and Potsdam, and for many years was a presiding elder in northern New York, during which time he resided at Adams. There he spent the last years of his life. He married Miss Judith L. Lambertson, who was born in Salisbury. Herkimer county, New York. April 18, 1818. She was a daughter of Cornelius Lambertson, who was also born in Salisbury, and was one of seven brothers, all of whom
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followed farming. and their descendants still live in Herkimer county. They were sons of Cornelius Lambertson, who was born in New Jersey, and served for seven years in the Revolutionary war. He was a first lieutenant in the early part of his service, but before the close of the war had become a lieutenant-colonel. Removing to Herkimer county, New York, he became one of the first settlers of Salisbury. His an- cestry could be traced back to 1640, when the first of the name emi- grated from England and settled in New Jersey. His second wife was Mary Johnston, who was born in what is now Montgomery county, New York, and was a relative of Sir William Johnston. Her ancestry was Irish. There were five children in the family of the Rev. Isaac L. Hunt, but only two are now living, the daughter being Mrs. Harriet R. Reynolds, the wife of the Rev. W. E. Reynolds, a clergyman of the Methodist Episcopal church, now located in Westmoreland, Oneida county, New York.
Isaac L. Hunt, the only living son, was educated in St. Lawrence Academy in Potsdam, New York, in Cazenovia Seminary, Hungerford Institute, of Adams, New York, and the Union University, of Schenec- tady, New York, being graduated in the last named institution in the class of 1872. He then entered upon his business career as an accountant in the Merchants' Bank of Watertown, New York, occupying that posi- tion for a number of years. He afterward practiced law in Adams, New York, having been admitted to the bar in 1872. He is now devot- ing his time and attention to agricultural interests, making a specialty of the breeding of Swiss cattle. His business discernment and enter- prise have been manifest along various lines with the result that success has attended his efforts.
In his political affiliations Mr. Hunt is a stalwart Republican, and being well informed on the issues and questions of the day is able to support his position by intelligent argument. He has exerted consid- erable influence in local political affairs, and is also well known in the state as a Republican leader. In 1881 he was elected to the general assembly of New York, in which he served until 1884. He has been the candidate of his party in the primary conventions for congress for three terms, and has a strong following. For four years he has been a member of the New York central committee of the Republican party for his congressional district. Fraternally he is a Mason and an Odd Fellow, and he also belongs to the Grange. His public-spirited interest
A Bickelhaupt
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in the welfare of his town is manifested by his active co-operation in many measures for the general good.
Mr. Hunt was married September 1, 1874, to Alice A. Gilbert, of Adams, New York, a daughter of Hon. William A. and Julia A. ( Scott) Gilbert. Her father was a well known statesman of this portion of New York, and represented his district in the legislature and also in congress.
ADAM BICKELHAUPT, a merchant of Redwood, Jefferson county, New York, who has been the architect and builder of his own fortunes, was born in Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, March 10, 1848. His father, Hieronemus Bickelhaupt, born in the same town as his son, in 1806, came to the United States in 1853, bringing with him his entire family.
Hieronemus Bickelhaupt ( father) settled in the town of Alex- andria, New York, where he became a practical and successful farmer. He had engaged in trucking in Germany, and at the time of his emigra- tion to the new world had a very limited capital. He worked for an entire year for one hundred dollars, and out of this sum saved ninety- four. The following year he was paid fifty cents per day for his service with the exception of two months in the summer, when he received seventy-five cents per day. For seven years he rented farms, and through his unremitting economy and unfaltering industry saved some money. Finally, in 1863, he became the owner of a valuable tract of one hundred and sixty acres, upon which he resided for the remainder of his days. He took part in the affairs of the German Lutheran church, and was largely instrumental in the upbuilding of the organization. Mr. Bickelhaupt was twice married. He first wedded a Miss Daum, and to them were born two sons-George, who served with the Third Wis- consin Cavalry Regiment during the civil war; and Leonard, who was born in Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, came with his father to America in 1853, and by untiring industry and careful management he became the possessor of two of the finest farms in the town of Alexandria, com- prising four hundred and fifty acres; later he sold two hundred acres to his son-in-law, John Stein. At the age of twenty-three years Leonard was united in marriage to Miss Susan Betz. The second wife of Hieronemus Bichelhaupt. and mother of Adam Bickelhaupt, was Mar- garet Hartman, a daughter of John Hartman, who conducted a small farm in Germany, and in the year 1853 he started with the Bickelhaupt
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family for America, but died during the voyage. Mrs. Bickelhaupt, who died at the age of eighty-two years, was one of a family of ten children, of whom two are living at the present time ( 1904) ; Adam, who makes his home in Orleans, New York, at the advanced age of ninety years; and George, who is living in Redwood, New York, at the age of seventy years. Hieronemus Bickelhaupt died July 14, 1875.
Adam Bickelhaupt pursued his education in the common school near his father's home. He assisted in the cultivation of the farm until he was about eighteen years of age, when he entered the employ of A. A. Holmes & Company, proprietors of a general store in Redwood. There he remained continuously as a salesman for six years. In 1872 he formed a partnership with Byron Briggs, a relationship that was main- tained for two years, also was for two years with James H. Helmer, and since 1876 he has continued in merchandising alone. He has steadily developed this enterprise until he is now proprietor of the largest store in Redwood. He has not confined his efforts entirely to this one line, but has directed his labors into other fields of activity, which have been attended with excellent results. In 1879 he established a factory for the manufacture of cheese, and continually enlarged his business in this direction until 1902, in which year he operated twenty-one cheese factories, and not only sold all of the products from these, but also bought from other factories, handling about six hundred and twenty- five tons of cheese, or one million two hundred and fifty thousand pounds. He conducts the most extensive business of any manufac- turer of Limburger cheese in the state of New York, the control of which has become a most important industry, and displays marked en- terprise and keen discernment. In addition to his other business asso- ciations, he is also a director of the National Bank of Clayton.
In his political views Mr. Bickelhaupt is a Democrat. He was elected a member of the board of supervisors in 1885, and served in that and the succeeding year; he was again elected in 1898, and since then has been elected each succeeding year, his present term of office ex- tending to December 31, 1905. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity at Alexandria Bay, also being affiliated with Theresa Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, Watertown Commandery, Knights Templar, Syracuse Consistory, and has passed through the Scottish Rite bodies to the Thirty-second degree. He is also connected with the Independent Order of Foresters.
In 1874 Alam Bickelhaupt was united in marriage to Miss Mina
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L. Olney, a daughter of Seth Olney, and they became the parents of the following named children : Lena, born April 29, 1875, died Marchi 14, 1877; Ina L., born September 10, 1876, died October 11, 1878. Miles H., born April 25, 1878; he graduated from Cornell University as a mechanical engineer, and also took a special course in electrical engineering, and is now connected with the Westinghouse Electric Company of Pittsburg. Carl O., born September 22, 1879, who is employed in his father's office. Calla, born February 9, 1881, who is pursuing a course in the Emerson School of Oratory, in Boston, Mas- sachusetts, as a member of the class of 1904.
Thomas Olney, the ancestor of the Olney family in America, of which Mrs. Adam Bickelhaupt is a member, was born in 1600, in the city of Hartford, Herfordshire, England, which formed part of the parish of St. Albans, the seat of one of the most ancient monasteries, and long celebrated in English history as the center of spiritual influ- ence. Of his early life little is known, but on April 2, 1635, he emi- grated to Salem, Massachusetts, in the ship "Planter." He was in the Massachusetts Colony, and in 1638, with eleven others, settled at the head of Narragansett Bay and formed what was known as the Providence Colony, from which the present city of Providence, Rhode Island, derives its name. He was very prominent in this colony and held many offices. He was the first township commissioner to form the town government, and served as assistant for Providence from 1648 to 1663, with Roger Williams and Thomas Harris. He was a judge of the justice court, and was among the grantees of the royal charter of Charles II. He was one of the founders of the First Baptist Church, of Providence, and for a time acted as its pastor. His homestead was located on North Main street, a short distance from the present state house, and what is now known as Arsenal Lane ran through his land. In 1631 he married Maria Small, and five children were born to them. His death occurred in 1682.
Epenetus Olney, second son of Thomas and Maria (Small) Olney, was born in England in 1634, and after coming to this country took an active part in affairs of the colony, and was a member of the colonial assembly and of 'the town council. On March 6, 1666, he married Mary Whipple, daughter of John Whipple, and eight children were born of this union. Epenetus Olney died June 3, 1698.
John Olney, fifth child and third son of Epenetus and Mary ( Whipple) Olney, was born in 1678. On August 11, 1699, he married
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Rachel Coggeshall, and they were the parents of nine children. He made his home in Smithfield. Rhode Island, and his death occurred there on November 9, 1754.
Nedebiah Olney, son of John and Rachel (Coggeshall) Olney, was born February 10, 1714. He moved to New York state about the year 1762, and some time previous to this he married Nancy or Marcy Davis, and the names of four children of this family are found on the records.
Nedebiah, eldest son of Nedebiah and Nancy or Marcy (Davis) Olney, was born in 1746. He accompanied his father to New York state in 1762, was among the pioneer settlers, and with forty-two others was captured by the Indians and carried to the Ohio river, where they were subjected to such severe torture that all except young Olney and one other young man perished. The two survivors were adopted by the wife of the chief, and after several years of captivity they escaped and found their way back through the wilderness to their homes. By his marriage to Susan Brown he was the father of four children. He died in 1829.
Davis Olney, son of Nedebiah and Susan (Brown) Olney, was born December 7, 1777. He was married December 31, 1806, to Olive Rowe, and thirteen children were born to them. Their home was in Tylerville, New York, and here Davis Olney died. October 14, 1868.
Seth R. Olney, second son of Davis and Olive (Rowe) Olney, was born March 14, 1810. On September 30, 1837, he married Julia Hill, and they resided at Redwood, New York, and they were the parents of the following named children: I. Mary, born July 28, 1838, died February 6, 1873: she became the wife of Edward Whitaker. April 2. 1866, and they were the parents of one daughter, Julia A. Whitaker. 2. Susan J., born July 16, 1840. 3. Mina, born August 12, 1842. aforementioned as the wife of Adam Bickelhaupt. 4. Darwin V., born September 7. 1844. married Carrie Helmer, in 1868. 5. Luman R., born March 21. 1848, died December 17. 1854. 6. O. Davis, born February 24, 1850, was married July 20, 1879, to Cora Eddie, and they reside in Colorado. 7. Emily J., born October 14, 1852, died March 18, 1854. 8. Edgar B., born September 8, 1856, died May 22, 1857.
JAMES FRANKLIN CONVERSE. One of the extensive and highly cultivated farms of Jefferson county, New York, located in the
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village of Woodville, is the property of James F. Converse, a native of Bridgewater. Oneida county. New York, the date of his birth being October 2, 1825.
David Converse, grandfather of James F. Converse, was born in Belchertown, Hampshire county, Massachusetts, attended the common schools adjacent to his home, and during the active years of his long and useful life followed the occupation of agriculture, first in his native county in Massachusetts, and later in Oneida county, New York. Being a public-spirited citizen, willing to defend the lionor and integrity of his country, he enlisted his services during the Revolutionary war and was appointed to the rank of corporal. He died at his home in Bridge- water, Oneida county, in the eighty-first year of his age, and was sur- vived by four sons and one daughter-Thomas, Joseph. Daniel, David, and Rachel Converse.
Thomas Converse, son of David Converse, was a native of Belcher- town, but in early life accompanied his parents to their new home in Oneida county, where he acquired a common school education. Upon attaining a man's estate he devoted his attention to agricultural pur- suits, which he conducted on an extensive scale in Oneida county until 1835. when he removed to Ellisburg, and settled in Woodville on prop- erty now owned by his son, James F. Converse. He was an upright and conscientious man, won and retained the respect and esteem of his friends and neighbors, and for many years served as a member of the New York militia. He married Lydia Stratton, a native of Oneida county, New York, and they were the parents of the following children : Thomas D., pursued the occupation of farming in Clare, Michigan, and died at the advanced age of eighty years; Almanza, a prosperous farmer, died September, 1888, at Ellisburg: Cyrena and Cyrenns were twins, born May 28, 1810. The former became the wife of William West Howland, and lived in Ellisburg, where she died at the age of eighty- seven years. She survived her husband and subsequently married John Allen. Cyrenus was a farmer and dicd July 11. 1890, at Adams Centre. John W. followed farming at Whitewater, Wisconsin ; Saman- tha died in Whitewater. Wisconsin, July 17. 1892. the wife of Hardy Doane, an agriculturist. Rufus H. followed the occupation of farming. and his death occurred March 10, 1885, in Ellisburg, New York ; George E. is a prosperous farmer of Ellisburg, New York; Hiram D., born August 19, 1821. a farmer by occupation, died in June. 1904. in Illinois : Lncy C., who died in Ohio, was the wife of Cyrus N. Rowe, a farmer
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of Mason, Michigan : James F., mentioned at length hereinafter ; Sarah, died at the age of two years, and Mary J., who resides at Bristol, Con- necticut, is the widow of John Rowe, who died in Canada. Both Mr. and Mrs. Converse died in the same year, 1858, their respective ages being seventy-six and seventy-four years.
James FF. Converse, youngest son of Thomas and Lydia Converse, received a liberal English education in the common schools of Oneida county, Belleville Union Academy and Hamilton College, graduating from the last named institution in the class of 1848. Since the com- pletion of his studies up to the present time (1904) he has been largely interested in general farming operations and stock growing on his farm of two hundred and fifty-five acres at Woodville, New York. He has given particular attention to the breeding of Ayrshire cattle, Shetland ponies and Yorkshire swine, which have been exhibited at the large fairs in the United States and have won prizes at the state fairs held in Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York, Ohio, Mich- igan, Indiana, Wisconsin, Illinois, Kentucky and Missouri. He enjoys the distinction of being the oldest exhibitor in the state, and has in his possession more blue ribbons won as prizes for this class of stock than any other man. He served as president of the Ayrshire Breeders' Asso- ciation for five years, was president of the Jefferson County Agricul- tural Society, and also a member of the State Agricultural Society for a number of years. He began the importation of cattle in 1856, as the nucleus of the present herd. His political affiliations are with the Re- publican party. He is a charter member of Union Grange No. 5, of Belleville, in which he has filled most of the chairs, and which was established in 1873, as the successor of a farmers' club, of which Mr. Converse had been active many years. He is also a charter member of the Congregational church at Woodville.
Mr. Converse was united in marriage, November 12, 1857, to Ma- rietta J. Bull, and two children were the issue of this union: I. Frank Alva. born May 12, 1862, married, February 26, 1889, Frances E. Gates, of New York City, and they are the parents of three children- Gates, Terry and Howard Converse, the first of whom is now deceased. Frank A. Converse conducts an extensive and profitable dairy business at Buffalo, New York, and is connected with the State Department of Agriculture as lecturer upon dairy and fruit topics at farmers' insti- tutes, and was superintendent of the live stock department at the Pan- American Exposition in 1902. 2. Marietta May, born October 18,
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