USA > New York > Jefferson County > Genealogical and family history of the county of Jefferson, New York, Volume II > Part 39
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He was married March 1. 1858, to Adelia S. Burnham, daughter of the late Stephen and Maria ( Webber ) Burnham (see Burnham, VI). One child came to Mr. and Mrs. Baker, December 15, 1870, and was named Carrie Dorcas. She was married August 4, 1888, to Herbert Stanley Miller, and died December 17, 1892.
Mr. Baker was a man of sterling qualities and great strength of character, was influential in his town, esteemed by his associates, and respected by a wide circle of acquaintance. He is survived by his wife,
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a most estimable woman, who has been a worthy helpmate of her noble husband. whose memory she reveres and honors. She resides at the old homestead. where years of congenial associations have gladdened her heart, and whose memories will ever be a cheer and comfort.
(VI) Thomas, third son and seventh child of Jonathan and Sarah ( Holt ) Baker, was born in 1788, as before noted, in Sullivan, New Hampshire, where he grew to manhood. His education was such as the common schools of his generation afforded, and he was bred in hal its of industry and self-reliance such as was characteristic of his forbears. He was married April 27, 1817, to Betsey Tolman, born in the neighboring town of Marlboro, New Hampshire, a daughter of Ebenezer Tolman (see Tolman, V). In company with two of his wife's brothers and a sister he came to the town of Watertown in 1817, and located on land in the Sandy Creek valley, in the southern part of the town. Here he cleared up land and engaged in agriculture until his death, which occurred in 18441. His was one of the finest farms in the town, and is now owned and occupied by his grandson. He pos- sessed the requisite qualities of a pioneer-determination. perseverance and industry-and he did no small part in establishing civilization in the wilderness. His wife was a woman of courage and fortitude, and was his aid in making a home, a fit companion for the hardy pioneer. She was a scion of one of the strong old New England families, a daughter of a revolutionary hero who bore many hardships and expos- ures in the defense of his country in time of war. Their children were: William Clark, Orson M., George, Ely Collins, Nancy and Mary. All are deceased except Orson MI., who resides in Clark, Clark county, North Dakota.
(VII) John Leonard Baker, fourth son and fifth child of Jona- than and Dorcas ( Fellows) Baker, was born November 26, 1824, on the homestead, located in the eastern part of the town of Watertown. He remained on the home farm until 1844, receiving such education as the local school supplied. In May following the completion of his nineteenth year, he engaged as clerk at four dollars per month, in the old Franklin House, which occupied part of the present site of the Woodruff House, east of the archway. On account of failing health he set out March 20, 1845, for the seacoast to enter upon a sea voyage. Reaching Marblehead he was employed on the fishing boat " Beverly," of one hundred tons, and sailed August II. He continued on a voyage of one hundred and twenty days, fishing for cod, after which
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he returned to his native place and was employed for some time as clerk in the dry goods store of Truman Keeler. In 1849 he joined Jackson F. Woodruff in buying out the grocery business of Gilbert Woodruff. at No. 5. Exchange Block. On May 13 of that year they were burned out, and moved the store to the basement of the Paddock Block. In August. 1852, Mr. Baker sold his interest to his partner and joined his former employer. Truman Keeler, with whom he con- tinued one year under the style of Keeler & Baker. They opened an auction store at the corner of Franklin street and the public square, and Mr. Baker sold out to his partner in 1853. He made a trip to the west with a view of locating in business, but decided to return to Watertown, and took the position of foreman for J. Ball & Company. in trenching for the waterworks of the city of Watertown. In 1854 he was superintendent of construction on the waterworks of Jersey City, and in the next year took the contract for construction of water- works for Pittsfield. Massachusetts. On June 6. 1856, he was elected water commissioner for the city of Watertown, and continued in that position five years and seven months. In 1860 he executed thie con- struction of a pumping main from Beebe's Island to William street, under contract.
In 1861 Mr. Baker opened a ticket and insurance office in Water- town, and in the following year bought out McComb & Chittenden. manufacturers of cigars and dealers in hunting and fishing goods. In May, 1863, he was joined by Thomas Chittenden as partner. In the same year Mr. Baker was made a director of the Jefferson County Savings Bank, and in 1864 was appointed under-sheriff by Sheriff Nathan Strong. He continued to serve in that capacity under two successors, James Johnson and A. W. Wheelock. In March, 1872, he was elected director and vice-president of the Black River Insurance Company, and in 1873 was again appointed under-sheriff by George Babbitt. His partnership with Chittenden was dissolved in 1879, the ticket and insurance business being retained by Mr. Baker, who admit- ted to partnership his son, Frank L., and they continued the establish- ment at No. 3 Arcade, until the death of the father, which occurred April 12, 1883. From its organization Mr. Baker was a strong sup- porter of the Republican party. He was a member of the Masonic order. holding the rank of Knight Templar.
Mr. Baker was married October 4. 1848. to Cornelia Lydia Hew- itt. daughter of David and Elsie (Goodah) Hewitt. She was born
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October 12, 1825, in the town of Denmark, Lewis county, and died June 22, 1875. in Watertown. She was the mother of a son and two daughters, mentioned as follows: Anna Emelia, born March 15. 1851, resides in Waterown. Franklin L., January 13, 1853. Alice Martha, November 26, 1862, resides with her sister in Watertown.
(VIII) Franklin Leonard Baker, only son and second child of John L. and Cornelia L. ( Hewitt ) Baker, was born in the city of Watertown, and educated in its public schools and at Hope College, Holland. Michigan. His first important employment was in the capacity of civil engineer by the Sackets Harbor & Watertown rail- road Company. In 1885 he organized the Watertown Electric Light Company, of which he was treasurer. Subsequently, in company with DeWitt C. Middleton, he purchased the plant, and they continued the business until the death of Mr. Baker, October 28, 1895. He was previously associated with his father in business, as hereinbefore noted. Mr. Baker bore his part as a citizen in social and military circles as well as along business lines. He was a member of the Union Club, and a volunteer fire company, and enlisted in 1875 in Company C, Thiry-fifth Battalion of the New York National Guard. now known as the Thirty-Ninth Separate Company, in which he was first ser- geant.
Mr. Baker was married June 26, 1878, to Miss Jennie E. Buck, of Port Byron, New York. They had one son, Daniel Howland, born .April 17, 1879, and died .August 7, 1887.
MICHAEL J. FOLEY. If faithfulness, enterprise and business ability are sufficient to insure success, few men seem more likely to achieve that end than does Michael J. Foley, of Watertown. He is a son of Andrew Foley, who was born in March, 1830, in Ireland, where he was educated and learned his trade, applying himself to its acquire- ment during the school vacations. In the autumn of 1867 he sailed with his family for the United States, and on his arrival settled in Brownville, New York. He married Catharine Kernan, a native of Ireland, by whom he was the father of nine children, of whom are liv- ing: Bridget, who married John Burnes, of Hartford, Connecticut ; Anna, who became the wife of Mr. McMann, of the same place ; May, who married Patrick Clement: AAndrew ; Catharine; Michael J., men- tioned at length hereinafter. Mrs. Foley. the mother of these children, died at the age of sixty-five, and her husband at the time of his death
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was sixty-eight years old. Both possessed the sincere respect and cor- dial regard of their friends and neighbors.
Michael J. Foley, son of Andrew and Catharine ( Kernan ) Foley, was born October 22. 1866, in Ireland, and was an infant when brought by his parents to the United States. His boyhood and youth were spent in Brookside, Connecticut, where he obtained his education and learned the papermaker's trade. As a hoy he entered a mill where, by dint of steadiness and industry, he gradually worked his way up. At the age of twenty he went to Middle Falls. New York, whence at the end of a year he removed to Malone, and later came to Watertown, where he worked for a time. In 1887 he went to Stockton, California, where he was employed in a paper-mill. His next removal was to Ore- gon, and thence he went to the state of Washington, where he remained seven years. After returning to California he recrossed the continent and found himself in Rumford's Falls, Maine. He worked for a time as foreman at Penfield, New York, as assistant superintendent in Den- ver, Colorado, and then as superintendent, a position he retained for three years, and in 1902, after his many migrations, once more returned to Jefferson county. Here he accepted the position of superintendent of the mill of the Dexter Sulphite Pulp and Paper Company, which is the largest mill now manufacturing that grade of paper, and gives em- ployment to eighty men. In addition to his ability as a manager, Mr. Foley has the great advantage of being a superior workman, having a thorough knowledge of every detail of the business. He is a member of the I. O. H. of Watertown and of the Maccabees, in which he is past commander and now holds the office of treasurer. He is trustee and court deputy of Alexandria Bay. His political principles are those advocated and upheld by the Democratic party.
Mr. Foley married in 1887, Emma, born in 1868, in New York city, one of the twelve children of Joseph Lynch, a successful merchant of Watertown. Mr. and Mrs. Foley are the parents of four children, three sons and one daughter: Frank; Michael; Catharine, who bears the name of her grandmother ; and Andrew, who was named in memory of his paternal grandfather.
WILLIAM NORWOOD. To few residents of Jefferson county is the advancement of the paper-making industry more indebted than to William Norwood, of Glen Park. He is a son of Thomas Norwood, who was born in 1830, in Ireland, whence he emigrated to Canada,
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where he owned and cultivated a large farm. He married Anna John- son, who was born in 1835. in Canada, and they were the parents of seven children, five of whom are living: Maggie, who married Fred- erick Cross. of Brownville: William, mentioned at length hereinafter ; John, James, and Frederick, all of whom are residents of this town. Mr. Norwood, the father, spent his last days in Oswego county, New York, where he died at the age of sixty-two, having always borne the reputation of an honest man and a good citizen. His widow, who is still living, resides in this town.
William Norwood, son of Thomas and Anna (Johnson) Nor- wood, was born April 27. 1866. in Canada, and received his education in Oswego county, New York, where he afterward learned the paper- maker's trade and for a time practiced it. Later he came to Glen Park, where he found employment in one of the mills of the International Pa- per Company. His first position was that of foreman of the machine room, from which he was promoted in 1898 to the office of superintend- ent of the mill. In 1901 he was given the superintendence of another mill, this additional responsibility involving the direction of about two hundred and fifty men. The two mills under the charge of Mr. Nor- wood are in all respects among the finest in this vicinity, and their flour- ishing condition is die in no small measure to the ability and industry of the superintendent.
Mr. Norwood married in 1893, Lena, who was born in 1870, in this town, daughter of Seth Satamore, a machinist. Mr. and Mrs. Norwood are the parents of two sons, Holly and Merrill.
COPLEY. This is one of the oldest and most honored names in America, and has had creditable representatives in every generation. It is conspicuous in the pioneer annals of Lewis and Jefferson counties, this state, and those of the name and their connections are still active in the business affairs of the county. The most conspicuous individual of the name in American history is probably John Singleton Copley, the noted portrait painter. He left no male posterity. Daniel Copley was another talented painter, much of whose work is still extant.
(I) Thomas Copley, of Springfield, Massachusetts, appears to have been the first male of his race to come to America. His mother, a widow, was married in 1650 to Nathan Phelps, of Windsor, Con- necticut, and removed to Northampton, Massachusetts, whither Thomas Copley accompanied her. The latter was a resident of Springfield in
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1672. He married at Westfield. November 15, 1672. Ruth Denslow, and removed to Suffield, Connecticut, in 1679. A few years later he went to Northampton, Massachusetts, where he died November 29. 1712. His wife. Ruth, died October 5, 1692, and he married, May 25, 1693. Ruth Taylor, who died November 3. 1724. Mr. Copley was selectman and constable at Suffield as late as 1686-8. and surveyor of highways in 1689. His children were: Matthew (died an infant), Thomas, Matthew, and Samnel.
(II) Matthew, third son of Thomas and Ruth ( Denslow) Cop- ley, was born April 14. 1679, probably in Springfield, and was married February 20, 1702, to Hannah Huxley, of Suffield. He died February 18, 1763. His children were: Nathaniel, Matthew, Thomas. Hannah. Thomas (2), Moses, Noah (died young). Sarah, Elizabeth and Noah.
(III) Noah, youngest child of Matthew and Hannah ( Huxley) Copley, was born November 28. 1721, probably in Suffield. He was still living in 1783. in his sixty-second year, at Springfield, where most of his life was passed.
(IV) William Copley, born in Springfield, served in the Amer- ican navy during the Revolution, on the ship Trumbull. He settled early in life on the border between Hancock, Massachusetts, and Leb- anon. Columbia county, this state. He was married in Hancock. March 3. 1785, to Hannah Hand. who was born May 19. 1767. in Lebanon. Her father was a most remarkable man. of much ability as a financier, and exercised great influence upon the subsequent history of the Copley family in this line. The Hand family is, like that of Copley, an old one in America. and its history is briefly told herewith :
(I) John Hand. of Stanstede, County Kent. England, came early to Massachusetts, and is found of record on the whaling list in 1644. Like the Copley family he had a coat-of-arms. He married Alice, sister of Josiah Stanbrough, and died in 1663.
(II) Joseph, son of John and Alice Hand. was born in 1638. and died in January. 1724. He was married in 1664 to Jane, daughter of Benjamin and Jane Wright, of Killingworth, Connecticut, which indi- cates his place of residence.
(III) Stephen, son of Joseph and Jane Hand. was born in 1675-6. and died in 1755. in Guilford. Connecticut. He was married November 6, 1700, to Sarah Wright.
(IV) Joseph, son of Stephen and Sarah Hand, was born January
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IO, 1703, and was married in 1731, to Hannah, daughter of Nathaniel Hollabird.
(V) Samuel, son of Joseph and Hannah ( Hollabird) Hand, was born in 1730. and married Mary Slooper. He settled in the town of Lebanon, Columbia county, this state, and was among the most prom- inent and successful citizens of that town. His children were: Mary, Samuel and Hannah. The last named became the wife of William Copley, as above noted.
William Copley was a pioneer in the town of Denmark. Lewis county, and was nicely started in making a home when he was killed on the highway by a falling tree, June 18, 1818. His wife survived him many years, passing away April 20, 1853, in Parish, Oswego county.
(V) Alexander, son of William and Hannah ( Hand) Copley, was born September 10, 1805, in Denmark, Lewis county, and was near the close of his thirteenth year when death robbed him of his father. He subsequently spent four years with his maternal grandfather in New Lebanon, and his life was largely influenced by this association. The aid received from his grandfather later in life enabled him to carry on extensive operations in business. He first demonstrated his independ- ence of spirit and executive ability, sagacity and industry, and he be- came the most extensive landholder in Jefferson county. His charities were numerous but never ostentatious. His education was obtained in the common schools of the day and at Lowville Academy, wherein he paid his own way by serving as janitor of the building. At an early age he became a clerk in the store of William K. Butterfield, at Felt's Mills, but soon changed to the store of Jason Francis, at the same place, later entered into partnership with his employer, whom he subsequently bought out, and finally disposed of the business to Francis & Butterfield. He was also associated with John Felt and William Coburn in the lum- ber business, and after continuing this connection for three years his at- tention was called to a tract of over four hundred acres of woodland for sale in the town of Lyme, owned by parties in New York city. This he purchased with the money which had been intended to renew his stock of mercantile goods, and before spring came he had thirty acres of his pine forest cleared. The following summer he purchased two thousand five hundred and sixty-two acres of the Vincent Le Ray lands in Lyme. He then moved to Chaumont. purchasing a house, store, saw and grist mill of William Clark, making that his subsequent home. Three years later he purchased a large tract of sixteen thousand nine hundred and
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sixty-one acres of Gouverneur Morris, these lands being located in the towns of Clayton, Brownville and Lyme, and later in life he added to his purchases ten thousand acres in the town of Antwerp, making in all thirty-five thousand acres. This large property was successfully man- aged, and greatly increased in value as the county became settled. In ad- dition to the management of this vast property he dealt in lumber, grain, stone from the quarries, conducted a store, engaged in the building of vessels, and was a director of the National Union Bank, of Watertown which adopted the following resolutions at the time of his death :
"Whereas, Alexander Copley, one of the directors of this bank, and one of the foremost citizens of our county, has, in the maturity of his manhood and in the midst of his usefulness, been suddenly removed by death, therefore
"Resolved, That in the death of Alexander Copley we have lost a valued associate and friend-this institution has lost one of its ablest and safest officers and advisors, and the community in which he lived a useful, high-minded and honorable man, whose place in society and busi- ness will not be readily filled."
He was averse to political life or official position. but during the years 1843-48-51 served the town of Lyme in the capacity of super- visor. He was a warm supporter of the temperance cause, and was in- terested in the spread of education and religion, contributing liberally to the support of both. He was a thoughtful reader of Shakespeare, and also of the Bibie, and a believer in its precepts. Abstemious in habits, he set a worthy example for the emulation of the young. A Whig in early life, he was among the founders of the Republican party.
Mr. Copley passed away February 5, 1871, in his sixty-sixth year, and was sincerely mourned by many of his contemporaries. While he had not much patience with the idle and dissolute, he was ever helpful to those who tried to help themselves. and many owed a start in life to his kind consideration and extension of credit.
He was married, October 30, 1833, to Lucy Kelsey, a native of Champion, this county, daughter of Charles Kelsey, a pioneer of that town. Mrs. Copley was born June 8, 1815, and survived her husband twenty-five years, passing away May 15, 1896. They were survived by four sons-Hiram, DeWitt, Alexander and Eugene, and a daughter. Maria. The third child, who was drowned June 27, 1841, was born April 6, 1840. The youngest died in Antwerp, February 20, 1889, aged forty-two years. He was born January 25, 1847, and was a farmer and lumber manufacturer. He also dealt in flour and feed. in partnership
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with his brother, Alexander. The eldest is a resident of Chaumont. and the second lives at Seneca Falls, New York.
(VI) Alexander, third son of Alexander and Lucy (Kelsey) Cop- ley, was born January 14, 1844, in Chaumont, and has proved an emu- lative sci, engaging extensively in farming and lumbering. He at- tended school at Gouverneur, Lowville, and at Ives Seminary, Antwerp. At the age of eighteen years he left school and has since been engaged continuously in business. At first he was associated with his father and brothers, later with his younger brother, until the death of the latter, and for some years has operated independently. He is now the owner of several farms, well stocked with cattle, and tilled by tenants. His pres- ent saw mill, built in 1891, is the third on the same site, located about two miles above Antwerp, on the Indian river, and he is the owner of the original tract purchased by his father, who built the first mill. In 1904 his output amounted to about two million feet of lumber, marketed chiefly at Ogdensburg, Watertown, Cape Vincent and Clayton. For over thirty- five years he operated the grist mill at Sterlingburg, and did a general flour and feed business, selling out in 1903. He endeavors to improve the stock on luis farms, and is now experimenting with Jersey, Holstein and Ayrshire grade cows.
In other than business ways, Mr. Copley observes the precepts and practice of his honored father. He accepts the faith and is a liberal sup- porter of the Congregational church, and is a living example of the happy effects of temperance in all things. Having an abiding faith in thie polit- ical principles of the Republican party, he has ever been a sturdy sup- porter of those principles. With no desire for public station, he has acted many years as a trustee of the village of Antwerp, in response to the demands of his fellow citizens and his sense of duty.
He was married, August 26, 1863, to Miss Eva (christened Eva- line) Shepard, a daughter of Edwin James and Selina (Keene ) Shepard, of the town of Lymc, where she was born August 26, 1846. She died April 1, 1873, and Mr. Copley was married June 18, 1874, to Lettie (christened Celestine), a sister of his first wife. Two of the four children of Mr. Copley died in early childhood. The living are Harriet Eva and Irene Shepard, the former being the child of Eva (Shepard) Copley.
The Shepard family is among those early planted in Massachusetts. Thomas Shepard, a native of New Marlborough. Massachusetts, came to Lewis county, this state, between 1800 and 1807. His wife was Mary Baldwin. They settled in the town of Denmark, at the village of Co-
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AlexanderKohler
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penhagen. Their son, Amos, with his wife, Phebe Heady, removed from Copenhagen to the town of Lyme, in this county, after the war of 1812, in which he served as a soldier. His son, Edwin J., was born February 21, 1813, in Denmark. The latter's wife, Selina, was born August 16, 1821, in Brownville. Her father, Captain William Keene, was born December 21, 1798, in Chesterfield, Massachusetts, where his wife, Lu- cinda Whiton, was born October 10, 1796.
(VI) Hiram Copley, eldest son of Alexander and Lucy (Kel- sey) Copley, was born in May, 1834, in Chaumont, where his life has been chiefly spent. His education was completed at Rensselaer Poly- technic Institute, at Troy, New York, where he spent two years. He was associated with his father in business at Chaumont, and purchased the business from his father in 1871. He continued it many years, and is now retired. He has never sought or accepted any political station, but is an active Republican, taking prominent part in the local councils of his party. He built a chapel at Chaumont and was largely instru- mental in the completion of the Presbyterian church there, though not a member.
Mr. Copley married Miss Mary Enos, a native of Depauville, daughter of Gaylord and Caroline Minerva ( Sperry ) Enos of that vil- lage. Following is a brief account of their children: Two daughters died in infancy. Allen E. was engaged in business at Chaumont, where he died in 1903. Caroline M. is the widow of Edwin C. Wemple, re- siding in Brooklyn, New York. George W. resides in the same city. Lucille is the widow of John V. Clarke ( see Clarke, VIII ), and resides at White Plains, where her sister, Marjorie R., also lives. The latter was the wife of James O'Connor, now deceased.
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