USA > New York > Jefferson County > Genealogical and family history of the county of Jefferson, New York, Volume I > Part 7
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66
(VIII) The third son, Andrew Jackson Fairbanks, was born in Watertown, in 1826. In 1844 he graduated from the French College de Montreal (Sulpician), receiving the first three prizes delivered by the governor general of Canada, Sir Charles Metcalf, K. C. B. He en- gaged in business in Watertown and vicinity until 1851, when he went to Jacksonville, Florida, where he entered the employ of a large lumber company on the St. John river. Two years later he returned to Water- town, but from 1856 to 1862 he made his home in Florida. At the capture of Jacksonville by the forces of the United States, he once more returned to his boyhood's home, where he resided until his death, June 19, 1898. Mr. Fairbanks was a man of rare intelligence, well read in literature, and profoundly interested in everything pertaining to the lo- cal history of his native city, his numerous works being filled with in- valuable data, much of which he contributed to the local histories. He married, in 1853, Mary Matilda, the eldest daughter of Nathaniel and Harriet (Hunt) Wiley. Nathaniel Wiley was born in Nashua, New Hampshire, July 19, 1796. He went to Boston, where he learned the machinist's trade. In 1815 he moved to Watertown, New York, where
52
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY.
he built the first machine shop. He was a man noted for his skill and ingenuity in the invention of mechanical appliances. He married Har- riet Hunt, born in western Oneida county, New York, in 1804.
From the union of Andrew J. and Mary (Wiley ) Fairbanks three children were born. The eldest, Harriet Bates, a resident of Water- town, is an active member of the Le Ray de Chaumont Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and has inherited in a rare de- gree the historic and literary tastes of her father and uncles. A second daughter, Abbie Crosby, married Charles H. Remington, one of the leading paper manufacturers of northern New York. Seven children have blessed this union. The youngest of the children of Andrew J., named George Andrew, was born January 4, 1869, married Ida May Heintzelman in 1894. They have two sons: Andrew Jason and Karl Joseph. George A. is a civil engineer, and was assistant engineer New York state department under E. A. Bond.
(VIII) The fourth son of Jason Fairbanks, Jason M., was born at Watertown, in 1829. He graduated at Geneva (now Hobart) College in 1851, and although admitted to practice as attorney and counsellor in the supreme court of New York, devoted his life to civil engineering and surveying. He retraced the western boundary of Arkansas from Fort Smith to Red river, ran the ninety-eighth meridian from the latter river to the Canadian river, and the parallel forming the north boundary of Oklahoma. He also ran the line between the Seminole and Creek Nations in the new country to which these tribes were transported, where he was in constant peril from wandering Comanches. He was assistant engineer in the public works of the state of New York under State En- gineer W. J. McAlpine. He never married, and died at Watertown in 1894.
ANDREW BION CARTER, president of the National Exchange Bank of Carthage, is a native of the county of Jefferson, and an offshoot of old New England stock. He was born June 23, 1857, near Great Bend, in the town of Champion, a son of Asa T. and Amanda (Cross) Carter.
(1) The first of this family of whom record has been found was Jacob Carter, who moved from Southold, Long Island, to Branford, Connecticut. He was married December 4, 1712, to Dorcas Tyler, who died in 1735-6. Their children were: Sarah, born February 4, 1714; Jacob, November 26, 1716; Abel, June 4, 1718.
ABiacharter
National Exchange Bank, Carthage, N. Y.
Residence of A. Bion Carter, Carthage, N. Y.
55
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY.
(II) Jacob Carter married Mary, daughter of Stephen Barnes, and settled in the south part of Southington, Connecticut, where he died July 6, 1796. His wife died October 23, 1788, aged sixty-two years. They had eight children, namely: Jacob, born May 1, 1745; Sarah, September 16, 1747; Stephen, July II, 1749; Jonathan, May 20, 1751; Ithiel, August 1, 1753; Isaac, May 12, 1757; Levi, Septem- ber 23, 1762; Elihu, baptized March 18, 1759. All settled in Wolcott (which adjoins Southington), except the youngest, who remained in Southington.
(III) Jonathan Carter, son of Jacob (2) and Mary (Barnes) Carter, married, January 10, 1776, Abigail Moulthrop, and resided in Wolcott until 1803, when he moved to Champion, this county. His children were: Joel, born December 5, 1778; Ira, May 4, 1781 ; Asa, baptized July 4, 1784; and Eli, born October 5, 1786. The youngest died in 1805. The first two migrated to the West, and record of them is lost.
(IV) Deacon Asa Carter, born November 13, 1776, son of Jonathan (3) and Abigail Carter, was nineteen years of age when he came with his parents to Jefferson county. He was a successful farmer, and his farm was among those to receive one of the premiums donated by Leray to the Agricultural Society. Like his father before him, he was a deacon of the Presbyterian church. He married Roxana Root, who was born July 25, 1784, and died November 27, 1863. He died August 16, 1855. Of their children, four sons and four daughters grew to maturity. Abigail, the first, born December 13, 1798, married Samuel Hubbard, September 29, 1816, and lived and died in Champion. Huldah, the second, died unmarried at the age of twenty-five years. Asa B. is mentioned at length below. Tracy R., born September 6, 1808, died February 3, 1846, in Champion. Lucina, born November 22, 1812, became the wife of Alphonso Loomis, and died August 7, 1890, at her home near Pleasant Lake. Mary Roxana, July 7, 1815, married George Griswold, March 21, 1838, and passed her last days at Milo, Bureau county, Illinois. William Dennis, born April 8, 1818, was many years a tanner in Oneida county, and died at Utica about 1898. Newell W., November 9, 1822, was largely interested in tanning in this section, and now resides in Binghamton, New York.
(V) Asa Barnes Carter was born in Champion February 7, 1806, and died of pneumonia, November 12, 1864, in the same town. He was married February 12, 1828, to Shelcma Thompson. daughter of
56
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY.
James Thompson, a farmer of Champion, and his wife, Abigail Rob- inson. Mr. Carter was a prominent farmer of the town and active in public affairs. He was an elder and acted as deacon of the Presby- terian church, and usually led the choir in devotional services. Of genial and lovable nature, he was universally respected, and his judg- ment was a guide to many. He was active in promoting the interests of the Agricultural Society and its fairs. A friend of order and liberty, he was attached to the Whig party in its day, and joined the Repub- lican party upon its organization. He was an earnest temperance worker. His wife died October 24, 1899. Their children were : Asa T., mentioned further below; Chester and Lester (twins), born May II, 1833; Frederick C., December 2, 1839: Arthur Lee, May 13. 1849, died September 9, 1870, in Champion. Chester is a prominent business man of Hannibal, Missouri, and a deacon of the Presbyterian church. Lester and Frederick C. are residents of Champion, the last named residing upon the parental homestead. He was three years a soldier in the Civil war. The former is a deacon of the Congregational church.
(VI) Asa Thompson Carter, son of Asa B. (5) and Sheloma Carter, was born October 23, 1828, in the town of Champion, where he passed all his life except the last two years, dying in Watertown, March 18, 1893. He was a very active business man as well as a farmer. When the Carthage & Watertown railroad was being built he constructed a portion of the line, between Great Bend and Carthage, and was the first station agent at Great Bend, holding that position nine vcars. He was several years the local representative of the King Iron Bridge Company, and built many of the iron bridges in this section of the state. With his wife, he affiliated with the Disciples' church, and was an active Republican. For twenty years he served as justice of the peace, and held most of the town offices, and was deputy sheriff over twenty years.
He was married January 1. 1850, to Amanda Cross, who was born February 24, 1833. in Antwerp. Jude Cross, father of Amanda, came from Berkshire, Massachusetts, and settled in Antwerp, this county, early in the nineteenth century. He had little early educational training. but became a well-informed and useful citizen. In the early days he taught school in the town of Rutland, and was a surveyor and justice of the peace in Antwerp. He died at Great Bend July 14, 1865, aged seventy-one years. His wife. Sophia Fairbanks, was a daughter of
57
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY.
Silas Fairbanks, and descendant of Jonathan Fairbanks, who settled at Dedham, Massachusetts, in 1632, and there built a house which is still standing. A. T. Carter and wife were the parents of three children. Imogene M., A. Bion and Cora A. The eldest is the wife of Zuriel Sarvay, and resides in Carthage, and the youngest is Mrs. Fred A. Hall, of Elmira, New York.
(VII) A. Bion Carter attended the district and select schools of his native locality, and Ives Seminary at Antwerp. From the age of sixteen years he was wont to assist his father in the duties of station agent, and he became a skilled telegraph operator. On attaining his majority he entered the land office of LeRay at Carthage, with L. J. Goodale, who was then manager, as clerk and bookkeeper. After spend- ing two years as bookkeeper at the Otter Lake tannery, owned suc- cessively by H. J. & G. M. Botchford and Hersey & Co., he was for a like period in charge of the offices of the Moose River tannery.
Mr. Carter became a resident of Carthage in 1884, when he pur- chased an interest in the drug business of Lewis F. Bachman, and this connection continued four years. Upon disposing of his interest in the store he went on the road and traveled two years in the interest of a Utica wholesale house which handled groceries, feed and millstuffs, and was successful in this line. For the succeeding four years he was with the firm of L. Crawford & Company, engaged in the manufacture of hemlock bark extract, at Chase's Lake, Lewis county, this state. On the organization of the United States Leather Company, May 1, 1893. Mr. Carter became manager of its tannery at Fine, St. Lawrence county, and so continued until the tanning business was closed on account of the scarcity of bark and other commercial conditions.
In December, 1901, the National Exchange Bank of Carthage, was organized, largely through the efforts of Mr. Carter, and it was opened for business January 21, 1902, with A. Bion Carter as president and Charles J. Reeder as cashier. With the natural Yankee instinct for business, Mr. Carter had established a reputation, and the bank sprang into a large and profitable business at once, and its deposits were trebled and resources doubled in the year succeeding the first three months of business. It has a capital of sixty thousand dollars, and owns one of the finest bank buildings in Northern New York. Mr. Carter accepts the faith of the Presbyterian church, and is a Republican in political principle, but desires no office. He is a member of the board of educa- tion of the Carthage High School. He is a member of Carthage Lodge,
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY.
No. 158, and Carthage Chapter, No. 259, of the Masonic fraternity, and is af.jinted with Watertown Commandery, No. 1I, K. T., and Mechia Temple, of the Mystic Shrine, at Watertown. He is also a member of Carthage Lodge. No. 365, and Oriental Encampment, No. 135, of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Carthage.
Ile was married October 17, 1883, to Lelia M. Wentworth, who was born December 29, 1864, in Newport, Herkimer county, New York, a daughter of Charles O. and Melissa ( Windsor) Wentworth, of old American families. Three daughters complete the family of Mr. Carter, namely : Lulu Irene, Helen Wentworth, and Erma Louise, the eldest being now a student of the Carthage High School.
With a varied business experience which has given him an insight of human character, and possessed of a genial and kindly nature, Mr. Carter has the qualities necessary to success in business, and is reckoned among the most progressive and respected citizens of the county.
(VI) LESTER CARTER, a farmer residing near Pleasant Lake, in the town of Champion, is of the sixth generation in descent from Jacob Carter, who settled at Branford, Connecticut, before 1712 (see A. B. Carter). At the time of Lester Carter's birth, May 11, 1833. his father, Asa Barnes Carter, lived on the "River Road," east of Great Bend. Until he was sixteen years old Lester lived there with his parents, attending the district school. The family then moved to the farm now owned by F. C. Carter, between Champion village and the "Huddle," and Lester subsequently attended a select school maintained in the vil- lage. Ile continued to make his home with his father until his mar- riage, assisting in the cultivation of the home farm, with the exception of two years when he worked in the pail and tub factory of S. E. Rice at Carthage. In 1859 he bought a farm below Champion village, which he kept and tilled ten years. After selling out he engaged in the manu- facture of brick, in partnership with his twin brother, Chester Carter, now a resident of Hannibal, Missouri. Their yard was located below Carthage in the town of Wilna, near the present Houghton brickyard, but the business did not prosper and was soon abandoned.
In July, 1871, Mr. Carter acquired one hundred and forty-eight acres of land where he now resides, on the north side of Pleasant Lake, and has since given his attention to its cultivation. For many years this farm was known as the "Kelner place," and was well improved when it came into possession of Mr. Carter. The house has stood for ninety years, but is in good condition now, having been repaired and kept in
59
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY.
order by Mr. Carter, as were the other buildings, including the large barns. The farm is handsomely located and forms an ideal residence for the agriculturist. Mr. Carter was a member of the Congregational church at Champion during its existence, and has been a deacon in the society at West Carthage (successor of the Champion church) more than thirty years. He is a member of Champion Grange, in which he served as chaplain one year. During most of his adult life he has affiliated with the Republican party, but now gives allegiance to the Prohibition party. Of quiet domestic tastes, he has never taken part in political strife, though steadfast in the maintenance of his principles.
He was married September 16, 1857, to Cordelia E. Burhans, a native of the town of LeRay, daughter of Gilbert and Eliza Burhans. Her mother was a daughter of Joel P. Rice, one of the first settlers of Champion, where he located in 1802. A son and daughter complete the family of Mr. Carter, namely: Lila M. and L. J. The former is the wife of George M. Hall, of Philadelphia, New York, and has two children-Charles Eddy and Eva Loella. L. J. Carter tills his father's farm. He married Carrie O'Hara.
The Burhans family of which Mrs. Carter is a member is one of the oldest in the state. The founder in this country was Jacob Burhans, who was born in Holland and is first found of record March 28, 1660, as a soldier in the Dutch service. On the record of the organ- ization of the church at Wiltwyck (Kingston), New York, December 7, 1660, his name is found third in the list of members. November 21, 1661, he was appointed collector of church rates and excise. In June, 1663, he had two houses burned in the new village, outside the stockade. April 28, 1666, he was elected justice of the peace, and commissioner of the court in November of the following year. He owned land in Esopus (then Brabant) and lot 11 in the village of Kingston. He died before September, 1677.
(2) Jan Burhans arrived April 16, 1663, at New York, in the ship "Bonte Koe" (Spotted Cow), and was admitted to the church at Kingston July 3, 1664. He was elected elder December 1I, 1685, and again in 1696, serving until 1701. From April, 1693, to November, 1695, he was magistrate of the town court of Kingston. He died in October, 1708. His wife, Helena Tophagen, was a daughter of William Jansen and his first wife, Jannetje Claessen Graemis, of Meppelt, daughter of William J. Graemis, who settled in 1660 at Bushwick. Helena Burhans died between 1728 and 1732.
60
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY.
(3) Barent, eldest surviving son and fourth born to Jan and Helena Burhans, was baptized April 24, 1681, and married at Kingston Margriet Jans Matthyssen, daughter of Jan and Magdalena ( Blanchan) Matthyssen. Barent was first a shoemaker and later a miller. In February, 1706, he bought four acres of land in "The Hell." In 1716 he was granted five "morgens" of land which cost him nine pounds and the expense of survey. He was elected constable in 1708. He died before March 3, 1740. He had five sons and four daughters.
(4) Johannes Burhans was baptized at Kingston, August 26, I7II, and married at the same place, December 12, 1735, to Sara Oos- terhondt, daughter of Peter Jans and Heyltje (Schut) Oosterhoudt. He died between March, 1758, and February, 1790.
(5) Petrus Burhans was born May 22, 1742, and died at Fish- kill in March, 1811. He was married at Poughkeepsie January 16, 1766, to Annetje Sypher, daughter of William and Nelly (Storm) Sypher. She died May 17, 1832, and was the mother of three sons and four daughters.
(6) David Burhans was born November 16, 1775, at North Hackensack, New Jersey, and died March 31, 1834, in the town of LeRay, Jefferson county, New York. He was married at Saugerties, New York, July 8. 1798. to Elizabeth Flagler, daughter of Simon Flagler. She was born January 20, 1778, and died March 20, 1855, in LeRay. Soon after his marriage Mr. Burhans settled in LeRay and bought land on which he lived until his death. He was a member of the Presbyterian church at Evans Mills. Four of his sons and three daughters grew to adult age.
(7) Gilbert Burhans was born May 15, 1805. at Pleasant Valley, New York, and was reared in LeRay. He was married May 29, 1834, to Eliza Lavinia Rice, laughter of Joel P. and Elizabeth (Crowner) Ricc. She was born May 7, 1808, in Champion, and died August 28, 1840. For his second wife, Mr. Burhans married Lucy Clark, of Halifax, Vermont. He died October 9, 1846. The only survivor of his two children is Cordelia E. (8), wife of Lester Carter.
(VII) FREDERICK CASSANDER CARTER, son of Asa Barnes Carter, was born December 2, 1839. in the northern part of, Champion, on the "River Road," and was ten years old when the family moved to the homestead which he now owns, near Champion village. ITis earliest acquaintance with school was made in the local districts. aund from fifteen to sixteen years of age he attended the academies at
61
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY.
Champion and Carthage (Bush's). The intervals of study were filled from an early age with attention to such duties as fall to farmer lads, and he was counted a full hand from eighteen years old. On attaining his majority he was employed about a sawmill in Croghan for a time, and in 1862 he assisted his father in building a bridge at Great Bend.
He enlisted as a soldier of the Civil war July 31, 1862, in a six-gun battery of the Tenth New York Heavy Artillary, and was continually in the service until June 7, 1865, when he was discharged as a duty sergeant. The first year was spent in the defenses about New York city, and the next nine months about Washington. Thereafter he acted with the Army of the Potomac and in the Shenandoah valley. The heavy artillery was chicfly employed in protective and guard duty, and though on the field was not brought into pitched battle.
In November, 1865, Mr. Carter bought out the other heirs, and has since owned the homestead, which he tilled until 1901, renting it in 1902-03, and working it himself since. It embraced ninety acres when he bought it, and he has added forty-five acres and made many improve- ments. Portions of the land are very stony and somewhat rough in contour, but he has partially conquered nature and "made glad the desert places." From one and one-fourth acres he removed stone suf- ficient to build a wall six feet wide at base, five feet high and four feet wide on top, twenty-seven rods long, at a cost in wages and board for men and teams of eighty-seven dollars. The land is now smooth meadow. The farm maintains a dairy of twenty to twenty-five cows of Holstein strain, and is among the model farms of the town.
Mr. Carter is a member of E. B. Steele Post, Grand Army of the Republic, of Carthage. He continued membership during its existence in the Congregational church of Champion, in which he declined the office of deacon. He now attends the Methodist church of Champion, with his family. For fifteen years he has been an active participant in the work of the Champion Grange, of which he was master three terms, and was one year master of the Jefferson County Pomona Grange, At present he has charge of the sales of the Champion cheese factory. His political connection was for long years with the Republican party, but he now acts with the Prohibitionists. He was many times elected constable of Champion, and did much detective work in preventing the illegal sale of liquors in the town, being chairman of the prosecuting committee maintained for that purpose. He has also acted as assessor of the town. He is a friend of humanity, and, therefore, a supporter
62
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY.
of every reform movement. Intelligent and progressive, he enjoys the respect and esteem of a wide circle of acquaintance.
Mr. Carter was married February 21, 1866, to Miss Eliza Graves, who was born June 22, 1842, in Antwerp, this county, a daughter of Elijah and Lorinda (Clark) Graves, the former a native of Connecti- cut and the latter of Vermont. They came from Westmoreland, Oneida county, this state, to Champion, and both families are of English descent. Four sons were given to Mr. and Mrs. Carter. The eldest, Asa Barnes, died April 24, 1891, aged twenty-two years. He was a successful cheesemaker. All the sons attended the home school at the "Huddle" until sixteen years old, and were then sent to the Carthage High School, from which the youngest graduated. Fred Lee, born June 6, 1871, would have graduated, but was taken sick. He was for ten years a hardware salesman in Watertown, and died April 18, 1900, universally regretted. Milton Graves, born July 23, 1873, was two years a teacher, and has been a traveling salesman seven years, with headquarters at Hannibal, Missouri. He went directly to this position from a teacher, and has remained with one firm ever since, being pro- moted from working for an experience up to receiving a salary of $100 per month. He is an oil salesman for a large house. Leon Thompson, born July 2, 1878, is now a student at Syracuse University in the class of 1904. He has always been a very ambitious student, never satisfied with less than "A" in any of his examinations. Out of sixteen applications sent by members of his class to enter Edison's testing rcom, only two, himself and one other, were accepted.
THE BALL FAMILY. In 1613 a coat-of-arms was conferred upon one Richard Ball, of Northamptonshire, England, and was probably identical with that borne by the New England and Virginia families of the name, as all bear a close resemblance.
(I) Between 1635 and 1640 six sons of William Ball, of Wilt- shire, England, came to America. The eldest of these was Alling Ball, who settled in New Haven, Connecticut, and from 1640 to 1650 was in charge of the Rev. John Davenport's farm at East Haven. While there he had two sons born-Edward, about 1642, and John, about 1649. In 1650 he returned to New Haven and settled upon his own land, on part of which Yale College now stands. Four of his brothers were settled in New England, and their descendants are scattered throughout the country.
63
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY.
William, the sixth son of William Ball, of Wiltshire, England, was at one time in New Haven, but devoted himself to the trade in furs, tobacco and other American products, and made frequent trips to London, being both an exporter and importer. He was enrolled in Virginia as a merchant until 1657, when he is found of record in the same colony as a planter. In the meantime he had continued traveling between London and American ports, and was married July 2. 1638. in London, to Hannah Atherald. He settled in Lancaster county, Vir- ginia, and one of his sons, Joseph, was the father of Mary Ball, who married Augustine Washington. She was left a widow while her chil- dren were young, but was a strong and resolute character, and reared a son, George, who will ever be revered and honored as "Father of his Country."
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.