USA > New York > Jefferson County > Genealogical and family history of the county of Jefferson, New York, Volume II > Part 44
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In 1886 he established himself at Carthage, and for two years gave his entire attention to the undertaking business. He then joined Ed- mond H. Montondo, and conducted a furniture store, under the style of Dexter & Montondo, until their property was destroyed by fire in 1896. The firm was then dissolved, and Mr. Dexter has since con- ducted a very successful undertaking establishment. His considerate
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attention to the wants and needs of his patrons has made him popular with the public, and he is employed in many neighboring towns and villages. He officiates at more than one hundred funerals per annum. and his business is constantly growing. Beside being a careful and energetic business man, Mr. Dexter is of genial nature and his pleasant manners and public spirit have made friends of all his acquaintance. He is a willing contributor to the progress of the community, and is a congenial spirit in the social and business life of his home village. He is a member of the Carthage Club, of Carthage Lodge and Chapter, and Watertown Commandery, of the Masonic fraternity, and of the local lodge and chapter of the Odd Fellows' order, being district deputy grand master in the latter.
Mr. Dexter was married November 13. 1884. to Miss Virginia Hartwell, who was born February 26, 1863, in Denmark, Lewis county, a daughter of Benjamin and Anna ( Bent ) Hartwell, of old families there. Mrs. Hartwell is a daughter of Abraham Bent, one of the pio- neers of Lewis county. Mr. and Mrs. Dexter are the parents of three slaughters, namely: Vera, Frances and Loma.
(VII) David Dexter, fourth son and sixth child of Benjamin (3) and Betsey (Legg ) Dexter, was born April 10, 1813, in Orange, Massachusetts, where he grew up on a farm. Betsey Legg was a daugh- ter of David and Hannah ( Dewing) Legg, the former a Revolutionary soldier. He was a corporal in Captain Gershorn Nelson's Company of Mendon, Massachusetts, in which four of his brothers were privates. Their parents were William and Hannah (Nelson) Legg, and Cap- tain Nelson was their cousin. Betsey Legg was born May 21, 1780, and was the third wife of Benjamin Dexter. On account of ill health David Dexter set out to travel in 1838, and coming to Black River, this county, decided to locate there. He entered into a contract with Nelson Scott to build a chair factory and returned to Massachusetts for his fam- ily, which then included a wife and one child, in the fall of 1839. From that time on he continued to reside at Black River until his death, which occurred August 9. 1880. He was married at Orange or Athol, to Maria Hubbard, of Royalston, Massachusetts, who was born July 28, 1812, and died July 10, 1895, at Black River. She was a daugh- ter of Daniel and Susan ( Eddy) Hubbard, of Royalston, survived him almost fifteen years, passing away July 11. 1895, aged eighty-two years, eleven months and eleven days.
After establishing the chair factory he enlarged the original build-
ErErEtt W. Dexter
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ing from time to time until November, 1866, when the whole factory was burned. The next morning after the fire, before breakfast, he went to the owner of a shop and made a bargain to buy it.
He was an excellent mechanic and was ready to adopt new machin- ery and ideas as they were developed, and built many useful machines from his own plans. He was active in public improvements and did a great deal in promoting the building of the Carthage, Watertown and Sacketts Harbor railroad, which connected with the Utica and Black River railroad at Carthage and the R. W. & O. at Watertown, and was the means of greatly developing business at Black River. He was a di- rector of this road from the beginning until his death.
The following appropriate and comprenhensive summing up of his life appeared in the Watertown Times, of the day following his death :
"In the death of David Dexter, Black River loses one of the most influential and respected citizens and one whose memory will long be revered. Probably no man in this section of the state has been more act- ive for forty years than the subject of this sketch. When a young man, he settled in the village where yesterday he died. He built a home and surrounded it with many friends, and still more, he established indus- tries through which others found employment and were benefited.
" David Dexter belonged to the class of men who are never idle- who know not the meaning of idleness. From early morning till the evening twilight for half a century this man was busy; always trying to accomplish something for somebody's good. Selfishness was also un- known to him. He was generous and kind, not only to those who needed help, but to all propositions that possessed the merit of public good. A few years since he was the principal mover in the erection of a church in his village, and since its completion his money chiefly maintained it. He was always willing and ready to do good to his fellow men, and many there are who will fondly recall his kind acts."
( VIII) Everett Augustus Dexter, eldest child of David and Maria (Hubbard) Dexter, was born Angust 3. 1836, in Orange, Massa- chusetts, and was a small child when his parents settled at Black River. He attended the public school of that village, and his father planned to send him to college. The son, however, preferred a business career, and was permitted to begin at an early age to work in the factory of his father. He worked his way through all departments of the work, and was master of its every detail. He became a partner with his father
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in 1864, and succeeded to the sole ownership in 1880. Soon after this he admitted his brother, Erwin D. Dexter, to partnership, and the busi- ness was conducted under the style of David Dexter's Sons. On ac- count of failing health. E. A. Dexter went to Colorado and California in 1889, and continued to reside there for three years. Returning to Black River, he passed away at his home there March 12, 1893.
A man of domestic tastes, Mr. Dexter preferred his home to the mar- ket place and he shunned public office, though a public-spirited citizen, and was widely respected as an upright man. He was a thorough be- liever in the principles of the Republican party, and sustained them with his influence at all times. He was a regular attendant of the local Methodist church, in which he was a trustee, and was a member of Wa- tertown Lodge No. 49, Free and Accepted Masons. A sound and in- corruptible business man, he never lost the respect and esteem of his contemporaries.
Mr. Dexter was married October 8. 1864. to Miss Martha Oakes, who was born May 18. 1840. at Antwerp. Jefferson county, a daugh- ter of George and Martha Green ( Choate) Oakes. The last named was a daughter of Isaac and Martha (Craig) Choate and a descendant of Robert and Sarah Choate, whose son, John Choate, was a pioneer set- tler of New England. He was baptized June 6, 1624, in Groton, Box- ford. Colchester. England, and resided with his wife, Anne (born 1637), in Chebacco, Massachusetts. He died there December 4, 1695, and was survived many years by his widow, who passed away February 16, 1727.
(JX) The only child of Everett A. and Martha (Oakes) Dexter is Carolyn Martha, who was born July 20, 1877. in Black River. For several years she has been a successful teacher, and is now employed in the public schools of Jamaica, Greater New York, where she resides, with her mother.
The esteem in which Mr. Dexter was held in the community is shown by the following extracts from an obituary published in the Wa- tertown Times and the resolutions adopted by his Masonic lodge, name- ly : " In 1839. when about three years of age, the subject of this sketch came with his parents from Massachusetts, to Black River, which he has seen grow from a small hamlet to a thriving manufacturing town. To this growth and to all that tended to the improvement of the village and its inhabitants Mr. Dexter was always ready to extend both moral and financial aid.
Simeon Sextre
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" Among the scores of employes in the factory many of whom had worked there a score of years, Mr. Dexter was uniformly loved and respected. * *
" A kind husband and father, a considerate employer, an upright business man and a public-spirited citizen, Mr. Dexter's death will, per- haps, he more widely felt than that of any other resident of the village who has passed away."
" Whereas, our earthly lodge has thus lost one who was dear to us. as a true and worthy friend, associate and brother, and the grand lodge above has gained another bright, immortal soul, therefore be it.
" Resloved, that our lodge be draped in the usual mourning, that a page in the book of minutes be set apart to perpetuate his name and memory, that these preambles and resolutions be published in the Daily Times, that a copy thereof be transmitted to the sorrowing relatives, and that while we mourn for one whom we dearly loved and tender to the hereaved ones our deep and sincere sympathy, in this hour of their afflic- tion, we humbly, devoutly and reverently bow to the inevitable laws of our Supreme Grand Master above, Who doeth all things well."
(VII) Simeon Dexter, seventh son and ninth child of Benjamin (3) Dexter, and eldest child of the latter's fourth wife, Frances Tuttle. was born August 30, 1822, in Orange, and grew up on his father's farm. By intelligent use of his opportunities, in the common schools of his native town, he was enabled to teach school, as a beginning in independ- ent effort. About the time of his majority, he suffered a fracture of his wrist, and soon after went to Boston, where he secured employment in a wholesale grocery establishment owned by an uncle. While there he dislocated the same wrist, while at work, and made a visit to his half brothers, David and Aaron, at Black River, while recovering the use of his arm. This was in 1844. The elder brother had established a chair factory, in which the second was employed, and to whose activity and usefulness much of the success of the enterprise was owing. Simeon decided to cast his lot with his brothers, and entered the employ of the elder in the shop, as soon as he was able to work. After a year he be- came a partner in the business, which was then conducted under the title of D. & S. Dexter until December 5. 1857. when Simeon sold out his interest. The factory at that time was located on the south side of the river, where Simeon lived. On the first of January, 1858. he moved to the north side, in the town of Leray, and began the manu- facture of a wire-tooth hay rake, which he continued until 1870. At the
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same time he managed the farm which he had purchased and on which he lived and maintained his shop. Most of his manufacturing was done in the winter, and chiefly by himself, and was made quite profitable. In 1870 Mr. Dexter went to Watertown, and purchased a half-interest in the Excelsior Mills, then owned by Moulton & Herrick, and the new firm became Dexter & Herrick. For five years this arrangement con- tinned, until failing health compelled Mr. Dexter to retire. In 1876 he returned to Black River and continued to reside there until his death, August 13. 1898, when his seventy-sixth year was almost completed. Upon the death of his younger son, he became part owner of the chair factory of the latter, but did not operate it.
About 1873. while residing in Watertown, Mr. Dexter united with the Arsenal Street Methodist church, in which he served for some time as steward. On returning to Black River he transferred his member- ship and was trustee and steward of the local church. In early life he acted politically with the Whig party, and he was a member of the Jef- ferson county convention in which the Republican party was locally organized, as colleague of his father-in-law, Phineas Hardy, and was ever after a loyal supporter of its principles. He did not desire to enter the public service, and avoided office-holding.
Mr. Dexter was married December 10. 1851. to Maria Hardy, third child and eldest daughter of Phineas and Sarah ( Howland) Hardy ( see Hardy, III). Two of their five children died in infancy. The sons are mentioned at length in later paragraphs. The third, Frances Sarah. born October 4, 1862, died February 12, 1885. unmarried.
Simeon Dexter was a man of unusual intelligence and grasp of affairs. He was an extensive reader, and his excellent memory enabled him to make use of his information. With native acumen, he arrived at sound conclusions, grasping details, without exhaustive examination, and was, therefore, very successful as a business man. His disposition was cheerful, and he was a pleasant companion and popular with all classes of people. His demise was mourned by all who knew him.
(VIII) Henry Clay Dexter, eldest son of Simeon and Maria ( Hardy) Dexter, was born May 4. 1858. in Black River, and was edu- cated at the Watertown public schools and Potsdam Normal School. On account of poor health in youth, he gave considerable time to study, and entered the employ of Poor. Dexter & Company, chair manufac- turers at Black River, on attaining his majority. His younger brother was a partner in this business, and his share of the management soon
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fell upon the elder, because of failing health of the other. On the fourth day of March, 1884. the elder brother became a partner and, a year later, the brothers bought out the other owners, Christopher Poor and Charles Wolf, and at once joined the owners of the waterpower, Daniel Hub- bard and Byron N. Scott, and occupied the north side shops. After one year. the Dexter brothers bought out the other two and continued the business of chair-making alone, under the name of Dexter & Company. After the death of the younger, the name was made H. C. Dexter Chair Company, under which title it was incorporated in 1890. On the 24th of November. 1894. the shop, which stood on the present site of the Un- ion School building, was destroyed by fire. A new building was erected on the north side of the river, and this was burned February 17. 1900. It was immediately rebuilt on a larger scale than before, and is now the scene of busy activity. A small part of the product is exported, but the larger portion is sent to the large cities, such as New York, Philadelphia, Boston and Pittsburgh.
Mr. Dexter is an active member of the Methodist church, having long been chairman of the board of stewards and president of the trus- tees. He has always fostered the public school system, and has had a large influence in the improvement of the schools of his native village. Soon after his election as school trustee, in 1892, he began an agitation of the plan of consolidation of school districts, on opposite sides of the river and in separate towns, and this was brought about in 1893. This was a stepping-stone toward the incorporation of the village, lying in two separate towns, and largely through the influence of Mr. Dexter this was consummated. Believing that his business holds the most im- portant demand upon his time, he avoids public office, but has served as water commissioner of the village. He is a successful business man and a well-wisher toward all the world.
Mr. Dexter was married January 21, 1885, to Clara L. Tisdale, daughter of Rev. William L. and Eunice Louise ( Morehouse) Tisdale, the latter now deceased. Mr. Tisdale is a member of the Central New York Methodist Conference, and has been stationed at various points in this section, according to the system of his church. He is of an old Canadian family, and one of his brothers has been many years a mem- ber of the Dominion parliament, having formerly been a member of the Governor-General's cabinet. Mrs. Tisdale was a daughter of Somers Morehouse, of Mexico. Oswego county. New York. The children of Henry C. and Clara L. Dexter are: Fanny Eunice, born June 10, 1887;
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William Charles, March 20, 1801 ; and Marion, March 24, 1902. The third died in infancy.
(VIII ) Charles Phineas Dexter, second son of Simeon and Maria (Hardy) Dexter, was born September 2, 1860, in Black River, and graduated from the Watertown high school in 1878. He taught school two years in Rutland and Leray, and in 1881 joined Charles Wolf in the purchase of the interest of David E. Dexter in the chair manufactur- ing business of Poor & Dexter. The business was then continued under the title of Poor. Dexter & Company, and Charles P. Dexter continued to be an owner, under various titles, until his death, May 3. 1886. As above related, he became joint owner with his elder brother of the entire plant in 1884. He possessed a rare capacity for business, and insti- tuted systems of business management which are still in use by his suc- cessors. Like his father, he had a strong grasp of details, and would have attained a high position in the business world, without doubt, had his life continued to the allotted time. His close application to business undermined his health, and he began to shift some of his cares to his brother by 1883. During the summer of the following year he remained in a sanitarium at Dansville, New York, and in the autumn went to San Antonio, Texas. After remaining there a year, he went to the highest alti- tude on the Southern Pacific railroad, at San Gorgonia, California, where his life passed out on the date above named. He became a member of the Methodist church early in life and, while in Texas, affiliated with the Methodist church South. He was small of stature, but great in soul and mind, and had a most cheerful disposition. Though he must have felt that death was near during his last years, he never complained and kept up a happy frame of mind. Fond of anecdote, he was a capital story-teller, and aided much in the cheer of any society in which he was placed. His death was a loss to the business community and to the life of his native place, both social and material.
BIBBINS. This is one of the old English names early planted in New England, where it appears under various spellings, such as " Bee- bins. Bibins, Bebins, Bibens, and Bibbens." It is among the pioneer names of Jefferson county and has been borne by some of its best citizens.
(I) Arthur Bibbins is of record as living in Glastonbury, Connecti- cut, in 1692, and became the possessor of lands there in 1696.
(II) Arthur, son of Arthur Bibbins (1), according to family
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tradition, came from Martha's Vineyard to Windham, Connecticut, where he died in 1788, at the great age of one hundred and two years. He was a member of the First Church at Windham.
(III) Samuel, son of Arthur Bibbins (2), removed to Hampton, Washington county, New York, in the earliest period of settlement there, prior to the Revolution.
(IV) Arthur, son of .Samuel Bibbins, was born at Hampton, and was an early resident of Saratoga county, whence he removed to Jeffer- son county, and where his son, Charles W., was born, as hereinafter noted.
SCUYLER HOSE BIBBINS, of the town of Watertown, a quiet. orderly and exemplary citizen, one of the nation's defenders in time of need. belongs to one of the oldest families of the county, and is descended from early New England ancestry.
(IV) Arthur Bibbins, an early resident of Rodman, was born in November, 1779, and resided in Saratoga county, this state, where he married Pamelia Hunt. She was born September, 1784. Soon after his marriage he located in Rodman, purchased land and cleared and tilled the same, dying there March 14, 1862. His widow survived him eighteen years, passing away March 8, 1880. He was a member of the Methodist church of Rodman, and was respected as a worthy citizen. His eldest child. Caroline, married Harry O. Moody, and lived at Pulaski, Oswego county, where she died. Harrison the third, married Ruth Smith, and lived and died in Rodman.
(V) Charles Woodworth Bibbins, elder son and second child of Arthur Bibbins, was born September 22, 1808, in Saratoga county, and was only a small child when his parents settled in Rodman. His educa- tion was such as the local schools provided, and his life was passed as a farmer in the town of Rodman, where he died March 3. 1885. He was an active member and liberal supporter of the Methodist church of his home town, and was captain of the local militia. During the Patriot war, he was stationed at French Creek, now Clayton, to preserve order. In early life a Whig, he continued to support his ideas and principles, as espoused by the Republican party.
Mr. Bibbins was married January 30, 1833, to Miss Harriet Faw- cett, who was born November 3, 1808, and died February 18, 1899. She was a daughter of John and Sally ( Nichols) Fawcett ( now called Fas- sett ). John Fawcett was born May 31, 1767, and died April 19, 1814. Sally Nichols was born January 1, 1775, and died June 18, 1856. The
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children of Charles Woodworth and Harriet ( Fawcett ) Bibbins are ac- counted for as follows, the first being the subject of the succeeding para- graph : Rose Ann. the second, born February 16, 1836, married Edward Calkins, and was the mother of one son, born April 16, 1871, Dr. Fred- erick Calkins, of Watertown. She died April 16, 1871. Martha Adelia, the third, was born January 18, 1838, married Chamberlain Phelps, and died April 12, 1868. She had one daughter. Harriet Adelaide.
(VI) Scuyler Hose Bibbins, eldest child and only son of Charles W. and Harriet Bibbins, was born November 4. 1833, on his father's farm in Rodman. He attended the public schools of his native town and of the city of Watertown, continuing in vacations to assist in the labors of the homestead. He remained as his father's aid at home until the firing on Fort Sumter aroused a desire to punish traitors, with him, as with thousands of other loyal American sons. As soon as the sea- son's crop was secured, he enlisted. November 12. 1861. as a private un- der Captain Harrison Bibbins, in Company F. Ninety-fourth Regiment, New York Volunteer Infantry, for three years. This organization served in the First Brigade, Second Division, Third Corps, Army of Virginia, and was subsequently part of the Second Brigade. Third Division, Fifth Corps. Mr. Bibbins participated in the following battles: Cedar Moun- tain. Virginia. August, 1862: Rappahannock River, August 21, 1862; Rappahannock Station. August 23. 1862; Thoroughfare Gap, August 28, 1862 ; second battle of Bull Run. August 30, 1862. In the last-named engagement he received a wound in the right leg. below the knee, by gunshot, the ball passing through the bone, and was taken to the Mount Pleasant Hospital, in Washington. As soon as recovered. he was trans- ferred to Company H, Eleventh Regiment. Volunteer Relief Corps, and served until honorably discharged January 18, 1865, near Washington. by reason of the approach of the end of hostilities. He was mustered ont as sergeant.
Returning to this county, he purchased a farm in the town of Wa- tertown, near Burrville, in the fall of 1865. and here he engaged in agri- culture for many years. At the present time he resides on a part of the farm, having sold the balance to a member of his family. He is a mem- ber of the State Street Methodist Episcopal church, of Watertown Grange No. 7. and of Jefferson County Pomona Grange, having been master of both. He has never sought political preferment, but ad- heres soundly to Republican principles, and has served as justice of the peace. as a matter of duty to the community.
Chan Missive Mas
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He was married September 26, 1865, to Louisa Mary Burnham. who was born September 20. 1840, in the house in which she now re- sides and in which she was married. She is a daughter of Nathaniel Nichols and Mary Florella (Leonard) Burnham, and granddaughter of Nathaniel Burnham, a son of Nathaniel (see Burnham). Mr. and Mrs. Bibbins are the parents of three children. The eldest. Dr. Charles Nathaniel, is mentioned at length elsewhere in this work. Mary Adelia. born November 15. 1869, was married February 7, 1887, to Fred Thurs- ton Mott, who resides on the Bibbin's homestead at Burrville, where he follows farming. Their children are: Earl Charles, born July 24. 1888; Evelyn Anna, May 25. 1890 (died July 6. 1890) ; Hubert Leslie. November 23. 1897. Harriet Ethel Bibbins, born June 16, 1876, was married July 3. 1891, to Franklin Pierce Baltz, and resides in New York city. She is the mother of Eleanor May Baltz, born July 22, 1902.
Mr. Bibbins and his wife reside in the Burnham home, which he purchased from his father-in-law, and are enjoying the repose and con- tent which come to those who have conformed, to the best of their ability, to the instructions of the Great Teacher of mankind. Mr. Bib- bins has not only endeavored to fulfill the dilties of a good citizen, but is among those who engaged amidst war's alarms in the defense of his nation's honor and integrity.
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