USA > New York > Jefferson County > Genealogical and family history of the county of Jefferson, New York, Volume II > Part 26
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are all living but one son, who died about thirty years ago, aged thirty- seven years. His wife died about twenty-five years ago. Since which time the old gentleman has lived by himself in his old log house, cooking his own victuals except bread, positively refusing all assistance or to move from the home where he brought his young bride and where together they commenced life nearly ninety years ago: and where their children had grown up around them. Where he had slept so many anxious nights fearful that the tomahawk and the torch would deprive him of the ones dearer than life, if not life itself, he determined to remain. Not until the old shop, too, rotted down would he consent to occupy the little house near his son where he died.
"His three sons live in LeRay. John is about seventy-five years old: Jacob, seventy-two, and Isaac, the son who took care of the old gentleman, is about fifty-six. Ot his daughters, Betsey married A. J. Shattuck, and lives in St. Lawrence county: Mary married Isaac Cushman of Cape Vincent; Cushman died very suddenly while on a visit to his father-in-law, and his widow still lives: Annie was a twin of Alexander-the son who died at the age of thirty-seven-and she married Isaac Walradt and lives near Evans Mills: Almira married Joseph Bichet, and lives near Lafargeville. The old gentleman had sixty-five grandchildren, fifty of whom are living. There were thirty great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren. About thirty years ago the old gentleman fell in the fire-place and burned his foot so badly that his leg was amputated just above the knee : although about eighty years old it healed up and he has ever since traveled about with a wooden leg. Last spring he was out shooting at a mark with some friends, but did not like the Springfield rifle. He retained his hearing and eye-sight until he died. He always expressed a dislike for civiliza- tion, often wishing the country was just as he found it ninety-five years ago. He took no interest in any of the three wars through which he lived, and without doubt was at his death the oldest man in the state, and if half the stories about him are true the most remarkable man that ever lived. The world has witnessed many great changes during his life but of them he knew or cared nothing."
MAITLAND BASCOM SLOAT, treasurer of the New York & Pennsylvania Company of New York, is among the sons of Jefferson county who have made good use of their opportunities and conferred
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credit upon their names and nativity. He was born December 20. 1846, in Watertown, only child of Harrison Sloat of that city.
Harrison Sloat was born April 17, 1814. in the town of Orleans. Jefferson county, a son of Henry Sloat, an early resident of the county. A further account of him will be found in connection with the history of Charles W. Sloat, in this work. Harrison Sloat grew up on the paternal farm in Orleans, and attended the common school of his neigh- borhood. On attaining his majority he went to Watertown and began working about machinery, and soon engaged in the manufacture of lumber. He was a very industrious man and scarcely had a holiday until his retirement, about 1886. He was of very quiet disposition, and found satisfaction in his work and his home, hence did not attempt to take any part in public affairs. Possessed of sound judgment, he was successful in business, was respected by his contemporaries, and held settied convictions on all subjects. A Whig in early life, he was among the founders of the Republican party, and with his wife was affiliated with the Universalist church of Watertown. On his retire- ment from business he was succeeded in business by his nephew. Charles W. Sloat, who has continued in its management, the concern being now owned by the Sloat & Greenleaf Manufacturing Company. Mr. Sloat passed away in Watertown. August 9, 1891.
He was married March 22, 1846, to Elizabeth M. Bascom, daugh- ter of John and Abigail ( Dickinson ) Bascom. the former a native of Massachusetts, and the latter of Vermont.
Maitland B. Sloat passed his youth in his native city, attending its public schools, and graduated from the Jefferson County Institute in 1865. He at once entered the service of the Rome. Watertown & Ogdensburg railroad as clerk in the treasurer's office, and rose through its gradations until he was cashier on its removal to New York in 1884. He continued with the same employer, and was auditor when the office was removed to Oswego in 1889. He continued in the New York office two years after the line was leased by the New York Cen- tral road in 1891. In 1893 he became treasurer of the International Pulp Company, with headquarters in New York and. one year later, he was appointed treasurer of the New York & Pennsylvania Com- pany, which position he still holds. He is also secretary and treasurer of the Armstrong Real Estate Improvement Company, another Penn- sylvania corporation. It will be seen that Mr. Sloat hias had success
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in his chosen profession, that of finance and accounts. his services hav- ing been sought by important corporations.
Mr. Sloat's home is in Mount Vernon, New York, where he is an attendant of the Universalist church. He is a sturdy supporter of Republican principles, but finds no time for practical politics. A firm believer in the Christian principles of true fraternity, he retains mem- bership in Watertown Lodge. Chapter and Commandery of the Ma- sonic brotherhood, and is also a member of the Jefferson County So- ciety in New York, of the Transportation Club of the same city, and the Royal Arcanum.
He was married September 4. 1877, to Miss Lunette Greenleaf, who was born December 22, 1846, in Lafargeville, a daughter of John Dickinson Greenleaf ( see Greenleaf, VIII). Two sons complete the family, namely, Harrison Greenleaf and Halbert Maitland. The elder passed through the Mount Vernon grammar and high schools and the Homeopathic Medical College of New York, and is now practicing medicine at Norwalk, Connecticut. He was recently married to Miss Edith W. Hubbard. The second son received the same primary train- ing, graduated at Cornell University in 1904, and is now pursuing a post-graduate course in mechanical engineering at Columbia Univer- sity.
MILLARD FILLMORE PERRY, principal of the Carthage High School, was born February 28, 1852, in Moira, Franklin county, New York, and has devoted his life to teaching school.
His grandfather, Aaron Perry, was a native of Vermont and settled as a pioneer in the town of Moira in 1824. He cleared land in the wilderness, and died there at the early age of forty years. His widow survived to the age of eighty-seven years, dying about 1860. They had three sons, Aaron, Gilman and Spencer, and two daughters, Lydia and Lucy, the former of whom married Nelson Stimpson, and the latter became the wife of Aaron Fisk.
Spencer WV. Perry was born January 31, 1809, in Shoreham, Ver- mont. and was fifteen years old when his parents moved to Moira. He received a good education for the day and region, and became a teacher in the public schools, conducting a dozen or more terms. A man of sound judgment and a student, he exercised considerable influ- ence in the community where he lived. He cleared land and became a farmer in Moira, where he died and was buried in April, 1889. He
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was a Democrat in politics and. with his wife, a member of the Method- ist church. He was married in 1845 to Lucinda, daughter of Tilman Tracy, a pioneer farmer of Moira, of English birth. She sustained a broken hip from a fall, and died in the same year as her husband. They were the parents of five children, of whom the subject of this sketch is the second. The eldest, Wellington M., is now a resident of Ranier, Oregon. John Wesley, the third, resides on the parental home- stead in Moira. Wilna T. is a citizen of Flandreau, South Dakota, and Amy L. is a teacher at Los Angeles, California.
Millard F. Perry attended the Lawrenceville Academy, and after leaving that institution taught a winter term in the district school. Entering the Potsdam Normal School, he graduated in 1870, and immediately began a most successful career as a teacher. For four years he was principal of the Fort Covington Academy. and subse- quently taught in the Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute three years. He was principal of the public schools at Gouverneur one year, at Cha- teaugay six years, and at Brasher Falls two years. In 1892 he was elected principal of the Carthage High School, and has since continued to fill that responsible position to the advantage of the school and the approval of the school authorities and parents of the village. He is equally popular with his pupils, which is a flattering testimonial to his executive ability and his genial and kindly nature. Mr. Perry is a member of the Jefferson County Teachers' Association, of the Princi- pals' Council of the same territory, and the State Association of Aca- demic Principals. He is affiliated with the Presbyterian church, and is an ardent supporter of the principles and action of the Republican party in governmental affairs.
He was married in 1884. to Mary Chisholm, who was born in Fort Coventry, New York, a daughter of Donald and Annie ( McLean) Chisholm, natives of Scotland. Mr. and Mrs. Perry are the parents of a son and three daughters-Leslie Donald, Annie Chisholm, Frances Amy and Edna Elizabeth. The son has completed his first year at Cornell University, and the daughters are students of the Carthage schools.
JAMES PRINGLE, president of the Carthage National Bank and a leading manufacturer and business man of Carthage, was born June 8, 1833, at Napance, Province of Ontario, Canada.
His father, Daniel Pringle, was a native of Canada, as was his
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father before him, the family having emigrated from Scotland among the earlier settlers of the province. Daniel Pringle kept a hotel at Belleville, Canada, and, later, at Napanee, where he died soon after the American civil war, at the age of sixty-five years. His wife Sarah was a native of Canada, a daughter of Colonel Bell, an officer of the British army who settled in Canada after the close of his military service, and passed many years there before his death. Mrs. Pringle died at Napanee in 1865, aged about sixty years, so it appears that both she and her husband were contemporary with the nineteenth cen- tury. They were the parents of nine children. Sarah Jane, the eldest of these, is now the widow of George H. Davy, residing in Napanee. Mary Ann, widow of Dr. Thomas Shirley, also resides there. Rachel is the wife of George Jackson, and lives in Michigan. James is the fifth. Janet, Mrs. Charles Roblin, resides in Wilmington, Illinois. Henrietta died at Napanee, while the wife of John Van Alstine. Amelia, widow of Edward Walker, lives in Chicago. Charlotte is the wife of Robert Webster, of Napanee.
James Pringle is essentially a self-made man. He attended the public schools of his native village in boyhood, and early set out to make his own way in the world. At the age of sixteen years he secured employment in a general store in his native village and held this position seven years. The stability and industry indicated by this fact are the qualifications which have made him foremost among the manufacturers of the thritty manufacturing village of Carthage.
In 1856 Mr. Pringle came to the United States, and for three years thereafter conducted a livery business at Watertown, this county. This business was moved to Carthage in 1859, and here continued four years. For the next five years he was employed as salesman in stores, part of the time in the general store of Ralph Hooker, and part in the clothing store of Horace Hooker. In 1868 Mr. Pringle became a clerk in the office of Brown & Bliss, foundrymen of Carthage. Within a short time thereafter the late Charles P. Ryther purchased the interest of Bliss, and the firm became Brown & Ryther. Mr. Pringle continued with the firm, and in 1869 bought an interest in the business, the style then becoming Brown, Ryther & Pringle. This continued until 1876, when Brown sold out to the others, and the business was continued under the ownership and management of Ryther & Pringle. After the death of Mr. Ryther in 1897. the firm continued with his son ( who had been manager of his interest for some time) as successor.
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July 1, 1900, the concern was incorporated, under the name of the Ryther & Pringle Company, and Mr. Pringle became president of the Company, with George D. Ryther as vice-president, and Fred W. Coburn, secretary and treasurer. Beside doing a general jobbing in foundry and machine work, a large business is kept up in the mant- facture of paper mill machinery, and this plant has grown and pros- pered, along with , others in Carthage. To the conservative character of Mr. Pringle and to his industry and upright business methods may be ascribed much of the prosperity of the business.
On the incorporation of the Carthage National Bank in 1887, Mr. Pringle became one of the larger stockholders, and was shortly after made vice-president of the institution, so continuing until the death of its president, the late Gilbert B. Johnson, in 1900, when Mr. Pringle became president. Under the careful supervision of its president, with the able assistance of its cashier, Mr. Fred W. Coburn, the bank main- tains the honorable prestige which it attained under the charge of Mr. Johnson, and is reckoned among the most solid financial institutions of northern New York. AAt the outset it had a capital of fifty thousand dollars, which was subsequently doubled, and its loans and discounts now amount to about one-half million dollars. At the last report ( 1903) it had twenty thousand dollars surplus and seventeen thousand dollars undivided profits, and its deposits averaged over four hundred thousand dollars.
Mr. Pringle has taken no active part in partisan struggles, but sus- tains the Democratic party in questions of national principle. He has served as trustee of the village of Carthage, and is now treasurer of the Union School of this village. He is a member of Grace Episcopal Church, in which he holds the office of warden. He is a member of Carthage Lodge, No. 158, and Carthage Chapter, No. 259, of the Masonic order, and has been eleven years master of the former, and two years high priest of the latter body.
. He was married in 1856 to Mary, daughter of Asa and Electa Harris, of Champion, in which town Mrs. Pringle was born. Asa Harris was a farmer in Champion, and passed his last years on a small farm adjacent to the city of Watertown, where he died at the age of eighty-four years, in 1888. Electa Harris died in October, 1857, and Mr. Harris was twice married after that. One of his sons, A. M. Harris, is a resident of Watertown. Another, Zebediah, lives in Roch- ester, this state, and a third, George, is a farmer of the town of Russell,
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this county. A daughter, Amelia, is the widow of George Freeman, residing in the town of Wilna. An invalid son, Eugene, completes the family of Mr. Pringle.
ALLEN EUGENE KILBY, a leading attorney of Carthage, is a native of Jefferson, grandson of one of its pioneers. Allen Kilby, born near the city of Boston, lived for some years in Farmington, Connecti- cut, whence he moved, 111 1810, to Henderson, this county. There he cleared a farm and passed the remainder of his life, dying at the age of eighty-two years. His wife, Theda Darin, reached the age of eighty- four years. They were the parents of ten children, several of whom settled in the west. Those who remained in this vicinity were: George, Sylvester, Theda, Allen. Austin, and Eben. All are now deceased. Sylvester was a shoemaker. Theda was the wife of Captain Henry Warner, of Henderson Harbor, who passed his life on the lakes. Allen was an invalid for many years, and not active in any pursuit. Austin was a captain on the lakes. Lucy was married, and died in the west. Eben was a tanner and also did some farming, and died in Henderson.
George Kilby was born in 1798, in Farmington, Connecticut, and was twelve years of age when he came with his parents to Henderson. Here he grew to manhood, receiving such education as the common schools of the day afforded. On arriving at man's estate he engaged in farming on his own account, but his chief occupation was building vessels for the lake trade. In this enterprise he was associated many years with Elihu Joiner and they placed many craft upon the lake. He lived to a good old age. and was honored and respected by his contem- poraries, serving eight years as a justice of the peace. He was many years a staunch supporter of the political principles maintained by the Whig party, and became a Republican upon the organization of the party of that name. In religious faith he was a Universalist. His wife, Ann Hitchcock, was a native of this county, and bore him eight children. The first of these, Lydia, is now the widow of David Thomp- son, and resides in Henderson. Adelbert died there several years ago. Mahlon was drowned on Lake Ontario, in the wreck of a vessel in which he was a part owner. Theda is a resident of Henderson. Lorin lived many years at Sheridan, Waupaca county, Wisconsin, and died in Henderson. Arthur now resides upon the paternal homestead with his sisters. Caroline died in Henderson in 1891.
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Allen E. Kilby was born August 16, 1843, in Henderson, and passed his boyhood in that town, where he received his primary educa- tion. After completing the course at Union Academy, Belleville, he graduated in the classical course at St. Lawrence University, Canton, New York, in 1869. He immediately took up the law course in the same institution, and was graduated in 1871. When he had completed his academic course lie thought of going on the lakes, as he was with- out means and his father was not in position to aid him in taking a college course. A friend in whose judgment he placed much confidence advised him to go to college and work his way through. Acting on this suggestion he entered St. Lawrence with eleven dollars in his pocket. At the end of a year he was appointed a tutor in the institut- tion, and so continued throughout his attendance there, graduating as valedictorian of his class. This involved much hard labor on the part of the young student, and won the competition over students who had no work save their studies. When he left the University he had seven hundred dollars as his earnings above the expense of his education, and this was at once invested in a law library. One year after graduating he was elected professor of pure mathematics in his alma mater, but declined the position, as he was established in a growing law practice and did not wish to abandon his prospects in this connection. Thus was a good educator lost, and a good lawyer given to the state.
Locating in Carthage in 1869, Mr. Kilby at once entered upon the diligent labors which make a successful lawyer, and his progress has justified these labors and his determination to stick to the law. His practice is general, except that he has for many years declined to handle criminal cases. His practice has included some celebrated actions, notable among them the Salter case, which was an action to recover damages from the Utica & Black River Railroad Company for a death caused by one of its trains. This was the first of the kind against this corporation, and was stubbornly contested, being tried five times, and taken before the court of appeals seven times, on appeal from orders and judgments, but was finally won for Mr. Kilby's client after ten years' litigation. Another notable matter was the contests over the Hepworth estate, which caused three and one-half years of litigation, and Mr. Kilby turned over to the English heirs one-fourth of a million dollars.
While not a politician, Mr. Kilby is a firm adherent of Republican principles, and there is no uncertainty about his position in any matter
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of principle. He represented his county in the legislature two terms. He was made a Mason in Sacketts Harbor Lodge, No. 135. at the age of twenty-one years, and has recently affiliated with Carthage Lodge. No. 158.
He was married December 6. 1871, to Miss Alice A. Johnson, who was born April 17, 1850, in Henderson, a daughter of Fales and ( Harris ) johnson, of that town. Two children complete the family of Mr. Kilby-Ralph L. and Bertha A. The latter is now pursuing a post-graduate course in the Gardner school for young ladies, on Fifth Avenue, New York. The former graduated from the Cheltenham Military Academy at Ogontz, Pennsylvania, and from the classical course of Princeton University in 1902, and is now engaged in financial business in New York City.
LEWIS SPENCER DILLENBACK. The period from 1702 to 1727 marks an era in the early German emigration, in which period between forty and fifty thousand left their native country. The terri- ble ravages and desolations by the troops ( under Turenne) of Louis XIV. were the stern prelude to bloody persecutions and, to escape these, Germans and other Protestants emigrated to America.
In 1708 and 1709 thirty-three thousand on invitation of Queen Anne lett their homes in the Rhine country for London, where some twelve thousand arrived in the summer of. 1708. Books and papers had been circulated in the Palatinate, with the queen's picture on the books and the title page in letters of gold (on that account called " The Golden Books ") to encourage the Palatines to come to England so they might be sent to her majesty's colonies to be settled there. As stated above, thousands were induced to abandon their Vaterland lit- tle dreaming of the trials, privations and hardships so soon to fall to their lot. Of this large number coming to England in 1708-9, seven thousand. after having suffered great privations returned half naked and in despondency to their native country. Great numbers died for want of sustenance and medical attention and some perished on ships. The survivors were transported to British colonies in America. Ten sailing vessels, freighted with upward of four thousand German Pala- tines, left England December 25. 1709. and after a six months' tedious voyage reached New York in June, 1710. On this passage and imme- liately after landing, seventeen thousand died, and the survivors were encamped in tents they had brought with them, on what is now Gov-
LS Deiwack.
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ernor's Island. Here they remained till late in the autumn, when about fourteen hundred were removed one hundred miles up the Hudson river to a point called Livingston Manor. These were under indenture to serve Queen Anne as grateful subjects, to manufacture tar in order to repay the expense of their transportation, which had been advanced by parliamentary grant. Being unjustly oppressed they became dis- satisfied and Governor Hunter resorted to violent measures to secure obedience, but in this he failed. One hundred and fifty families to escape famine left late in the fall of 1712 for Schoharie valley, some sixty miles northeast of Livingston Manor. Many others found their way into the state of Pennsylvania.
(I) Among this colony of German Palatines settled at Living- ston Manor appears the name of Martinus Dillenback, the ancestor of all that name who had their origin in the Mohawk valley. During the year 1711 Martinus Dillenback volunteered in Captain Johan Conrad Weiser's company for the expedition against Canada commanded by Colonel Nicholson. This was known as the Queensburg Company. The next trace in history of this party occurs in the " Frontiersmen " of New York-his name appearing with those of twenty-seven others as recipients of a grant of land in Montgomery county, known as the Stone Arabia Patent. October 19, 1723. In 1744 the " Frontiersmen " also records the building of the Lutheran church at Stone Arabia by Martinus Dillenback and others. The name appears also as " Trus- tee " of Lutheran church, in deed of conveyance to Dutch Reformed church at Stone Arabia, and recorded in the records of that church March 7, 1744, seventeenth year of the reign of King George II. The record of the Lutheran church gives the names of children of Martinus Dillenback as follows: Baltus, Dietrich, Martinus, Andrew, Johannes and Christian.
(II) The members of the family who afterward became resi- dents of Jefferson county are traced from Baltus, the eldest son of Martinus Dillenback. He married Mary Metzger, a daughter of one of the early settlers of Albany, who came from Holland; so the Dillen- backs came from both the high and low Dutch. This marriage took place on the 5th of August, 1763, and of their family is found the fol- lowing record from the old Lutheran church at Stone Arabia: John B., born June 27, 1764; Jacob, January 16, 1767: Elizabeth, May 28, 1769: Martinus, January 12, 1776; Mary, December 26, 1785.
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