USA > New York > Jefferson County > Genealogical and family history of the county of Jefferson, New York, Volume II > Part 21
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of eleven hundred acres. He remained there one year, and then re. moved to Rochester. New York, where he resumed the practice of law. He also conducted a flour. feed and grocery store, which he estab- lished, also a hotel in the same building. He was united in marriage to Malona M. Martin, born in Washington county, New York, one of a family of ten children. Ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs Watson, three of whom are living at the present time: Don Alonzo D. M., mentioned in the following paragraph: Albert M., a resident of Detroit, Michigan, who is an expert on safe and bank locks; and Emma, wife of George Snell. of Batavia, New York. A. M. Watson died suddenly of pneumonia, December 31, 1847, at the early age of less than forty years. He was survived by his wife, who was a noble Christian, a member of the Presbyterian church during the early years of her life, and later affiliated with the Episcopal church ; she attained the venerable age of eighty-seven years.
Don Alonzo D. M. Watson spent the most of his early life in Watertown, attending school in the old stone schoolhouse at the corner oi Jay and Sterling streets. By the early death of his father he was deprived of a collegiate education. but when twenty years of age he commenced attending a school at Theresa, New York, conducted by W. T. Goodnough, where he had as a fellow-student Orison Luill Haddock, the boy orator. He attended this school for several terms, in the meantime taking up the study of law with Hon. David Bearup. of Theresa, and in order to replenish his finances he taught school. His first and second year as teacher were in the school at Ox Bow ; he was'at Hernman one year, at Theresa one year, had a private school one term at Shurtleff, at Theresa a private school one term, and at Alexandria Bay one year. During the period of time that elapsed between attending the public school and the school of Mr. Goodnough he learned the trade of moulder, at which he worked for six and one-half years. The following two and a half years he spent in Wisconsin. He settled the claims of his brother. George Watson, in a newspaper printed in Marquette, Michigan, northern peninsula. He then returned to Theresa, New York, and in 1859 he served in the capacity of teacher in a school there, having under his control one hundred and eighteen pupils. In August, 1862, during the second year of the rebellion. he enlisted as a private in Company F. Tenth New York Heavy Artillery, was promoted to the rank of commissary sergeant, then first sergeant. then to that of lieutenant. and he was recommended for promotion by
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Major Campbell, on the field. for bravery at Petersburg. Company F. under the command of Captain J. F. Vandenberg, was recruited princi- pally from the towns of Alexandria and Theresa, was mustered with the battalions September 11, 1862, at Sacketts Harbor: moved with the bat- talions to the defense of Washington: and when ordered in active service participated in the siege of Petersburg, and the operations at Bermuda Hundred. They were mustered out of service June 23, 1805.
At the close of the war Mr. Watson took up his residence in Red- wood and taught school for nine years. Five years of this time he taught private school during the fall, and in winter taught public school. During this period of time, up to 1874, and in fact since 1856 he had studied law as opportunity would allow, reading at times with Anson Harder. He went to Watertown as a student in the law office of Hubbard & Wright, and in 1868 was admitted to the bar. He was at a later day also admitted to practice in the national courts in South Dakota. Since being admitted to the bar he has taught school at intervals, and holds a state certificate. In addition to his practice he is pension attorney of Redwood, to which town he returned in 1884, and is probably the oldest in point of service of any justice in Jefferson county, New York, and also among the oldest school teachers in the county. In 1873 Mr. Watson was elected justice of the peace of the town of Alexandria, and has been the incumbent of the office ever since with the exception of about five years-three of these years ( 1881 to 1884) being spent in Dakota-where he also served in a similar posi- tion, and in the year 1884 was a territorial delegate to the Chicago con- vention. He has also served three years as school commissioner of the third district of Jefferson county, and his labors in behalf of the higher elevation of the common school system of the state have been constant and efficient. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and for forty-two years has been a member of the Masonic fraternity, being affiliated for a number of years with Lodge No. 297, of Alexandria Bay.
On February 12, 1862, Mr. Watson married Julia Haskill, born in Vermont, daughter of Thomas Haskill, who came as a pioneer from Vermont to New York state. Two children were the issue of this union. both of whom are now deceased. Mrs. Watson died June 30, 1866. He married for his second wife. December 26, 1867, Nancy Cosgrove, born in Alexandria Bay. a daughter of James and Mary Cosgrove, the former named having come to Redwood in 1831, and remained there until his death at the advanced age of eighty-four years
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and the latter named attained the extreme old age of eighty-seven years. Mr. and Mrs. Watson are the parents of two children: John G., an electrician and competent mechanic; he married Carrie Border, and one child is the issue of this union-Don F. Watson. Arthur M., who is engaged as a steam shovel engineer in Canada; he married and has two children, De Etta and Garret Arthur.
COLONEL ELIAS SAGE, for many years a successful farmer of the town of Champion, passed away at his home in the southern part of that town, August 25, 1884. He came of a long line of honorable American ancestry, established for several generations in Middlesex county, Connecticut, where many creditable representatives are now found. The name is of Norman origin, and originated in the wise man or historian of a tribe. It is first found in the Battle Abbey Roll made by William the Conqueror after the battle of Hastings in 1066, when he divided the lands of England among his followers.
I. The name is first found in America at Middletown, Connec- ticut, where David Sage settled in 1650-52, coming from Wales, accom- panied by his mother, Elizabeth, then a widow and having resumed her maiden name of Randall. She married John Kirby in 1652, and again resumed her maiden name after his death, as shown by land con- veyances. David Sage was born in 1639, and died in 1703, leaving four sons, namely: David, born 1665; John, 1668; Timothy, 1678; and Jonathan. 1680. The first left no family.
2. John Sage, son of David, born 1668, died 1750-1. He had six sons and one daughter-John, David, Benoni, Nathaniel, Ebenezer, Comfort and Gideon.
3. Nathaniel, fourth son of John Sage, was born in 1707, and had three sons-Samuel, Jedediah and Nathaniel.
4. Samuel, eldest son of Nathaniel Sage, was born in 1730, and had three sons, namely : Enos, born 1757: Elias, 1759: Samuel, 1763.
5. Elias, second son of Samuel Sage, born 1759, had eight sons and four daughters, namely : Martin, born 1784: Roswell, 1786; Bernard, 1788: Harvey. 1794: Elias. 1799 ( Mrs. Woolworth's father ) ; Norton, 1804: Wesley, 1806: William D. L. F., 1809; Sally, 1782; Hannah, 1790: Elizabeth, 1796; and Rhoda, 1800.
6. Elias, son of Elias Sage (5), was born February 27, 1799, in Sandisfield, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, and was one year old when his parents moved to Lewis county, in this state. His schooling
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 881
was limited to that furnished by the crude district schools of the fron- tier, from which he "graduated" at the early age of sixteen years, but he was possessed of the hard sense of the New England Yankee, and supplemented by reading and observation the knowledge obtained in his youth. . At the age of sixteen he began an apprenticeship to the trade of carpenter, which ended on his arrival at his majority. Equipped with sound health, an ambitious mind and a thorough knowledge of his trade, he set out to earn his fortune, in which he was eminently success- ful. His preceptor lived in Champion, and his home continued in that town from the beginning of his apprenticeship. As soon as he was his own master he began taking jobs of building, and succeeded from the first. His earnings were prudently hoarded and invested, his first land purchase being made when he was twenty-four years old. To this he gradually added, and he became in time one of the largest landed pro- prietors in the town, owning over one hundred acres. After following carpenter work for nearly two-score years he settled upon his land, and continued its cultivation the remainder of his days, achieving the same success which had attended his earlier efforts. His home, built over eighty years ago, was one of the handsomest in location and general character to be found in the county. It is now occupied by his daugh- ter, Mrs. Seymour A. Woolworth (see sketch of Woolworth), and re- tains its desirability in every way, being the abode of cultivated taste and generous hospitality. Mr. Sage himself did most of the interior work on the house.
When a young man Mr. Sage joined the militia as a corporal in the Fourteenth New York Cavalry, was soon promoted to sergeant, and so on through the several gradations until he was colonel in command, so continuing three years. He was a Whig in early life, and was among the first supporters of the Republican party, to which he continued to give allegiance. With an intelligent interest in public affairs, he might have had many official positions, but steadfastly refused to be a candidate. He was a member of the Congregational church of Champion from 1846 to the time of his death, and was many years one of its trustees.
Colonel Sage was first married January 7, 1827, to Miss Hannah White, of Rutland, who died October 25, 1844. In the city of Troy, New York, on January 18. 1847, Mr. Sage married (second) Emily O. Rundall, who bore him three children, of whom two survive. They are: Martha J., wife of S. A. Woolworth, and Emily G., now Mrs. Chauncey Loomis, residing in Copenhagen, Lewis county, not far from her birthplace. Mrs. Woolworth's mother died December 28, 1896.
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LOOMIS. The Loomis family is a most numerous one in America and has many representatives in every state and territory. Its members have been characterized by industry, thrift and sobriety, and those estab- lished in Jefferson county have been reckoned among its best citizens.
(I) The first in this country was Joseph Loomis, a woolen draper of Braintree county of Essex. England, who was born in the latter part of the sixteenth century. He sailed from England. April 11, 1638, on the ship Susan and Ellen, and arrived at Boston July 17. following. The records show that he purchased a piece of land in Windsor, Con- necticut, February 24, 1640, and he must have settled in that town on or previous to that date. His wife died August 23. 1652, and he died November 25. 1658. They had five sons and three daughters.
( II) Joseph, son of Joseph Loomis ( 1), born in England, mar- ried ( first ) Sarah Hill. September 17. 1646, and she died August 23. 1653. He married Mary Chauncey, June 28, 1659. He was made a freeman in 1654, and died June 26, 1687.
( III) James, sixth son of Joseph Loomis (2) and fourth son and fifth child of his second wife, was born October 31. 1669. in Wind- sor. and settled in Bolton, same colony. In 1696 he married Mindwell -- , who died March 1, 1736. in her sixty-fifth year. He died in Bolton December 29. 1750.
(IV) Nathaniel, son of James and Mindwell Loomis, born Feb- ruary 15. 1712, married Sarah Ryley November 11. 1742, and resided in Coventry, Connecticut. Up to this time this line of the family had been moving eastward from the original location. As the first settle- ments of the colony were planted in the Connecticut river valley, these movements were probably made into newer and unsettled districts, but in Nathaniel's day the country was pretty well taken up. and from this time onward the people of the New England coast colonies are found to have moved on to possess unsettled portions of the continent.
(V) Jonathan, son of Nathaniel and Sarah Loomis, was born in 1753. presumably in Coventry, and he was among those who penetrated westward in search of a home. For a time he was located at Pittsfield. Massachusetts, whence he came to Champion, this county, in 1804. He had served as a soldier in the Revolutionary army, and participated in the battle of Bunker Hill. He married ( first ) Martha Blackman, and ( second ) a Mrs. Pelton, and died in Champion December 12. 1832. in his eightieth year. He brought six sons to Champion, five of whom settled here and reared families. Eber, the eldest. exchanged his Cham-
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY.
pion property for land at LaGrange, Ohio, whither he moved and there passed the rest of his days. Samuel. John and Alvin are mentioned at length in following paragraphs. Anna and Patty went to Ohio, where they married and died. Otis, mentioned at length elsewhere, died No- vember 21, 1868, and Horace died in Champion July 7. 1880.
(VI) Samuel. second son of Jonathan Loomis, was born Deceni- ber 22, 1780, in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and lived for a time at Ben- nington, Vermont, where he was married to Sally Sanders, who was born in that town May 5. 1785. He joined his father in Champion, where he engaged in farming the balance of his life. While crossing a creek on a load of hay, February 25, 1843, the load was capsized into the creek and he was drowned beneath the load. He was a very quiet man, intelligent and well informed. being studious of the current liter- ature, and was a faithful member of the Methodist church at Champion. Of his five children, one died in infancy. Corinna, the first, born in December, 1807. married Hiram Lanphear, of Wilna ( see H. K. Lan- phear). After the death of Hiram Lanphear his widow married Will- iam Bassett. of Denmark, and she died April 30, 1883. in Carthage. Samantha married Abraham Smith, whom she survived over forty-four years, dying in Carthage ( see N. W. Lanphear ). Sarah M., born May 30. 1815. died September 14. 1844. unmarried. Stoel Warren. born September 22, 1817, married Martha Nye, and succeeded to the paternal farm, on which he died June 1, 1848. He left a daughter. Elizabeth, who married Fred Salter, and was soon left a widow, Mr. Salter's death being caused by the cars. in Carthage. His widow now resides in Natural Bridge, with her unmarried daughter, Rachel B.
(VI) John, third son of Jonathan Loomis, was born October 29. 1782, in Pittsfield. Massachusetts, and died October 12, 1867, in Cham- pion. He was married December 5. 1805. to Achsah Turner, who was born August 5. 1781, in Windham, Connecticut, and died May 23. 1859. in Champion. Immediately after his marriage Mr. Loomis settled near the head of Pleasant Lake, in Champion, where he purchased one hun- dred acres of land. To this he subsequently added thirty-six acres by purchase, and was a thrifty farmer, respected by his townsmen. Both he and his wife were members of the Methodist church at Champion. He was a Democrat in early life, and became a Republican when the latter party was formed.
John and Achsah Loomis were the parents of eight children. The first, Alphonse. born August 29. 1808, was a farmer a short distance
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south of his father. where he died. Hannah, born March 22, 1810. mar- ried Levi Warren and lived in Champion, where she died. Belinda, April 11, 1812, became the wife of Joab Miller, and lived and died in Champion. Alvira, February 28. 1814. married (first) Tracy Carter, second. a man named Boomer, and third Mr. Taylor. and died in Ellis- burg. John Wilson, born January 19, 1815, married Sarah Potter, and died October 19. 1849. Rufus, born January 21. 1818. is a farmer upon his father's homestead, to which he has added. Huldah, May 7, 1820, died October 6. 1843. Achsah. April 6, 1823. died when eleven years old.
(VII) Alphonso Loomis was born in the town of Champion, Jef- ferson county, New York. August 29, 1808, and was the eldest son of John Loomis. The first record of the family in America is that Joseph Loomis came from Braintree, Essex county, England, and settled at Windsor. Connecticut, in 1638, where many of his descendants still reside. John Loomis came from Connecticut and settled in Champion during the earliest settlement of the county. Alphonso made his home with his father until he was about thirty years of age, although he had previously purchased for himself a farm. On the 21st of March, 1838, he united in marriage with Lucinda Carter, and immediately afterwards removed to the farm where he lived during the remainder of his life, and where his estimable widow now resides. He died there on the 15th of December. 1875. leaving a wife and two children to mourn his loss. They had three children, namely: Selinda C., wife of Egbert S. Flint; Sanford C., deceased; Mary L., wife of Wayne A. Humphrey.
In politics Mr. Loomis was an outspoken Republican. In religion a sincere and devoted member of the Congregational church at Cham- pion, to which he was united more than thirty years ago. He was an honest man, a kind and accommodating neighbor, an affectionate hus- band and indulgent father, and a Christian gentleman. Lucinda Carter, widow of the above. was born November 22. 1812. Her father, Asa Carter, came from Connecticut and settled in Jefferson county about the year 1800. Her mother was a native of Massachusetts. She lived at home until her marriage with Mr. Loomis. She is now in her sixty-fifth year, is quite active and enjoys good health. She has been a member of the Congregational church for more than half a century. In her do- mestic relations she has ever been a kind mother. a true and dutiful wife, and an admirable housekeeper.
(VI) Alvin, fourth child of Jonathan Loomis, was born July 28,
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY.
1783, in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and was about at his majority when he came to Champion with his father. He married Nancy Waite April 13, 1809. and settled down to farming in that town, where he died April 19, 1858. Both he and his wife were members of the Methodist church at Champion village. Of kind and genial nature, he reared a large family to become good citizens and was himself a most hospitable and useful member of society. Alvin's children are accounted for as follows: Laura, the first. died at the age of twenty-two years. Philaney married Hubbard Sprague, and subsequently Amos Colvin, and lived and died in Champion. Fiana, wife of Charles Hubbard, born February 28, 1815, died in Champion, in January, 1902. Charlotte, widow of Stoel Warner, resides in West Carthage, being in her ninetieth year. Manley is mentioned hereinafter. Henry .\. died at the age of fourteen years. Israel Hammond lived and died in Champion, and John B. is now a resident of Rochester. this state, being eighty years of age. Hiram A. is a resident of Champion, where Samuel, William and Clark died.
(VI) Otis Loomis, seventh child and fifth son of Jonathan Loomis, was born March 7. 1790, in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and was fourteen years old when his father moved to Champion. He received a fair education for those days and was apprenticed at an early age to learn the tanner's and shoemaker's trade (in those days combined), with his elder brother, Eber Loomis. About the time of his marriage he bought land of Champion, the original owner of the town, and began farming. The deed to the first fifty acres, lying west of the road, bears date of October 10. 1825. Here he built a log house and a part of the present barns. By subsequent purchase he acquired a total of one hun- dred and eighteen acres, and in 1833 he built the large stone house on the west side of the highway, which still shelters his descendants, and is one of the creditable landmarks of the town. Here he was a most genial host, honored and respected by all who knew him, and here his son continues the kind hospitality taught him by example. Mr. Loomis attended the Methodist church, and was a member of the Masonic lodge at Champion village, now extinct. In early life he was a Democrat, but became a Republican upon the organization of the party, being a stern opponent of slavery and oppression. He served his town several years as assessor and also as supervisor. He was married September 26, 1811, to Rachel Harris, born August 9, 1794, in Schenectady county, a daughter of Asa and Rachel Harris, early settlers of Champion. Mr. and Mrs. Loomis were the parents of six sons and five daughters.
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Chauncey, the eldest, lived some years in Whiteside county. Illinois, and died in California August 2, 1853. Leonard lived and died in Rutland, this county. Charles resides in Denmark, the Lewis county town adjoining Champion. Asa lived in Illinois and California, and ‹lied in Champion. Egbert lived many years in Troy, New York, and passed his last days in Champion. Harriet is the widow of William Clark, now residing in Denmark; Marietta, widow of John Wright, resides at Colorado Junction, Colorado. Sylvester is mentioned more fully in this sketch. Almira died at the age of sixteen years, and Martha when a young lady. Rachel is the wife of Chester Carter, of Hannibal, Missouri.
( VI) Horace, sixth son and youngest child of Jonathan and Mar- tha ( Blackman) Loomis, was born May 23, 1794. in Pittsfield, Massa- chusetts, and was ten years of age when he accompanied his parents to Champion. He attended the district schools, and grew up on the farm, imbibing unconsciously a knowledge of agriculture and the spirit of American institutions. About 1825 he bought land east of Champion village, on which he erected a log house. His first purchase included fifty acres, to which he subsequently added eighteen by purchase. He was an intelligent and successful farmer, and respected by his neighbors. In 1841 he erected the frame house, on the opposite side of the road from the first log house, and now occupied by his son, Clark Loomis. The latter has added buildings and land. the farm now covering one hundred and twenty acres. Mr. Loomis did not enjoy rugged health after he was fifty years old, and his life was a very quiet one. Though not on the membership roll of any religious organization, he was a strictly moral and upright man, and attended the Methodist church. of which his wife was a member. In early life a Democrat, he was a supporter of the Republican party from its organization. lle was interested in education, and his influence was used in support of good schools.
His wife, Fanny Harris, daughter of Asa and Rachel Harris ( see Harris), was born February 14, 1796, in Brattleboro, Vermont, and died July 7, 1872, in Champion. Mr. Loomis died July 7, 1880. Their family included seven sons, accounted for as follows: Eber lived and died in Wilna. Ashley receives extended mention below. Lewis lived and died at Lyndonville, Orleans county, this state. Fosket is a resi- dent of Portland, Oregon. Ward lives at Craig, Nebraska. Wesley,
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formerly a farmer at Cincinnati, Iowa, now lives retired at Chillicothe, Missouri. Clark resides on the paternal homestead, in Champion.
(VII) Sylvester Loomis, sixth son and eighth child of Otis and Rachel Loomis, was born September 15, 1829, on the farm where he now resides, in Champion, which has ever been his home. His primary education was supplied by the district school of the neighborhood, whose opportunities he utilized fully, and subsequently attended Bush's Acad- emy at Carthage, where Jere Coughlin, editor of the Watertown Herald, was a classmate. At the age of twenty he left the classroom to take up the arduous labors of the farm, which was not wholly unknown to him at that time, as he was early introduced to the habits of industry and thrift brought to this location by his New England ancestors.
In 1850 he took charge of the home farm and ever after cultivated it and cared for his parents when age caused them to need a filial care, and the farm became his by will. For many years it has been devoted to dairying, maintaining usually sixteen cows. Mr. Loomis attends the Methodist church, and is a member of Champion Grange, in which he has filled most of the offices, having been master several years. Though an intelligent and well informed man, he prefers the quiet of domestic life to the thankless task of administering public affairs, and has thus far escaped the responsibilities of political office. He is a conscientious Republican in principle. One of his most creditable acts was the set- ting of maple trees along both sides of the highway running through his farm, which now afford ample shade to the wayfarer and make beau- tiful the drive along his premises.
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