USA > New York > Jefferson County > Genealogical and family history of the county of Jefferson, New York, Volume II > Part 30
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Mr. Taggart was united in marriage, June 28, 1893, to Anna A. Marcy, daughter of Richard Marcy, of Watertown, New York, and they are the parents of two children-Lydia W. and Mary Lee Tag- gart.
DEXTER VAN OSTRAND, deceased. for many years one of the leading and influential citizens of Watertown, where he was regarded as a man of great business ability and broad resources, and who achieved success through his well directed. energetic efforts, was a na- tive of Evans Mills, New York, a son of Dr. Alonzo and Cordelia (Smith) Van Ostrand, the former having been an eminent medical practitioner of Troy, Evans Mills and Watertown. New York. The latter was a daughter of Dr. Smith, an early physician of Evans Mills.
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The common schools of Evans Mills afforded Dexter Van Os- trand a thorough knowledge of the fundamental principles of an English education, but at the age of fifteen years his course of instruction was suddenly terminated by the death of his father. Thus thrown upon his own resources, he began his business career by entering the employ of the Western Union Telegraph Company, served faithfully and effi- ciently in the capacity of telegraph operator for a number of years, and subsequently was promoted to the responsible position of superintendent and manager for the company, the area of his service extending over a large district of New York state. At the same time he was superin- tendent of the Great Northwestern Telegraph Company, which operates in connection with the Western Union. He was also actively and prominently identified with the Bell Telephone Company, and placed the first telephones in Watertown.
In November, 1875, Mr. Van Ostrand married Agnes Law Phelps, a daughter of George B. Phelps, of Watertown, New York, whose genealogy and biography appear in this work. Their children are- Agnes and Kate Van Ostrand. The death of Mr. Van Ostrand, which occurred at his home in Watertown, New York, January 4, 1885, was sincerely mourned by a wide circle of personal friends and acquaint- ances, as well as business associates.
ELISHA D. EAMES, of Watertown, is a representative of a family which has been justly celebrated for two generations for inven- tive genius. He traces his descent from English ancestors, through Con- necticut.
(I) Thomas Eames, the founder of the family in America, was born in 1618. According to the history of Framingham, Massachusetts, he came to America at the age of twelve years, about 1630. He was married in 1640, his wife's christian name being Margaret, and settled in that year at Dedham, where three of his children were born. His wife died in 1660, and two years later he married Mary Paddleford, and moved to the town of Sherburne, which was soon after made a part of Framingham, and where six children were born to him. On the first of February, 1675-6, while he was absent at Boston securing a sup- ply of ammunition, all his buildings were destroyed. his wife killed and his children carried into captivity by a band of Indians, who had their home three miles away. For this act three of the Indians were subse- quently executed, and two sons and one daughter were ultimately re-
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stored to their friends. Tradition surrounds the fate of the daughter with much romance. Among the agents sent by the colony to Canada to obtain the release of captives was Mr. Joseph Adams, who married Margaret, daughter of Thomas Eames (whose release he was instru- mental in securing) in 1688. This marriage is shown by the Cam- bridge records. The inventory of property lost by Mr. Eames at the time of the savage raid foots up over three hundred thirty and one-half pounds in value, and includes " a house, 34 feet long, double floores, and garret and cellar, and a barn 52 foot long, leantir'd one side and two ends," placed at one hundred pounds. As an indemnity the general court granted him two hundred acres of land, and he obtained a tract oi two hundred acres from the Indians by suit at law. "But no recom- pense, in land or treasure, could restore to him his desolated home." He died inside of four years after the calamity, January 25, 1680, aged about sixty-two years.
(II) Nathaniel, seventh child and fifth son of Thomas Eames, and fourth child and third son of the latter's second wife. Mary, was born December 30. 1668, and was the youngest surviver from the In- dian attack of 1676. The mother sold her life dearly, being engaged in making soap when surprised by the Indians and causing them such in- jury as she could by throwing the hot liquid upon them. Nathaniel died January 1, 1746, having outlived his wife, Anna, who passed away March 12, 1743. They were the parents of seven children.
(III) Daniel, third son and youngest child of Nathaniel and Anna Eames, was born March 20, 1712, and died in 1780. He mar- ried Silence Leland in 1739, and they were the parents of six children. (IV) Daniel, eldest child of Daniel and Silence (Leland ) Eames, was born April 8. 1740, and died June 22, 1812. He was married No- vember 25, 1761, to Mary Cutler, who was born September 18, 1744. and died November 26, 1822. She bore her husband six children.
(V) Daniel (3). third child and son of Daniel and Mary ( Cutler) Eames, was born March 11. 1767, and died September 13, 1855, over eighty-eight years old. He was married, February 19, 1788, to Molly K. Wright, who was born August 7, 1768, and died February 4. 1842, in her seventy-fourth year. She was the mother of thirteen children, of whom ten were sons, two of the latter being twins. The twelfth, Moses, was long an active and prominent citizen of Watertown, and spent con- siderable time and money in tracing out the ancestry, as here given.
(VI) Lovett, youngest of the children of Daniel and Molly
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(Wright ) Eames, was born September 22, 1810, in Rutland, this county. He was married, May 23. 1835, to Lucy C. Morgan, who was born June 22, 1811, daughter of Rev. Elisha Morgan, a man of marked ability, unusual balance of judgment, strong convictions and conscien- tious devotion, which characteristics were inherited by the daughter. Mr. Eames died September 6, 1863, when his business in Watertown was only successfully launched. He was a mechanic and inventor and went in early life to Kalamazoo, Michigan. In 1861 he came to Watertown and put in pumping machinery for the water works. In the same year, in company with Moses Eames, he bought Beebee's Island, where he built his machine shops for the production of his numerous inventions.
Elisha D. Eames, son of Lovett and Lucy C. (Morgan) Eames, was born May 23, 1836, in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and educated in the local schools. His calling was that of an ironworker and engineer. In 1861 he came to Watertown with his father as the latter's assistant in busi- ness. He aided his brother, Frederick W. Eames, in the invention of the celebrated vacuum brake. In 1875 the Eames Vacuum Brake Com- pany was incorporated, with Mr. Eames as vice-president, upon whom the management almost immediately devolved in consequence of the sud- den death of his brother. After a long and arduous career Mr. Eames some time since retired from active business. He is a member of the Baptist church, in which he holds the office of clerk. His record, both as a business man and a citizen, is unblemished. In 1863 he married Mary Robinson, who died July 1, 1898. On June 17, 1903, he married Alice Waltz, who was born at Lafargeville, a daughter of Simeon Waltz and Alice Nash, the latter of Massachusetts ancestry, and the former of German. Mrs. Eames is a noted soprano singer, formerly connected with the choir of Plymouth church, Brooklyn, and many others.
Frederick W. Eames, son of Lovett and Lucy C. (Morgan) Eames, and brother of E. D. Eames, was born in November, 1843, in Kalama- zoo, Michigan, where he was educated in the common schools and in Kalamazoo College, where he had scarcely entered upon his course of study when the civil war broke out and he promptly responded to the call for volunteers. He was the second man to enlist in the first com- pany raised in his town. He was subsequently mustered out of the Second Michigan Infantry to accept a lieutenancy in another Michigan regiment. In 1863 he was honorably discharged by General Grant from this regiment and appointed aide in the revenue service, serving on the Mississippi river until the close of the war, and was subsequently in the
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United States internal revenue department under President Grant. In 1874 he came to Watertown with the nucleus of the great invention which bears his name, the Eames Vacuum Brake. In 1876 the company was incorporated, with Mr. Eames as president, but speedily became in- volved in long and serious litigation. This resulted in a verdict in favor of President Eames, the plaintiff in the action, who was sincerely con- gratulated by his many friends and seemed upon the point of entering on a prosperous career after his long and heroic struggle. But it was or- dered otherwise. On taking possession of the company's works on April 20, 1883, President Eames was fatally shot. The grief and con- sternation caused by this tragedy were indescribable. Mr. Eames was loved most by those who knew him best, and his great genius and in- domitable energy had given promise of the largest results. His great invention is now in the hands of the New York Air Brake Company. It was very successfully introduced in Europe by Mr. Eames previous to its establishment here.
Mr. Eames married, in 1870, Martha Shilling, of his native state. Two children were born to them, neither of whom survives. The elder, who bore the name of Lovett. was killed by lightning at the age of nineteen years.
KENDALL FAMILY. The name Kendall has a record that can be traced to early Saxon days. In 1600 we find them in Westmoreland, England, engaged in manufacturing fine cloth.
During the year 1700 John, William and Henry Kendall came to America and settled in Massachusetts, Vermont and Connecticut-states that still hold in honor their name and struggles. Their homes served as meeting houses, town hall and school house, where without recom- pense they sowed the seeds of education and culture. It has often been said " Music and literature are inseparable from the name Kendall," and in those early days of New England their houses were often referred to as " the Sanctuary." " Temple of Knowledge," and " Shrine of Music." From these homes we trace the lives of great men-Amos Kendall. General William. Dr. James V., George Watkins, Dr. J. B., and Isaac Barnes.
Isaac Kendall was born at Enosburg Falls, Vermont, in April, 1775. His father was one of the historic "Green Mountain Boys." During the year 1795 he came to Jefferson county, New York, making the en- tire journey from Vermont in a cart drawn by oxen. In Jefferson
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county he took up the trade of carpenter. devoting his spare hours to music. IFere, in almost a wilderness, he established a class of music among the solitary homes of that region. The charts he used were of his own manufacture, and the songs, both music and words, were his own composition. He was in every sense a musician, and many of his compositions in the minor mode seemed to vibrate the solitude and mysteries of the wilderness.
In 1797 Isaac Kendall married modest Suzanne Goodale, of Ply- mouth origin. and to them were born the following children : 1. Charles. born 1790 (one of the early ministers of the county), died about 1884. 2. Almira, born 1801, who taught the first school in Clayton. New York. 3. Lorinda. born 1803. 4. Milo, born 1809. whose son was an accomplished musician, a teacher and composer, whose distinction it was to play before Queen Victoria and to receive from the royal hand a gold bugle. 5. Aldridge Stetson, born 1813. to be further men- tioned. 6. Katherine. horn 1815. who married David Alvord, of Florida.
In 1813 Isaac Kendall was taken prisoner by the British and lodged a prisoner in the tower at Kingston, Canada. With him was Gus Stetson. The two managed to escape on a raft made out of the floor of an unused cabin they found. This they paddled across the foot of Lake Ontario to freedom. His declining days were passed in Clay- ton, New York, where he died at the advanced age of ninety-five years.
Captain Aldridge Stetson Kendall, fifth child in the last named family, spent his entire life in the region of the Thousand Islands. He was reared in the towns of Clayton and Pamelia (now Watertown. New York), where he received an education common to that day. At an early age he began life on the river. that he followed for sixty years -a period of service probably not exceeded in length by any pilot on the St. Lawrence river or Great Lakes. He was familiar with the river at all points. discovered many intricate channels, and was the first to pilot vessels through them. His courage was indomitable as his skill was masterly. The year in which the city of Buffalo was in- undated, during a gale that swept down the lake, a vessel was driven on shoals in the Canadian Channel. She had been abandoned by her pilot. Captain Kendall rowed to the vessel, which he took in charge. and saved, with the cargo, safely landing her in the harbor. He pur- chased land when the Islands were in their primitive state, when an occasional canoe shot across the current of the river, or weird light fell
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from some hidden wigwam. He was known as a man of superior judg- ment and fine heart qualities. In religious faith he was a Baptist, and in politics a staunch Republican. He died October 31, 1890, at the Kendall homestead, one of the most beautiful residential properties in all the Thousand Island region.
Captain Aldridge Stetson Kendall was twice married. The issue of his first marriage were the following children: 1. Mrs. Sarah Van Cowghnett, now living in Clayton, New York. 2. Mrs. Merritt Gurn- sey, also living in Clayton. 3. Captain Eli Kendall, whose life was one of honor. and whose memory is deeply revered. Captain Kendall's second marriage was to Zuba, a daughter of Solomon Gotham and Elizabeth King, who were the parents of the following children: I. Permilia, who married David Rhines. 2. Maria. 3. Rebecca, who became the wife of William Latimer. 4. Mary. 5. Martha, who married Warren Howe. 6. Fidilla, wife of James Howe, of Michi- gan. 7. Zuba, wife of Captain Aldridge Stetson Kendall. 8. Byron, who nobly served the Union and was shot at Richmond, Virginia. 9. Francis F., one of our country's most noble sons, who volunteered his service and nobly fell at Petersburg, Virginia, aged twenty years. Eliabeth King Gotham, mother of the above mentioned children, died at the home of Captain Aldridge Stetson Kendall in 1890, aged eighty- two years.
Zuba, seventh child in the family above named, was born at De- . . pauville, New York, May 16, 1835. She is a niece of Colonel Gotham, of Sackets Harbor fame, and a cousin of the statesman, Roscoe Conk- lin, and her husband a cousin of the world-famed authoress, Louise Chandler Moulton. She is a woman whose justice in all things and beautiful traits of character have made her the idol of home, where her children " rise up to call her blessed." She still lives at Red Gables, blessed with the tender care of her two youngest sons. Grant and Bird, a devoted daughter. Miss Belle, and a sweet gentle granddaughter, Ethel.
. The fruits of the union of Captain Aldridge Stetson Kendall and Zuba Gotham are five sons and five daughters, all talented and pos- sessed of fine musical tastes and ability. The entire family is popular and well known 10 many visitors of that lively region so dear to tour- ists both American and foreign. The family is as follows: 1. Ald- ridge, sketch of whom follows this narrative. 2. Mary Augusta, who married Lucius Hutchinson. a boat builder in Clayton, New York : Mr. Hutchinson was awarded first diploma at the Chicago Exposition for
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his models and workmanship. 3. Ida May, wife of Captain Josiah McAvoy, a masterly pilot on the St. Lawrence. 4. Frank, a sketch of whom appears on another page. 5. Zuba Alveretta, wife of Will- iam Ward Hutchinson, of Grindstone Island. 6. Charles Henry, a sketch of whom follows. 7. Nellie MI .. the wife of Hon. Joseph Mc- Cormic Brazier, supervisor of the city of Poughkeepsie. 8. Cora Isa- helle. 9. Grant. 10. Bird.
All this family are still living, and the three last named reside with their mother at their lovely island home, which is one of the finest estates along the St. Lawrence. Both young men have true musical talent, and play the violin with sweet expression. In politics they are Republican. Mrs. Kendall is a member of the Baptist church, as are all her children.
To Ida May, third child above mentioned, and her husband. Cap- tain Josiah William McAvoy, were born the following children, all in- tellectual and gifted in music: I. Ethel Belle. 2. Karl Kendall. 3. Byron Gotham. 4. Charles Henry. 5. Zuba. 6. Ruth. 7. Josiah William.
Etta, fifth child above mentioned, who married William Ward Hutchinson, has one beautiful child. Winifred, to everyone known as " the fairy."
Nellie M., seventh child above named, on September 8. 1897, mar- ried Hon. Joseph M. Brazier, supervisor of the city of Poughkeepsie, a gentleman of education and culture, held in high esteem by the citi- zens of the "Queen City " of the state. On a marble slab at the en- trance to the magnificent new Dutchess county court house may be found the name of Mr. Brazier, a tribute of honor for all time. Mrs. Brazier is the possessor of fine musical and literary ability, and the following of her poems have brought her special recognition as a writer : "Wreckage." " The Dear Dead Past." " Retrospect." "Eventyde." and " The Garden of Weeds."
CAPTAIN ALDRIDGE KENDALL. For three-quarters of a century the name of Kendall has been intimately associated with the navigation of the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence river, and for years it has been said that no matter in what channel or position upon these waters a boat might be seen, she was always safe with " a Kendall at the wheel." For over a quarter of a century the intrepid navigator whose name introduces this article has ably sustained this reputation.
Captain Aldridge Kendall, of Clayton, New York, was born in
ADAPTANT
Aldridge Kendale
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that village on December 10, 1851, and was the eldest child of Captain Aldridge S. and Zuba (Gotham) Kendall. He passed his early years at home, receiving his education in the common schools. He early acquired a knowledge of the river and its channels, and by virtue of this experience, at twenty-one years of age, he was appointed first officer and pilot, being probably the youngest pilot to receive a license to navi- gate the waters of the St. Lawrence and the Great Lakes.
His first vessel was the " T. S. Faxton," a passenger boat plying the river and Lake Ontario. He served for three years in this position (first officer and pilot ), when he was promoted to master and pilot, and so acted for three years, when the boat was soll. He then engaged for one season on a private yacht, the "Cayuga," which had been pur- chased by the company in order to retain his services. This vessel failed to pass inspection, and he was transferred to a passenger boat, the " J. F. Maynard," Captain Sweet, with whom he remained that season. During this time the " Cayuga " was purchased by Alden F. Barker, and after being thoroughly fitted up was placed in charge of Captain Ken- (all, who commanded her for two years, when she was sold. Captain Kendall then took a position with Wilbur & Packer, the great railroad magnates of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, as captain of their private yacht " Sport," remaining with them two years, when he resigned. He was immediately re-engaged by Alden F. Barker as commander of the "Island Belle." plying between Alexandria Bay and Cape Vincent. Here he remained four years, when this boat was sold, and he engaged as second officer on a vessel running from Ogdensburg to Chicago, remaining one season. He then accepted a position as captain of the sidewheel steamboat "Ontario," plying on Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence river, upon which he served one season, when he resigned, and entered into an agreement with Charles G. Emory to take charge of his yachts, and beautiful summer home and grounds on Calumet Island, and also Picton Island. This engagement continued for eight years, when he resigned and entered the employ of the Thousand Island Steam- boat Company as commander of the steamer " Islander." He was thus engaged for four years, when he was transferred to the palace steamer " St. Lawrence," which he commanded for three years. At the end of this time he was engaged by J. W. Jackson, of Plainfield. New Jersey. as captain of his private yacht, "Ella," and was so employed for two years, when he signed a contract with Brigadier-General J. A. Johnston. of Washington, D. C., to command his magnificent steam yacht " Win-
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ona," and have charge of his river business on the St. Lawrence, and he is now ( 1904) thus employed.
On July 16, 1876, Captain Kendall married Miss Victoria C. Bear- up. of Cape Vincent, daughter of Joseph Bearup, and who, like her father, was born in that village. Jacob Bearup was the son of Andrew Bearup, a pioneer settler of Jefferson county, who located in Plessis, New York: later went with the " 49'rs" to California, where he remained for a time, then returned east, and subsequently to California, where he died at the age of ninety years. Joseph Bearup was a car- penter in Cape Vincent for some years, and later went to River View. where he died in January, 1904, at eighty-two years.
Joseph Bearup married Mary Hazzard. born in Pamelia, New York. She was the mother of eight children, of whom seven are liv- ing: 1. George M., a farmer in Cape Vincent, New York. 2. Will- iam .1 .. a gardner near Syracuse, New York, who served in the Civil war, entering the army at the age of sixteen. 3. Emily J .. married Jonas Couch, of Watertown. New York. 4. Victoria C., wife of Cap- tain Aldridge Kendall. 5. Clinton, living in Syracuse, New York. 6. Dr. Anson .1., residing in Calsberg. New Mexico. 7. Hattie M., married Fred J. Morgan, of Detroit, Michigan. The mother of these children died in 1900, at seventy-four years of age.
Captain Aldridge and Victoria C. ( Bearup ) Kendall are the parents of four children : Clarence L., who, like his father, is a steamboat cap- tain on the river: Florence L., who married Herbert W. Rogers, of the firm of MeGrady & Rogers, of Watertown, New York, dealers in plumbers' supplies : they have one child. Mabel L. Leola F. and Calu- met G., at home. The children were educated in the graded schools of Clayton, and Florence L. took special instruction in music. Too much praise cannot be given Mrs. Kendall for her influence in the home and in the rearing of her four children. An evening spent with the family will at once indelibly impress any one with the great value of her training as seen in her children.
While taking no active part in political affairs, Captain Kendall is an adherent to the principles of the Republican party. In the various fraternal organizations both Mr. and Mrs. Kendall have taken an active part and interest. Captain Kendall holds membership in Lodge No. 206. F. and .A. M .. of Clayton, New York, to which he took a demit. from the Alexander Bay Lodge No. 297, of which he was formerly a member : Theresa Chapter No. 149, R. A. M., and was formerly a mem-
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ber of Watertown Comandery, No. H. K. T., and also a member of the auxiliary of this order, the Eastern Star, to which Mrs. Kendall also belongs, and in which she has held a number of offices. Captain Kendall was formerly a member of Lodge No. 539. I. O. O. F .. of Clayton, and is now a member of the Daughters of Rebekah, to which Mrs. Kendall belongs, and in which she has held all offices. Both were formerly members of the Tribe of Ben Hur, to which the captain still belongs. He is also a member of the Masters' and Pilots' Association, Harbor No. 62, of Clayton, New York, and was a member of Corinthian Yacht Club of New York city. Captain and Mrs. Kendall are both members of the Baptist church of Watertown. Captain Kendall was in early life a teacher in the Baptist Sunday school of Clayton, later its superintendent, and a trustee of the church.
The foregoing may convey some idea of the success which has been achieved by Captain Kendall, but a brief allusion to the important facts which he has demonstrated may not be amiss. Beginning as a boy, he believed that by conscientious devotion to duty success must necessarily follow. He made it a point to lose no opportunity to pro- mote the interests of his employers, and in his nearly thirty-three years' service he has lost but one week of time, and in all kinds of weather the various boats commanded by him have been delayed but three hours owing to storms, nor have they ever been in collision with another boat or ran upon a rock or shoal. In the seventeen years in which he ran passenger boats he never missed connection with any train, and during this time, althoughi carrying on an average over one hundred thousand persons a season, no person ever met with an accident. Such a record is unsurpassed, if indeed equaled, by any other officer in command upon the St. Lawrence river, and shows the extreme care, caution, and un- tiring viligance, which he has displayed at all times. His habits of so- briety have gone far to assist him in achieving his purpose. No matter what his surroundings or company, whether in the presence of his men, or in the home circle, he is always the same quiet, unobtrusive, cultured gentleman, displaying the highest virtues of mankind. Truly his is an example well worthy of emulation.
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