USA > New York > Jefferson County > Genealogical and family history of the county of Jefferson, New York, Volume II > Part 43
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67
1100
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY.
church, and died at the age of eighty-three years. after having spent sixty years of happy married life.
Levi A. Butterfield was educated in the common schools of Black. River, then called Lockport, and resided on the old homestead until he attained his majority. He then went to Hammond, where he resided until he was twenty-five years of age, in the meantime serving as clerk in a store and also being deputy postmaster. In 1850 he went to Cali- fornia by way of the Isthmus of Panama, being thirty-three days go- ing to the Isthmus and sixty-six days going from there to San Fran- cisco, to the gold fields of that state, where he remained for nearly four years. Then he returned east and located at Chippewa Bay, New York, where he purchased an interest in a store. He remained there two years, then went to Nebraska, near Omaha, and took up a grant of two hundred and twenty-four acres of land. forty of which was timber land, and resided thereon for a number of years. subsequently returning to Redwood. New York, and on September II. 1862. enlisted in the Light Artillery, which was subsequently known as the Tenth New York Heavy Artillery, in which he served with distinction, holding commission as lieutenant, and resigned as such June 2, 1863. This regiment served in the forts about Washington, D. C. After his resig- nation he returned to Redwood. where he served as clerk and post- master from 1863 to 1865. during the administration of President Lin- coln, and in 1865 he resigned and returned west, near Omaha, Nebras- ka, to the land he had previously taken up and which he still owned. On this land the United States government is now ( 1904) building a fort, to be known as Fort Cook. He remained there a time, when he returned to Redwood, New York, and since which time he has acted as agent for his brother. W. W. Butterfield, looking after his extensive business interests. His career has been varied and eventful, but in all the occupations he has engaged in he was noted for those characteristics that mark the earnest worker for the uplifting and development of man- kind in general. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, Campbell Post, of Redwood. now of Alexandria Bay. Mr. Butterfield is unmarried.
MICHAEL C. MAHER. For a number of years Michael C. Maher has been prominently and actively identified with the commer- cial interests of Clayton, Jefferson county, New York, and occupied in business circles an honored place by reason of his straightforward deal-
1101
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY.
ing, enterprise and diligence. He is a native of the town in which he resides, the date of his birth being August 7, 1866.
Michael Maher, father of Michael C. Maher, was born in county Carlow, Ireland, a son of Edward and Margaret ( Brennan) Maher, who were born, spent their entire lives, and died in Ireland; they were the parents of three children, all of whom are now deceased. Michael Maher (father) was reared, educated, followed the occupation of farm- ing, and spent his life up to thirty years of age in his native country. He then came to the United States, settling in Syracuse, New York, where he resided until 1853, when he removed to Clayton, where he and his brother purchased some land, erected a dwelling house and out- buildings, and successfully conducted agricultural pursuits for the re- mainder of his life. Mr. Maher married Johanna Mullen, born in county Limerick, Ireland, a daughter of Michael Mullen, also a native of the same county. Mr. Mullen emigrated to this country, located near Clayton Center in 1855, and later removed to Three Mile Bay, where he followed agricultural pursuits up to the time of his death, which occurred in the seventy-first year of his age. His first wife, Catherine (Picket ) Mullen, bore him two children: Johanna, now deceased, who was the wife of Michael Maher, and Mrs. Fitzgerald, who is liv- ing at the present time. Mrs. Mullen died at the age of thirty years. Mr. Mullen was then united in marriage to Mary Ryan, who bore him seven children, four of whom are living at the present time: Michael, a resident of Syracuse; Thomas, a resident of Detroit; Ellen, wife of Dr. Wright, of Lyndonville; and Honora, wife of William Garland, of Orleans county. The mother of these children is deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Maher were the parents of five children, two of whom are now living: Michael C., and Mary, wife of Owen Gellick, of Lafarge- ville, New York. Michael Maher ( father) died in 1872, aged sixty years; he was survived by his wife, who passed away in 1902, in the seventy-sixth year of her age.
Michael C. Maher acquired his preliminary education in the com- mon and graded schools of Clayton, and this was supplemented by at- tendance at the Buffalo Normal School. Previous to his entering the latter named institution he was engaged in teaching school, later fol- lowed the same vocation in Lafargeville for two years, and during the summer vacation was employed in the custom house. In June, 1894, he entered into partnership with the brother of his present partner, and they established a business for the sale of grain, feed, flour, lime,
1102
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY.
cement, coal and hay, shipping the latter named article in carload lots : they have also acted as wholesale agents for the Standard Oil Company.
Mr. Maher takes an intelligent and practically helpful interest in all public affairs, and is a staunch and loyal advocate of the principles of Democracy. He served as deputy collector of customs for two terms, and was chosen to serve as a delegate to a number of conven- tions. He is a charter member of the Knights of Columbus of Water- town, later transferred to the council at Clayton, and has held the of- fice of deputy select knight for two years. He is a member of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church of Clayton, in which his father also took an active and prominent part. has served as a member of the board of trustees for seven years, ever since the present pastor has been in- stalled, and has been largely instrumental in raising the fund for the payment of the debt of eighteen thousand dollars which encumbered the church when he was appointed trustee. The church was organized as a parish in 1842, and the first edifice was replaced by the present church in 1885. the latter being one of the largest and most attractive structures of its kind in the northern part of the county. The present priest is the Rev. Father P. S. Garand, who came to Clayton in 1895.
PECK. This name has been conspicuous among the pioneers of Jefferson county, and those bearing it have borne no mean part in sub- duing the wilderness and in the development of civilized society. The name is found very early in both the Massachusetts and Connecticut colonies, and many of its representatives took valiant part in the strug- gle for independence.
The military records of Connecticut show that Joseph Peck, of New Haven, was a member of the Governor's Foot Guards and served at the Lexington alarm. Also, that Joseph Peck, of the vicinity of New Haven, enlisted February 23. 1778, for three years. The discharge of Joseph Peck, now in the possession of his grandson, in Champion, shows that he served four years, until June 9, 1783, in the artillery artificers. He was born February 4. 1758, in New Haven, Connecti- cut, and died in the town of Champion, this county, in 1835. His wife, Elizabeth Prichard, was born September 7. 1762. in Waterbury, Con- nectient.
(1) Roger Prichard is found of record at Wethersfield, Connecti- cut. in 1640: at Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1643; and Milford, Con- necticut, in 1053. On December 18, of the last named year, he was
1103
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY.
married to widow Elizabeth Stough, daughter of James Prudden. He died in New Haven, Connecticut, June 26. 1670-71.
( II) Benjamin Prichard, son of Roger, was born January 31, 1657. and was married. November 14. 1683. to Rebecca Jones.
(III) James Prichard, son of Benjamin and Rebecca, was hap- tized in 1698. in Milford, Connecticut. He married Elizabeth John- son, born .August 28, 1701, daughter of George and Hannah ( Dorman) Johnson, of Stratford, Connecticut. Their issue were: James. George. Elizabeth. Isaac (all born in Milford). John. David, Anna (Hannah). Mr. James Prichard died September 3. 1749, and his wid- ow, Elizabeth, married Captain Stephen Upson.
(IV) George Prichard, born October 5. 1724. married. Feb- ruary 8, 1744-5. Elizabeth Hotchkiss, daughter of Abraham Hotchkiss. of New Haven, Connecticut. Mr. Prichard died October 21, 1820. and his wife passed away February 7. 1802. Their issue were: Cloe, George. Patience, Patience (2). John. Isaiah. Diddymus, Hannah. Elizabeth and Rebecca.
(V) Elizabeth Prichard, born September 7. 1762. married Joseph Peck, as above noted.
Joseph Peck was a blacksmith by trade, and was, no doubt, a very handy man in the artillery service of the Revolutionary army. There was a blacksmith shop in Waterbury, Connecticut, before the Revolu- tion, operated by Joseph Peck, who was, possibly, the father of this Joseph Peck. The latter lived some years, after the Revolution, in Middlebury, and came to Champion in 1803, and settled on lot 22, where his grandson. Emerson Peck, now resides. He was an indust- trions and sober man, kindhearted and genial, a model of morality. With the aid of his four sons, he cleared up a farm, and was occupied in its cultivation until his death. Both he and his wife were members of the Congregational church at Champion village, and were, doubtless, among its founders. He was a Democrat, but held no offices. His fam- ily included four sons and three daughters, all born in Middlebury. Connecticut. Jeremiah, the eldest. horn September 24, 1787, settled near Saranac. Michigan, where he died. Deborah. April 23, 1791, died at Ionia, Michigan, while the widow of Benjamin Sharp, aged ninety- two years. Henry .A., September 22, 1792, died here, while a young man. Joseph, March 12, 1794, was a successful farmer near Great Bend, and died in 1846. Elizabeth, December 22, 1795. died in Rut- land. the wife of Sylvester Gouldthrite. John receives further mention
1104
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY.
in a later paragraph. Lydia, September 22, 1802, married Alexander Stevens, and died at Saranac, Michigan, nearly ninety years old.
(VI) John Peck, son of Joseph Peck, was born October 16, 1797, in Middlebury, Connecticut, and was six years old when his par- ents brought him to Champion. He grew up here, receiving such edu- cation as the rude frontier district afforded. Among those who came here to teach in the pioneer days was Miss Polly Jones, who was born November 8. 1808, in Halifax, Vermont, undoubtedly of Welsh an- cestry, and was nine years old when her parents moved to Smithfield, Pennsylvania. She was married to John Peck January 27, 1828, and they took up housekeeping on the paternal homestead. John, being the youngest son, remained to care for his parents in their old age, and in- herited the farm, which he continued to till during his active life. Mrs. Polly Peck died July 16, 1847, and Mr. Peck subsequently married Polly ( Brown) Joyce, widow. She died August 7, 1866, and her hus- band survived until July 24, 1883, nearly completing his eighty-sixth year. His first wife was a member of the Baptist church, and he usually attended the Congregational church. He was a steadfast Democrat, but did not desire office. A successful farmer, he tilled one hundred and thirteen acres, and kept sheep and cattle. Industrious and thrifty, he commanded the respect of his neighbors and was sincerely mourned upon his death. His children are briefly noted, as follows: John Stacy. born January 24, 1829, died September 2. 1865, at Philadelphia, this county. Polly Maria, January 16, 1832, died August 13, 1873, at Big Rapids. Michigan, being the wife of Ensign Merrick. Susan E., Decem- ber 16, 1833, is the wife of Charles Austin, residing on Academy street, Watertown. Martha Cordelia, July 10, 1836, is the widow of Rev. Alger- non Sidney Hale, residing on Ten Eyck street, Watertown. Phebe L., June 10, 1837, resides at Felt's Mills, the widow of Albert Slack. Lydia L., August 20, 1839, died in infancy. Caroline, April 15, 1841, died Feb- ruary 14, 1902. the wife of Alvin Cooper, at Philadelphia. Emerson and Emily, twins, April 29, 1843. the latter now wife of David N. Lock- lin, a farmer of Champion. Joseph Selden, July 18, 1845, was a soldier in the Civil war and afterward went to sea, since which time no tid- ings of him have been received. Louisa D., July 6, 1847, died in the following November.
(VII) Emerson Peck was born in the house which still shelters him, and has always made his home here. He attended the district school and made himself useful about the farm from an early age.
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY. 1105
Soon after he attained his majority, on account of the death of his step- mother, and the advanced age of his father, he took charge of the farm and cared for his aged father in a filial manner, becoming owner of the farm in due time. He has been successful as a farmer, and has purchased another farm on lot II, which is tilled by his twin sister's husband. This purchase was made in March. 1879. embracing one hun- dred and sixteen acres, and was subsequently increased by an addition of thirty acres. On this farm twenty-two cows are kept, and sixteen to eighteen are kept on the home farm. Mr. Peck deals in and grows beef cattle. and keeps Holstein cows for milk. He is a progressive farmer, and his intelligent application brings adequate returns. He is a member of Great Bend Grange, of which he has been treasurer the last seven years, and is a trustee and treasurer of the Methodist church at Great Bend. He is a staunch Republican, believing that the policies of his party are calculated to bring the greatest good to the greatest number. For seven years he served the town as assessor, and this long service indicates sound judgment and integrity, if the possession of those qualities were not already proven by his success in life.
Mr. Peck was married September 6, 1866, to Mary Howard, who was born July 8, 1843. in Champion, daughter of Turner E. and Amanda ( Cleveland ) Howard, early residents of this town. The former was born February 2, 1803. and died May 16, 1867; the latter, born Octo- ber 26, 1806, died October 24. 1901. being two days under ninety-five years old. They were married May 24, 1832.
(VIII ) Mr. Peck and wife are the parents of a son and a daugh- ter. John Turner, the elder, born August 5, 1868, is a grocer in the city of Watertown. Florence May, June 8, 1879, resides with her parents. John T. Peck was married May 9, 1894, to Minnie Bannister, a native of Watertown, daughter of Giles and Marinda ( Gillette ) Ban- nister, natives of Pamelia and Watertown. Mr. and Mrs. Peck have a daughter and twin boys, namely: Zilpha, born February 23. 1899, and Emerson and Giles, October 15, 1903.
: (VII) Martha Cordelia, third daughter and fourth child of John and Polly (Jones) Peck, lived, after eleven years old, with her ma- ternal grandparents, at Smithfield, Pennsylvania, where she was edu- cated in the local academy. She took six years of the Chautauqua course. and was the able and congenial companion of her noble husband. She was married December 8, 1858. to Rev. Algernon Sidney Hale, of whom appropriate mention follows.
70
1106
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY.
Rev. Algernon Sidney Hale was born September 19. 1833, in East Smithfield, Pennsylvania, a son of Allen and Miriam ( Wood) Hale. Allen Hale was born October 5. 1808, in Warren, Rhode Island. and his wife May 18. 1812, in East Smithfieldl. Allen Hale was a son of Benjamin Hale, born January 15. 1771, in Bristol, Rhode Island, and his wife, Keziah Rounds, horn June 23, of the same year, in Reho- both. Massachusetts. Allen Hale accompanied his parents to East Sinithfield before he was nine years old, and became a leader in the town. He was highly talented, was a very successful farmer and fruit- raiser, possessing a fine farm of two hundred acres. After his father's death, which occurred in 1851, he went to Knox county, Illinois, and died at Abingdon, in that county, January 29, 1866. His wife died in 1892. She was a daughter of Samuel Wood, and his second wife, Huldah Cole, bore him nine children. (The first wife, who was a Califf, gave him eleven. ) He was a soldier of the Revolution, and one of the party that conducted Major Andre to West Point after his capture.
Algernon Sidney was the eldest of the five children of his par- ents, and grew up at Smithfield. under favorable conditions for cul- ture. At the age of eighteen years, he began teaching in his home town, and subsequently entered Bethany College. Virginia, graduating with honors from its classical department in 1858. Ten years later. his alma mater conferred upon him the degree of Master of Arts. He began preaching for the Disciples' church at Braddock, Pennsylvania, but was soon called to his native place, where he was pastor four years. He then went to Braddock and sustained the same relation over three years. The next nine years were spent at Pompey. New York, followed by three years at Lyons, same state, whence he went to Ionia. Michigan, and was pastor three years. After preaching two years at Angola. In- diana, he was appointed state evangelist for Michigan, continuing three years in that capacity, resigning to secure a change of scene, on account of his wife's failing health. After spending a period at Auburn, New York. he returned to Angola. Indiana, in the spring of 1886. In this vicinity he continued his labors as a preacher and also edited the Steuben Republican four years, building up the interests of that journal and manfully sustaining the principles of the Republican party. Since then, his parish, which was then a very strong one, has grown to include be- tween eight and nine hundred members. He built a residence near the college, at Angola, and was in the midst of a brilliant and most useful
A. S. Hoale
1107
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY.
career when death ended his labors. December 28, 1889. Mr. Hale was a student and thinker, a fine preacher and a most lovable man, so that his influence was great in any community where he dwelt. He was an earnest worker in the temperance cause, and in all movements calculated to lift up and ennoble mankind, and his memory will ever be blessed. He found a helpmeet and companion in his talented wife, but they were never blessed with offspring. They reared as their own, with every tender care and solicitude, Catherine (born Lamb). now the wife of F. H. Birdseye, of Oberlin, Ohio. They have a son and daughter, who are graduates of Oberlin College and talented workers in scientific and educational lines.
DEXTER. Among the earliest in New England was one bear- ing this name, and some of his descendants were among the pioneers of Jefferson county, where they are still found, and numbered among the enterprising and respectable citizens.
(I) The American ancestor was Thomas Dexter, who is found of record at Lynn (that part now Saugus), Massachusetts, as early as 1630. He is supposed to have come from Bristol. England, as he and his son were engaged in trade with people at that point in 1630. At the time of his arrival he was a widower and brought children-Thomas, William, Mary and Frances. He was possessed of some means, and bought and sold land quite extensively. He took up for his own use eight hundred acres and was called " Farmer Dexter." His home was built on the west side of Saugus, and he also built a mill on the river. He purchased from an Indian the peninsula of Nahant, but the title was disputed by the colonists, and he lost the property. He was of inde- pendent and aggressive character, and resented this as an imposition, and seems to have been more or less engaged in litigation with his neighbors at various times. He was not made a freeman until May 18, 1651, and the troubles above mentioned probably operated to prevent his acceptance by his townsmen. He seems to have been involved in a personal encounter with John Endicott, as the records show that he re- covered forty shillings from Endicott, as damage for blows received, in 1631. His high temper and spirit were not curbed wholly, as indi- cated by the fact that he was bound to good behavior July 3. 1632. That he was a most active citizen and useful in many ways is proven by his transactions. In the spring of 1637, he was one of ten who pur- chased land in Sandwich, and he built the first mill there in 1638, and
1108
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY.
appears to have resided there for a time. After two years he returned to Lynn, where his interests were large, and was awarded three hun- dred and fifty acres there in the final division of lands. He appears as managing agent of the Lynn Iron Works, the first institution of the kind in New England, and which was in successful operation for some years. He returned to Sandwich before May 28, 1647, and soon after removed to Barnstable, where he bought two farms before 1651, and is of rec- ord as living in that town in 1670. In 1673 he sold land and build- ings, and late in 1075 removed to Boston, to live with his daughter Mary, wife of Captain James Oliver. He was admitted a freeman there in February. 1676, being then aged about eighty-five years, and did not long survive. His daughter, Frances, was the wife of Ensign Richard Wooddy. His estate was valued at seventy pounds, being all in notes, from which it is evident that he had made division of lands and prop- erty among his children before his demise. The line of descent comes down to the Jefferson county descendants through his younger son (II ) William, ( III) James, (IV) Benjamin, (V) Benjamin (2) and (VI) Benjamin (3).
(VI) Benjamin Dexter (3) was a farmer in Orange, Massachu- setts. He was four times married, and had twelve children, namely : Hepzibah, Stephen, Anna, Amasa, Moses, David. Aaron. Joseph, Sime- on, Betsey, Samuel S. and George W. The last four were children of the fourth wife, Frances Tuttle.
(VII) Amasa A., fourth child and second son of Benjamin (3) and Betsey Dexter. was born December 5. 1808, and died October 25, 1883. in Orange, Massachusetts, where he had a farm midway between the villages of Athol and Orange. He was twice married, the first wife being Rowana Allen, a native of Jay, Maine, who was the mother of all his children, namely : Trustum Dural, Benjamin Allen, Hepzibah, Elihu O. C., Ann and Hoyt. The elder daughter became the wife of Henry Barber, and resides in Worcester, Massachusetts. The younger died in Worcester.
(VIII ) Benjamin Allen Dexter, second son of Amasa and Ro- wana ( Allen ) Dexter. was born October 25. 1836. in Orange, where he grew to maturity, and received his education in the public school. He also attended school one year after he came to Black River. His uncles. David and Simeon, were among the pioneer manufacturers of Black River, in this county, where they engaged in the production of chairs, an industry still carried on by descendants. In 1856, Benjamin
1109
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY.
A. Dexter joined them, and continued in their employ until 1880. Dur- ing a period of twenty-four years spent in the chair factory he lost only four days' time. By his industry and prudent management of his earn- ings, he became the owner of property in the village of Black River. and since 1880 he has engaged in the undertaking business, in which he is popular and successful. In the twenty-four years he has buried over seven hundred persons, and he is still active in the last service we can do our friends on earth. Ile accepts the faith of the Baptist church. and is a member of the Masonic lodge of Black River. In politics he is a Republican, and has filled several town and village offices.
Mr. Dexter was married April 4. 1860, to Miss Laura O. Webb, who was born March 28, 1842, in Ellisburg, a daughter of Levi and Linda ( Randall) Webb, of that town. She died January 7. 1897. and Mr. Dexter was again married January 25. 1899. to Melissa Roberts, widow of Moses Roberts, and daughter of Duty G. Mosher, of Leray. Duty G. Mosher, son of Jonathan Mosher, was a native of Greene county, New York, and came with his father to the town of Philadel- phia, this county, at a very early day. The children of Mr. Dexter, all born of the first marriage, were: Freddy B., Frank AA. and Herbert A. The first died when six weeks old. the second receives proper mention in later paragraphs, and the third is employed as traveling salesman by the Bristol Manufacturing Company, dealers in undertakers' goods, of Bristol, Vermont.
(IX) Frank Alberto Dexter, second son of Benjamin A. and Laura O. (Webh) Dexter, was born November 26, 1863. in that part of the village of Black River which is within the town of Leray, where he grew up and attended the district school. At the age of eighteen years he went to Chicago, where he was employed two years by Moffett & Company, undertakers of that city. He was attentive to his duties. and rapidly acquired a knowledge of the business. Returning to his native place, he spent two years with his father, in the same business. and was able at the end of that time to set up an establishment of his own.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.