USA > New York > Jefferson County > Genealogical and family history of the county of Jefferson, New York, Volume II > Part 20
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to the farin he already had, making three hundred and forty acres in all. Soon thereafter the law to return to specie payment after the war of the Rebellion began to have its depreciating effect upon the market value of all kinds of property. and in 1876 occurred his financial failure, in which he lost about ten thousand dollars, including fourteen hundred dollars of his wife's money. There being no bankrupt law at the time by which he could relieve himself from the greed of his creditors, he was forced to abandon business and support himself by day's work as a common laborer. In 1882, by the aid and assistance of his father, he purchased the sawmill property and waterpower in Depauville. After a few years of successful management in the manufacture of lumber and shingles, he built a cheese-box factory and commenced the manufacture of cheese boxes. Jefferson county being noted for its manufacture of cheese both in quality and quantity, he was enabled by industry and fair dealings, with the assistance of his son. W. Frederick, to increase the business from two thousand boxes in 1892 to eighty-five thousand boxes in 1903, including both English and limburger boxes. They are also engaged in the manufacture of screen doors and windows and bob sleighis, as well as doing job work and repairing. They have built many dwellings in Depauville for their employees and others, and the village owes muchi of its recent rapid growth to the firm of Stern- berg Brothers.
In politics he has always been an earnest Democrat, but not an offensive partisan nor an aspirant to office, preferring to know the truth and do the right as he saw it, rather than by prevarications to obtain the patronage of those who differ with him in their views. He was ex- ecutor of his father's will, which was settled to the satisfaction of all concerned.
In October, 1866, Mr. Sternberg married Millie, daughter of John H. Zimmerman, of the town of Pamelia. She died in October, 1867. He afterward married Lestina S. York, daughter of John O. Spencer, of the town of Clayton. To them were born the following children :
I. Edwin G., born April 20, 1871. He was educated in Depau- ville common school and Watertown high school. He taught school in Brownville. He was a fine musician, and taught and composed music, and organized the Depauville Brass Band, of which he was leader. He was a young man of fine abilities, exceptional good habits, and enjoyed the good opinion of all who knew him. He was the leading member
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of the firm of Sternberg Brothers at the time of his death, which occurred March 23. 1898. from typhoid fever.
2. W. Frederick, born June 14. 1872. He is now in business with his father. He married Errmine Easton, born February 17, 1880, a native of the same town as himself. They had two children: Edwin G., born September 16. 1900: and W. Frederick, born September 18. 1902, died September 30, 1903.
3. Nellie, born March 13. 1876: married, January. 1900, Dr. B. B. Davis, a graduate from the Dental College of Buffalo, New York.
7. Marcus D., born October 27. 1904.
Mr. Sternberg, during his entire life, has been a careful and indus- triotis reader, and has taken a lively interest in the business and political affairs of the country at large. With a frank, outspoken manner and cordial hospitality. the visitor at his home is soon at ease, and in the presence of a most interesting host. His portrait appears on an adjoin- ing page.
SPICER GENEALOGY. The Spicers came from England to Vir- ginia in 1635. The first, Edward, probably about twenty-one years of age, came in the ship "Safety." He had one son, Silas Spicer. Henry came in the ship "David Joe," and William in the ship "Assurance." Silas Spicer, great-grandfather of Hon. Henry and Edward Spicer. sketches of whom follow this, was born January 22. 1745.
Silas Spicer (grandfather) was born in Stonington. Connecticut, July 4, 1765. He spent his early years in his native state, engaged in farming, and then came to Cooperstown. Oneida county. New York. where he died. He married Nancy Fish, and the following named nine children were born to them: I. Silas F., born February 20. 1792. mentioned at length in the following paragraph. 2. Erastus, born December 22. 1793, married (second wife) Wealthy Adams: he was a minister in the Methodist Episcopal church. 3. Jason, who was killed by the fall of a tree. 4. Nancy, married (second) a Davis. 5. Clar- rissa, born January, 1806; married in 1829, Melzer Fowler; she died November 4, 1842, and left two children-Mrs. Cyrus McCormick, of McCormick Reaper fame, and Eldridge M., now a resident of Pasadena, California, but for many years vice-president of the McCormick Har- vester Company. 6. Lovina, married an Oliver. 7. Jemima, born January 29, 1799, married Sweet Allen. 8. Luna, married (first) a Carpenter, and (second) a Cooper. 9. Mary, married an Andrews.
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Silas F. Spicer ( father) was born in Stonington, Connecticut, Feb- ruary 20, 1792. He came with his parents to Oneida county, New York, and previous to the year 1812 located in Sackets Harbor, and resided there during the famous battle. After completing a common school education he served an apprenticeship at the trade of tanner, currier and shoemaker, two branches of the leather trade that usually went together in the early days of settling the county. He then came to Brownville, New York, and worked for General Loomis for some years. He was also actively interested in agricultural pursuits, and, being a man of sound judgment and strict integrity, he achieved a large degree of success throughout his active career. In 1816 Mr. Spicer took up his residence in Perch River. but after a time returned to the village of Brownville, where he remained some two or three years, and in 1821 located permanently in Perch River, where he conducted an extensive tanning and shoemaking business, making boots for fine trade for many years. For a number of years he was the incumbent of the office of justice of the peace, discharging his various duties with promptness and efficiency. He was an honored and consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church, with which body he united during his residence in Brownville, and served as class leader for many years.
During the famous Morgan excitement he was known as an "anti- Mason," and took a decided ground in the controversy which then raged throughout the states. Subsequently and until 1840 he advocated the principles of the Whig party, but in that year became identified morally and politically with the abolition movement, which was then beginning to develop, and whose principles found in him a prompt and determined advocate, he having been brought up in an atmosphere which was permeated with the true spirit of civil and religious freedom, and was one of the instigators of the first abolition organization in the town of Brownville, and was the agent of the "Underground Railroad." He was steadfast in his allegiance to that party until 1864, when Presi- dent Lincoln's emancipation proclamation obviated the necessity of fur- ther agitation. Both he and his wife were deeply interested in the tem- perance cause, as also in every worthy enterprise and movement, and were noted for their hospitality, their home serving as a resting place for the regular and itinerant preachers of the Methodist Episcopal denomination.
On March 5, 1815, Mr. Spicer was united in marriage to Charlotte Wescott, Jorn July 20, 1797. in Deerfield, Oneida county, New York,
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and fourteen children were the issue of this union: 1. Charlotte, yet living, was born in Houndsfield. December 6, 1815, who became the wife of Hugh Smith, who was born in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, January 27. 1811, a descendant of good old Quaker stock; for many years he was the business partner of Henry Spicer, his brother-in-law. He held the office of postmaster of Perch River for twenty-one years, and in 1873 was elected to the assembly. He died at his home in Perch River, June 15, 1887. aged seventy-six years His wife bore him five children, of whom two died in infancy ; three daughters are now living- Hannah, Sarah and Mary. 2. Silas, born January 20, 1817, died May 12, 1867; he married Hannah Rouse, and to them were born three chil- dren-Helen, deceased; Webster, deceased, and Gilbert. 3. Mercy. born April 10. 1819. died October 13, 1896; she married Cornelius Van Camp, who died in 1859: their six children were: Cornelius, David, Herbert, Deelton, Clara, and Jenny May. 4. Henry, born October 20, 1820, a sketch of whom follows this. 5. Fanny, born August 22, 1823,' died February 8, 1895; she became the wife of Henry S. Archer. 6. Maria, born September 29. 1825, died December 24, 1900; she became the wife of Jolin Baxter. 7. Edward (first), born February 10, 1827, died in infancy. 8 and 9. Caroline and Clarrissa, twins, born January 5. 1830; Caroline died October 29, 1882, the wife of Otis Oconner ; and Clarrissa died June 30, 1903, wife of James B. Webb, of Oak Park, Illinois. 10. Mary, born August 12, 1831, who is now living ( 1904), the wife of I. O. Bouks, of Chaumount, New York. 11. Jane, born April 12, 1833, died Mareh 16, 1904; she married Orrin Barns, a promi- nent citizen, who died June 29, 1879, and she afterward married Miles Crandall, of Oak Park, Illinois. 12. Edward ( second ), born November 23, 1834. 13. Sarah, born November 16, 1836, became the wife of Rev. George Calkins. 14. George, born May 11. 1839; he enlisted in Company A, Thirty-fifth Regiment, New York Volunteers, and was killed on the eve of the battle of Antietam, September 16, 1862. These children were all afforded a good common school education, and of the nine 'girls eight were teachers. Mr. Spicer died at his home in Perch River, July 1, 1865, aged seventy-three years, having passed the allotted age of three score years and ten. His wife survived him, passing away on August 7, 1882.
HON. HENRY SPICER, a well known politician and prominent business man of Pereh River. Jefferson county, New York, who pos- sessed in a marked degree those characteristics which win and retain
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the esteein and respect of all who know him, and whose influence has ever been upon the side of moral and social progress, was born October 20, 1820, at Brownville, New York, second son of Silas F. and Char- lotte (Wescott) Spicer, whose history, together with the genealogy of the Spicer family, precedes this narrative.
He was reared in the town of Perch River, and had the advantage of a good English education, being a pupil in the district schools from the age of fourteen to twenty-one, the summer months being devoted to working on a farm. Upon attaining his majority he occupied himself with teaching in district schools during the winter sessions, and with work at his trade of carpenter and joiner during the summers, and he built a number of houses in Brownville which are yet standing. For eighteen months of the time he worked in Canada. In the fall of 1846 he entered into partnership with his brother-in-law. Hugh Smith, having a large general store at Perch River. Hugh Smith was a member of assembly in 1874. and a prominent Pennsylvania Quaker. The firm of Smith & Spicer was well known throughout the northern part of the county, being ever a synonym for honesty and fair dealing, and con- tinued for eighteen years, or until the retirement of Mr. Spicer in the fall of 1864. During these years they conducted a very successful busi- ness. After his retirement from this firm Mr. Spicer devoted his atten- tion to farming, buying and shipping cattle and the breeding of horses. In the last named pursuit he has achieved great success. Among the fine animals reared by him was the famous "Goll Dust." which brought the large sum of $10.500. In 1870 he began buying, pressing and ship- ping hay, handling from 10.000 to 12,000 tons a year for over thirty years. In addition to this he has been engaged in various financial enterprises. in all of which he achieved a large degree of success and won recognition as a prudent, reliable and sagacious business man.
He was a member of the supervisors' committee which was formed to take action on the erection of the county buildings at Watertown, New York. On December 16, 1860, the committee assembled and re- ceived plans and specifications and appointed a sub-committee to visit the several courthouses in the state, or as many as they deemed neces- sary. and examine the same, and confer with W. N. White, an architect at Syracuse. The sub-committee procured plans and drafts from Mr. White and reported at a special meeting of the board. January 7, 1861, recommending the adoption of White's plans, which placed the cost of a new building. erected in accordance therewith, at the sum of $25.000.
/d. d. Spicard
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The report of the committee was adopted by the board, and after a brisk and animated struggle the present site, corner of Arsenal and Benedict streets, in Watertown, was selected, the same being donated by the citizens of the city. A loan of $25,000 was authorized and made from the state at seven per cent, and a contract made with John Hose and Joseph Davis to erect the building for $24,000, and WV. N. White was appointed supervising architect, and the following named super- visors a building committee : Joseph Atwell, A. W. Clark, A. C. Mid- dleton, C. A. Benjamin, John H. Conklin. Henry Spicer, and Jacob Putnam. The building was completed in 1862, at a cost of $25,488.89. The entire expense of the courthouse as it now stands is not far from $35.000. It is built of brick, with stone trimmings and portico, and has an area of about seventy feet front on Arsenal street by 120 feet rear on Benedict street. It has two stories, and is provided with a fire- proof clerk's office in the rear of the building, and is surmounted with a tower in good proportionate dimensions to the balance of the edifice, and, with a well-kept lawn (one of the features of Watertown), is an ornament to the city and a credit to the county.
For many years Mr. Spicer was a director of the National Union Bank, which was organized originally as the Union Bank of Watertown, and was one of the original directors of the Black River Insurance Com- pany, the name of which was subsequently changed to the Northern Insurance Company. Politically Mr. Spicer was a staunch Whig until the formation of the Republican party in 1854, since which time he has advocated the principles and voted for the candidates of that great organization. He was for many years chairman of the Republican county committee, and a delegate to a large number of district, county, congressional and state conventions, and has an extensive acquaintance among the leading politicians of Jefferson county, where his influence has been felt to a large extent for over fifty years, an illustration of this fact being that although one of the oldest men of the county he was elected as a delegate to the congressional convention in 1904. and took an active part in the proceedings of that body. He represented the town of Brownville as its supervisor four terms. ( 1858-59-60-69) : was the presidential elector from his congressional district when Gen- eral Grant was elected for his second term: and was elected to the assembly in 1876, acting as chairman of the committee on internal affairs. Mr. Spicer has attended every Republican presidential inau- guration since President Lincoln's first term, and has voted for every
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY.
Republican president since John C. Fremont, in 1856, for whom he also voted. Probably few men in this country and none in northern New York have attended so many presidential inaugurations. In 1897 he was the only representative of Jefferson county present at the inaugura- tion of President William McKinley, and although eighty-five years of age, if alive, will in 1905 attend the inauguration of President Roose- velt. At the congressional convention in 1904 he was one of two men present who had voted for John C. Fremont in 1856. Mr. Spicer is a thorough temperance man. and during his term as member of the legislature rendered valuable service toward the furtherance of that cause.
September 2, 1848. Mr. Spicer married Delia E. Allen. born in Oneida county, New York, daughter of Captain Beriah Allen, he from Rome, Oneida county, New York, and Diana ( Prior ) Allen, of Brown- ville. New York. Captain Allen was connected with the state militia, served the town for several years as supervisor, was a prominent man, and died at the age of seventy-five years. He was a man of irreproach- able character, who took an active part in all affairs of his day and time, and was highly respected by all who knew him. His wife, Diana ( Prior) Allen, was born in Rhode Island. She was the mother of three children, now deceased. and she died at the age of seventy years. Mrs. Spicer, who died in 1879. aged fifty-two years, bore her husband the following named children :
I. Fremont W., who was a resident of Dexter, New York, where he served as manager of the Frontenac Paper Company. He also for four years represented the foreign business of the International Paper Company. Since leaving Dexter he has been extensively engaged in the building of pulp mills, representing and interested in a large syndi- cate. and at the present time ( 1904) has a force of five hundred men engaged in building a large plant, including a pulp mill, in lower Canada, to utilize the wood from spruce forests of a million acres. This plant, when completed, will be capable of making two hundred tons of pulp per day. He married Minnie A. Wood, daughter of Oscar M. and Mary L. ( Easterly) Wood, of Dexter, in 1881, and their children are: 1, Mollie, now twenty-one years of age, a student in Wellesley College, class of 1907 : Muriel D .. in school in New Jersey ; Allen S.
2. Carrie E., who became the wife of Frank T. Watson, of Rome, New York, and died in 1902, aged forty-two years.
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3. Henrietta, who became the wife of Fred E. Wood, a merchant of Dexter, and they have one daughter, Delia.
4. George E., born August 27, 1861 ; he is engaged in the tobacco trade in Carthage, New York. He married Agnes Normander, a daugh- ter of Dr. Normander, of Carthage, and they are the parents of one daughter, Edna.
The daughters of Hon. Henry Spicer were educated at the Clinton Liberal Institute, Oneida county, and the sons at the St. Lawrence Uni- versity, Canton, New York.
EDWARD SPICER, a veteran of the Civil war, and now actively and successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits at Perch River, Jeffer- son county, New York, was born November 23, 1834.
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He spent the early years of his life in his father's shop and on a farm, was educated in the common schools of his native county, and for several years after the completion of his studies devoted his atten- tion to the vocation of teacher in the winter in the schools of Brownville and adjoining towns, and working on a farm in summer. For two years from 1860 he carried on his father's tannery, and in 1862 began farming as a means of livelihood. The following year he joined Company G. Tenth Regiment, New York Heavy Artillery, and participated in all the field service of his company, beginning at Cold Harbor, and the first advance made on Petersburg. Later the regiment was sent to Washington city to aid in the repulse of Early's raid upon the national capital, and subsequently served under General Sheridan in the Shenan- doah Valley, and was in the battle of Cedar Creek. He was then on detached service at the headquarters of the brigade, and with his regi- ment served on the James River, performing outpost picket duty for a time. He was honorably discharged in September, 1865, after the close of the war. He has in his possession more than a hundred letters writ- ten during his service, which contain many items of importance, and by their aid and his excellent memory he has assisted materially in securing pensions for several of his comrades.
After his return to his home Mr. Spicer taught school during the winter season, and made cheese during the summer months, for three years, and for many years served in the capacity of secretary and sales- man of the Excelsior Cheese Factory. He was one of the original in- corporators of the Watertown Produce Exchange, and during his mem- bership, was one of its vice-presidents. In February, 1869, he pur- chased his present farm near Perch River, New York, which he has
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since conducted. devoting his entire time and attention to general farm- ing and dairying.
Mr. Spicer is a Republican in politics, has served as justice of the peace for a number of years, as supervisor of his town for four years, was nominated for the assembly in 1891, and has acted as delegate to many nominating conventions of his party. The interest he has taken in agricultural matters is evinced by the fact that he was chosen the first master of the Grange at Perch River. Mr. Spicer takes much interest in all Grand Army affairs, and is a member of J. Bradbent Post, of Dexter, New York. He holds membership in the Methodist Epis- copal church, in which he has served as class leader, trustee, steward, and Sunday school superintendent for many years. He has always maintained a high position as a citizen, and as a business man has won a reputation for integrity and honorable transactions.
Mr. Spicer married (first) February 2, 1860, Hannah Allison, born May 21. 1836, in Limerick. New York. and one child was born to them -Jessie, born in 1867-who died in 1878. aged eleven years. Mrs. Spicer died April 26, 1869. Mr. Spicer married (second) March 15, 1871, Frances Loucks, born in Manheim, Herkimer county, New York, January 8, 1840, daughter of Levi and Nancy (Snell) Loucks. Mr. and Mrs. Spicer's children were: Howard, born October 25, 1875, died October 13. 1878; Irene, born December 5. 1880, who became the wife of Frederick J. Casler, of Dexter, New York.
Levi Loucks was born November 18. 1808. in Herkimer county, New York, son of George Loucks, also a native of Herkimer county. He was reared in Manheim, New York, and followed farming in that town. In 1843 he came to Lafargeville, New York, and there devoted his attention to the tilling of the soil until the year of his death, 1886. His wife, Nancy ( Snell) Loucks, born in 1810, was also a native of Herkimer county, New York, and died in the fifty-sixth year of her age. She bore him ten children, seven of whom are living at the present time ( 1904), namely: Romain, horn January 22, 1836. mar- ried Mary Grey; Mrs. Jane Dorr. of Lafargeville: Frances, aforemen- tioned as the wife of Edward Spicer: Walter, born May 18, 1841; George, born March 29. 1845: Mrs. L. S. Strough, horn September 10, 1847: Lourette, born November 21, 1851. wife of M. J. Jerome, of Lafargeville, New York.
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DON ALONZO D. M. WATSON, of Redwood, Jefferson county, New York, who enjoys the reputation of being a brave soldier, an able and eloquent judge and a public-spirited and exemplary citizen, was born at Evans Mills, New York, March 5, 1835. His peculiar name dates back to the eighteenth century, and has been borne by three individuals, one of whom was his father.
Samuel Watson (grandfather) was born in Connecticut in 1780, and with his two brothers-Eli and John-came from his native state to New York state, locating in Herkimer county; later they resided in Black River, whence Samuel removed to Watertown. John Watson became a member of the medical profession, and conducted his practice for many years in Pulaski, New York, where his death occurred. Eli Watson went to Nebraska, and reared a large family of children, a number of whom are still living. For many years Samuel Watson conducted a hotel on the Pamelia side of Black River, and from there removed to Cape Vincent, serving in the capacity of street commissioner of that town up to the time of his death, which was the result of an epileptic fit. He was an expert horseman, and derived much pleasure from this exercise. He was a Democrat in politics. He was an active participant in the war of 1812. and assisted at the arsenal in Watertown, where he gave out the guns to those who went to the fight at Sacketts Harbor. Mr. Watson was married twice. His first wife, Miss Acker, was the mother of one son. A. M. His second wife, Miss Shield, was the mother of three children, Samuel, James, and Sarah, who became the wife of Judith Ainsworth, of Cape Vincent, now deceased.
A. M. Watson (father) was born in the vicinity of Herkimer county, New York, in 1810. While a resident at Evans Mills, New York, he was the incumbent of the office of constable, and later went to Watertown and studied law with John Clark. It was customary in those early days to be admitted to each court separately, and Mr. Watson, of this review, has in his possession the diplomas entitling his father to practice in the county, circuit, court of appeals, and supreme court of the United States. He was admitted to the bar in 1837, and in 1840 was a law partner with John F. Hutchinson, at one time postmaster at Watertown. Mr. Watson became infatuated with Fourierism, and in association with several notable men attempted to reduce Fourier's principles to practice. After an unsuccessful attempt at Cold Creek, Mr. Watson went to Sodus Bay, in Wayne county, where the Fourierites had a second establishment on a farm
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