USA > New York > Jefferson County > Genealogical and family history of the county of Jefferson, New York, Volume II > Part 16
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 | Part 67
Leonard Dressor was born November 30. 1794. in Tunbridge, Vermont, and was married September 28, 1824, to Melora Doty, who
$26
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY.
died May 1, 1877. He died January 23. 1878. Their children were : Charlotte Jane, died aged one year : Lucia Jane, born September 14, I828, died September 13, 1895: George Morton, October 7. 1831, inar- ried, April 22, 1857, Martha Jane Chellis, and had a daughter, Hattie Melora. George Morton died December 16, 1871.
Elvira Dressor, born December 30, 1796, was married December 25, 1823. to George Pike. She died April 13, 1881. She was the mother of six children-Henry Alanson, William Harrison, Caroline, Elvira, Chauncey Jackson and Charles George.
John Gray Dressor, born January 28, 1799, was married. Decem- ber 4. 1824, to Charlotte Sawyer, who soon died, and on October 17, 1827, he married her sister, Sylvia Sawyer. He died February 4. 1883. and was survived over five years by his widow, who passed away July 5. 1888, aged seventy-seven years.
Rowland L. Dressor was born November 29, 1802, in Tunbridge, Vermont, and died in October, 1862. He was married June 5, 1828, to Emily Harris, and they had ten children, of whom two are now living, namely : Laura A., wife of Michael Way Llewellyn, of Sterling, Illi- nois, and Mrs. Mary J., wife of S. C. Robinson, of Tama, Iowa.
Laura Dressor, born January 27, 1805, in Watertown, was married in December, 1832, to William Murray, and they were the parents of four children-Minerva Sylvia, Mary, Mattie and Wilmina. She mar- ried, second, May 3, 1859, Lester Forward, who died March 6, 1889. She died three days previously.
William Dressor, born March 6, 1807, died when four years old.
Alanson Dressor, junior, born March 17, 1809, more than five months after the death of his father, died June 8, 1846. He was mar- ried January 15, 1834, to Phebe Roxcelia Sawyer, who was born May 17, 1809. Their children were: Lucia Roxcelia, Adelia S., and Alan- son Sawyer. The eldest was married September 10, 1871, to David D. Curtis. Adelia S. married a Mr. Stoneman, and was the mother of four children -- Frank, Charles, Edwin and Estella. Alanson Sawyer Dressoi married, September 16. 1867, Almeda Dye, and they were the parents of ten children, born as follows: Guy Alanson, December 31, 1868: Dallas Reuben, February 16, 1873 (died September 25, 1884) ; Lucia Roxcelia, August 1, 1874; Frank Thomas, December 27, 1876; Herbert Wort, August 16, 1878: Sylvia May, January 29, 1880; Hattie A., .April 8, 1882; Edith Gladys, April 16, 1884 (died before three
527
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY.
months old) ; Rena Barbara, July 1, 1886; and Bayard, February 27, 1888, died aged eight days.
(VII) Chauncey Dressor, third son and fourth child of Alanson and Elvira (Lothrop) Dressor, was born November 9, 1800, in Tun- bridge, Vermont, and was in his fourth year when brought to Water- town by his parents. His father died when he was not quite eight years old, and he was early accustomed to care for himself, thus developing the self-reliant character for which he was subsequently noted. He contrived to secure a practical education, and became one of the most useful citizens of his town. He was employed in farm work during the summers, and began teaching at an early age, during the winter months. He thus continued until he was about twenty-six years of age, when he entered the employ of John Felt, at Felt's Mills, where he was a foreman in the lumber business for eight years. For the next ten years he was general manager, bookkeeper and salesman for Keyes & Hungerford, lumbermen at Dexter. Being industrious and steady, he was enabled to save from his earnings enough to buy one hundred and twenty acres of land at Huntingtonville, to which he added by various purchases until it amounted to two hundred acres. In 1848 he settled on this land and continued farming there until his death, which occurred there July 20, 1876. He was a successful farmer, applying intelligent methods and industry in tilling his land. A Democrat of the old school, he was a firm supporter of the government during the Civil war. He appreciated the value of education, and was deeply interested in the welfare of the public schools. He was a member of the Watertown Light Infantry militia company in 1821, and a certificate of that fact by his captain. A. S. Dygette, under date of May 7th of that year, is preserved by his son, George F. Dressor. In this he is reported to be fully armed and equipped on the date thereof. As a business man Mr. Dressor commanded the highest respect of his associates for his sterling honesty and promotion of justice and fairness. As a citizen he was universally esteemed for his correct and manly example, and as a hus- band and father he was kind and considerate.
He was married December 6, 1838, to Lydia Spencer Stiles, who was born June 10, 1817, in Watertown, a daughter of Farrington and Emily (Kelsey) Stiles. She survived her husband twenty-eight years and died January 24, 1904. Their children were: Alanson Lothrop, George Farrington, Albert Marian, John Wesley, William Henry, Car- oline Elizabeth, Josephine Ella, Emmogene Ellen and Jenette Elvira.
828
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY.
Alanson Lothrop Dressor was born January 11, 1840, in the town of Hounsfield, and died January 10. 1903. He served three years in Company 1, Seventh Vermont Regiment, in the Civil war, and was slightly wounded at the battle of Baton Rouge. He was married July 21, 1865, to Eliza Hastings, who was born September 7, 1841. Their children were: William Lemuel and Nellie Eliza. The former was born January 24, 1867, and was married in 1897 to Helen Dressor. They have three children, namely: Helen Lucy, Wilfred Dressor, and Margarette Irene.
Albert Marian Dressor was born March 19, 1843, in Hounsfield, and married Mary Wolsencraft Adams. The mother and their chil- dren-Mary, Josephine A. and Matie L .- are deceased.
John Wesley Dressor lived only three months.
William Henry Dressor, born September 12, 1847, in Hounsfield, married Mary Ely, and they were the parents of the following children : Nettie (now deceased), Chauncey Ely, Anna ; Clara, Emma and Oliver, deceased; Helen and John. The last named resides in South Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
Caroline Elizabeth Dressor, born June 16, 1851, at Huntington- ville, was married August 28, 1872, to Melvin Chapman, and resides at Pendleton, Indiana.
Josephine Ella and Emmogene Ellen Dressor, twins, were born May 26, 1852, at Huntingtonville. The former was married October 20, 1875, to Ithai Thomson, and resides in Watertown. Their children are: Ithai Ira, who married Sena Gonyea; Irene Josephine, wife of Jean Shaffrey ; and William Chauncey.
Emmogene E. Dressor was married July 27, 1874, to David M. Holbrook, of New York city. They have four children, namely : Fred- erick Montgomery, Arthur Chauncey, Edwin Almus and Anna Stiles. The eldest married Jessie Johnson, and resides in Chicago.
Jenette Elvira Dressor, born September 11, 1860, married Wilbur F. Woodworth, a farmer of East Watertown. Their children were born as follows: Henry Dressor. July 26, 1885: Clarence Wilbur, March 12, 1887: Heien Lydia. November 28, 1889: Laura May, April 2, 1893 ; and Amy Lovina, April 24, 1894.
(VIII) George Farrington Dressor, second son and child of Chauncey and Lydia S. (Stiles) Dressor, was born August II, 1841, in the town of Hounsfield. and his education was received at the public schools. He remained with his parents until twenty years and one
Geo F Driesor
--
Universalist Church, Watertown
$31
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY.
month old, when he entered the military service in defense of the Union. He enlisted September 14, 1861, at Watertown, in Company A. Thirty- fifth Regiment, New York Volunteer Infantry, for two years, under Colonel Newton B. Lord. He was a faithful and exemplary soldier, participating in all the skirmishes and battles of the regiment until the engagement at Fredericksburg. Virginia. December 13, 1862, when his left leg was carried away by a cannon ball. The same ball cut off both legs of the man on his riglit and both of those of the one on his left, resulting fatally to both. The regiment was exposed for two hours to close-range artillery cross-fire, being on the extreme left of General Burnside's command. One battery was in front of them, another on the left and a third on the left oblique, and all kept up a severe attack. In due time. Mr. Dressor recovered from his wound, and was honorably discharged at Washington. December 14. 1863.
Returning to Watertown, he was employed as a traveling sales- man and subsequently purchased land in the town of Watertown. on which he resided engaged in gardening until 1881. when he purchased property in the city of Watertown, and took up his residence there. By industry and prudent management he was enabled to retire from hard labor upon his removal to the city, and he is now occupied with the care of his investments. He supports the principles of the Repub- lican party, and takes part in the social and religious life of the com- munity. He is a member of Joe Spratt Post No. 323. Grand Army of the Republic. He united with the Baptist church at Poughkeepsie, New York, in May, 1864, and subsequently received a letter by which he joined the First Baptist church of Watertown, September 24. 1876. For five years be was a deacon of this society. In February, 1904. he was one of twenty-five members to obtain letters of dismissal, and on the fourth day of that month they organized a second society in Water- town, known as Calvary Baptist church. A lot of land was secured at the corner of Academy and Clay streets, upon which a chapel was erected during the season of 1904, and which was dedicated November 27, 1904. Of this society Mr. Dressor is a deacon and most active member. He is a worthy representative of a long line of honorable ancestors, an upright and respected citizen, a faithful Christian, a con- siderate parent and a loving and true husband. As one of those who gave of their blood for the integrity of the nation, he receives the honor and gratitude of every patriotic citizen.
He was married July 26. 1866. to Helen Lucy Wilson, daughter
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY.
of Samuel and Lucy (Woodward) Wilson (see Wilson). She was born in Rutland, and is a member of Calvary Baptist church and the local Relief Corps, auxiliary to the Grand Army of the Republic.
(IX) Walter William Dressor, only child of George F. and Helen L. Dressor, was born May 25, 1867, in Poughkeepsie, New York, and was cducated for a civil engineer, which occupation he follows. He is quartermaster of General Bradley Winslow Camp, Sons of Vet- erans, and is a staunch Republican, as indicated by his membership in the Lincoln League. He was married November 20. 1888, by Rev. L. J. Dean, to Jessie Maria Paige.
EDWARD G. SHORTT, a successful inventor and patentee of many useful appliances. including engines and airbrakes, is a native of Ireland, and a patriotic citizen of Jefferson county. He was born May 26, 1846, in Rathsvilla, Kings county, Ireland, and was about one year old when he came with his parents to America. His grandfather, Edward B. Shortt, was a hatter in Rathsvilla, and died there in 1825, at the age of twenty-five years. His widow, Bridget (Doran) Shortt, came to America and died in the town of Worth, this county, aged seventy-one years. She had two sons and a daughter-John B., Thomas, and Bridget. The last named is the wife of Michael Conroy, residing at Worthville, this county. Thomas died in Watertown in 1899.
John P. Shortt was born August 15, 1823, in Rathsvilla, where he was married to Esther Goonan, who was born in the same place, daughter of James and Ann Goonan. In 1847 he set out for the United States and located at Philadelphia, New York, in 1850. Here he learned the work of carriage-making, and was subsequently employed by the Jefferson Iron Company, being superintendent of its iron furnaces at Antwerp and Sterlingbush for a period of fourteen years. For a time he was associated with Archie Hilton in a store at Antwerp, and was a merchant at Sterlingville and Sterlingbush, being postmaster at the latter point five years. He also served as school trustee at Sterling- "ille. Since 1893 he has been retired from active business and has lived in Carthage. He is a member of St. James's Roman Catholic church, and is a Democrat in political principle. The subject of this sketch is the eldest of his six children. James, the second, is a citizen of Fine, St. Lawrence county, New York. Bridget died at the age of thirty-nine years, unmarried. William resides at Carthage. Mary is the wife of Joseph Miner, an innkeeper of Carthage. Theresa resides with her sister in Carthage. The mother died October 28, 1879.
833
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY.
Edward G. Shortt has known no other country than this since the period of his earliest recollection. Previous to the age of fourteen years he attended the public schools of Redwood and Philadelphia, and tlen assisted his father in the operation of wagon shops, where his mechanical genius found occupation. In 1864 he came to Carthage and entered upon a three-years' apprenticeship with Brown, Winch & Bliss, to learn the trade of machinist. After his term was completed he remained three years as a journeyman with the same firm. During this time he invented and perfected a shaft-coupling, which was a great improvement over those previously in use, and he formed an asso- ciation with Minor Guyot under the style of the Giant Coupling Com- pany, and carried on its manufacture four years, at the same time doing any machinery jobbing which came their way. A part interest was sold to William Rulison and soon after the failure of Guyot caused a suspension of the concern. In 1876 Mr. Shortt went to Seneca Falls and entered the employ of the Rumsey Manufacturing Company, mak- ers of pumps and engines. Returning to Carthage on the organization of the Empire Steam Pump Company, whose pump he had invented, he had charge of its shops four years. For twelve years, in association with Charles G. Emery, he has operated an experimental shop in Carth- age, developing his air-brakes. He now has more than one hundred patents covering air-brakes, which have been assigned to the Interna- tional Air-Brake Company, a corporation with two and one-half mil- lions of capital. Mr. Shortt's most recent achievement is the perfection of a gas engine much simpler and more convenient of operation than any previously in use. This, amply covered by patents, is now being made for the market by the Ryther & Pringle Company of Carthage. He also has numerous patents on engines, pumps, harvester cutters, and other practical appliances, and his fertile brain is continually designing improvements, upon old and staple implements of utility.
In 1887 Mr. Shortt erected his handsome home at the corner of Budd and Church streets, in Carthage, where hospitality, good taste and cheer obtain. He is a demitted Mason, and a member of St. James's church. In politics he might be termed an independent Democrat, as he is not wholly bound by party associations, as in 1900 he supported President Roosevelt by his vote. He was married July 5, 1868. to Catherine McGowan, who was born July 18. 1849, in Boonville, New York. a daughter of Michael and Maria (Hyland) McGowan, the former a native of Ireland, and the latter of Canada, of Irish descent.
53
834
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY.
Three sons complete the family of Mr. Shortt: 1. Frederick, a moulder: he married Annie O'Keefe, and they have two children, Be- ronica and Francis. 2. Howard. a draughtsman; he married Rose Leach. and they have two children, Alice and Catherine. 3. Frank, who is engaged in an insurance business.
LEVI A. JOHNSON, a retired business man of Watertown, is a scion of an ancient English family, and his ancestors were among the pioneers of northern New York.
(I) William Johnson, son of William and Irena Johnson, was born in Elizabethtown, Canada, July 29. 1800. He was the great- grandson of Sir William Johnson, Baronet, who was born at Warren- ton. county Down, Ireland, in 1715. Sir William was the eldest son of Christopher Johnson, Esquire, of the same county, of a family ancient in its descent and honorable in its alliances. His mother was Anne Warren, sister of the brothers, Oliver and Peter Warren (afterwards Sir Peter Warren, K. B.), whose names are identified with the naval glory of England. The Warrens were of an old and honorable family, possessing an estate in the county of Down, Ireland, from the first arrival of the English in Ireland. Sir William Johnson came to America when twenty-three years of age as agent for his uncle Warren, who liad large landed estates in this country, north of Albany, New York. He became very prominent in the management of Colonial and Indian affairs, and was created a baronet of the English realm in 1755. In 1756 he was commissioned sole superintendent of all the affairs of the Six Nations and other northern Indians. In 1769 the king. by Royal Letters Patent. granted Sir William one hundred thousand acres of land lying north of the Mohawk river, long known as Kingsland, of the Royal Grant, in the county of Tryon, which included all of northern and western New York. In 1772 Sir William was the most influential man in the provinces, a baronet of the British realm, superintendent of tlic Indian department. a member of His Majesty's council and major- general of the militia. He was courted, admired and respected. He built Johnson Hall, at Johnstown, in 1764, also built the court house, jail and Episcopal church in the same place. He died there, July II, 1774. The exact date of Sir William's marriage is not ascertained, but was probably about 1740. His wife was a German woman by the name of Catherine Weisenberg. The date of her death is not known. but is believed to have been as early as the summer of 1745. Three
LEVI A. JOHNSON
535
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY.
children were born to them-a son, Sir John, and two daughters, Anne and Mary. Anne married Colonel Claus. Mary married her cousin. Colonel Guy Johnson. in 1763. After the death of Sir William. they went to Canada. Mary was the grandmother of William Johnson.
William Johnson came from Canada when a young man, and pur- chased land on Point Salubrious, in the county of Jefferson, New York, where ( May 6, 1820) he married Caroline Smith, the daughter of Eben and Martha Smith. who were early settlers in that section, and came from New York city. William Johnson and wife Caroline died in 1842, at which time they had living five sons and three daughters, viz .: Lorenzo, born February 29. 1824; Herbert, January 19, 1829: Levi A., October 2. 1831: Eli. January 29. 1834: William N., October 14, 1839; Irena, August 7, 1821: Anna Maria, March 2, 1837; Caro- line E., December 16, 1841. Three of the sons and one daughter are now living ( 1904) : Lorenzo on the old homestead on Point Salu- brious; Levi A. in the city of Watertown; William N. in the city of Denver, Colorado: and Anna Maria Farrington in the city of Water- town.
Levi Arthur Johnson, son of William and Caroline Johnson, was born at Point Salubrious, October 2, 1831. When about sixteen years of age he entered the employ of the Ontario Cotton Mills Company in Brownville. May 12, 1852, he married Mary Dawes Strong, youngest daughter of Arba and Amy P. Strong, of that village. One daughter was born to them, and named Mary Strong Johnson. The mother lived but a few days after the birth of the daughter. Early in 1856 Mr. Johnson went to Chicago and entered the employ of Hunt, Wiggins & Company, wholesale clothiers, formerly of Watertown. In 1857 he returned to Watertown, and with Mr. George W. Wiggins established the Great Wardrobe Clothing Store. January 12, 1860, Mr. Johnson married Mary Louise Clarke, daughter of John Clarke, an eminent lawyer of the city, who died in 1865 ( see Clarke). By this marriage were born William Clarke Johnson and Edward Arthur Johnson, and two daughters, Helen Louise Johnson, and Frances Grace Johnson. In 1872 Mr. Johnson disposed of his interest in the Great Wardrobe busi- ness, and was elected treasurer of the Davis Sewing Machine Company, and became its general manager, continuing as such until 1896. Mean- time the company had removed to Dayton, Ohio, from which place Mr. Johnson returned to his home in Watertown, having disposed of his interest in the company. Under his personal management it had estab- lished its business in all of the principal countries of the world.
836
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY.
FULTON. Those of this name in this country have contributed much to the honor and glory of America. Among the most noted belonging to the family of which this article treats was Robert Fulton, inventor of the steamboat. Its representatives in Jefferson county have been known as honorable, industrious and generous-hearted people.
( I) Among the founders of the town of Colerain, Massachusetts, was Robert Fulton, who was born in Colerain, county Antrim, Ireland. The northern portion of Ireland was largely settled and developed by immigrants from Scotland, and its people have been said by a Scotch- man to be "more Scotch than the Scotch," meaning that they preserved unmodified the characteristics of their early ancestors. They have always been found thrifty, intelligent and well settled in their principles and opinions. The Fulton family, belonging to this class, had several representatives in the northeastern part of Colerain, Massachusetts, the names of William, John and Robert being found in accounts of early times there.
( II) James, son of Robert Fulton, was born May 24, 1749, and died March 20, 1834, in Colerain. He was a farmer in the northeastern part of that town, and reared a family of ten children. He was tall and large, weighing about two hundred pounds, with blue eyes, fair complexion and curly hair. This he wore in the Continental style, done up in a queue. His wife, Hannah Ellis, was born October 13, 1750, in Ashfield, Massachusetts, which town was first settled by her father, Richard Ellis. The last-named was born August 16, 1704, in Dublin, Ireland, being the son of a Welshman, who was an officer in the British army then stationed at Dublin. Richard Ellis came to America in 1717, and was bound out to a miller, in eastern Massachu- setts. In 1728, at Easton, Massachusetts, he married Jane, daughter of Captain John Phillips, who received from the colony several fifty- acre "rights" of land, as compensation for service in the expedition against Quebec in 1690. Some of these "rights" came into possession of Richard Ellis, who located them in Ashfield. This land was in possession of Mr. Leonard D. Lanfair in 1888. Mr. Ellis was loyal to the British king, and served three years as an officer in the French and Indian war, in New England and New York. After this struggle he kept a store and ashery in Colerain, near its eastern line, and his daughter, Hannah, then about fifteen years old, was his housekeeper, his wife having died about 1760. The latter was born July 1, 1709, in Easton or Weymouth. Her mother was Elizabeth Drake, and her
837
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY.
father was a son of Richard and Elizabeth ( Parker ) Phillips, the for- mer of these two being a son of Nicholas Phillips, who was made a freeman at Weymouth, May 13, 1640, and died in 1672. Richard Eilis died October 7. 1797. in his ninety-fourth year. Ile could mount a horse from the ground when eighty years old, and appeared well the day before his deathı.
After the death of her husband. Hannah ( Ellis ) Fulton lived with her daughter in the adjoining town of Guilford, Vermont, where she died in 1839. She was short in stature, weighed about one hundred and sixty pounds, and had fair complexion. Her children were: Rob- ert, James, Caleb, David. Lucretia, Daniel, Elijah, Nathan, Jesse and Sarah, most of whom became pioneers of Jefferson county. Robert settled in Thetford, Vermont, where he lived to an old age. Lucretia married Abel Carpenter, and lived in Rutland, this county, where both died. They had ten children, and only one of their descendants is left in this vicinity. Jesse lived and died in Colerain. Sarah became the wife of Jabez Franklin, and lived and died in Guilford, Vermont. The others are mentioned in following paragraphs.
( Ill) James Fulton, second son of James and Hannah Fulton, was born May 7. 1775, in Colerain, and married Sarah Choate in 1799. She was born October 17, 1777, and died April 11. 1851. in Champion. He settled in Champion in 1800, engaged in farming, and died June 20, 1838, in Rutland, where he bought the Carpenter homestead. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, participating in the battle of Sacketts Harbor. His children were: Samuel, George, Lucy, Richard, Hannah, Jesse, Nathan, Maria and Eleanor.
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.