USA > New York > Jefferson County > Genealogical and family history of the county of Jefferson, New York, Volume II > Part 54
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Edward M. Winslow, father of these children, died January 4. 1903, at the advanced age of eighty-seven years. His wife, Mary Ann Winslow, survives him and resides in Depauville, New York.
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FRANCIS G. DAVIS. Among those residents of Watertown who are at the same time typical business men and representative citi- zens, is Francis G. Davis. Mr. Davis belongs to an old New England family which has given to the community many useful and public-spirited citizens.
His father, Rev. Elnathan Davis, was born in Holden, Massachu- setts. in 1809. He received his early education in that place, and after- ward entered and graduated from Williams College. and also the Hart- ford Theological Seminary. His first field of labor was in Indiana, in the early 'Jos, afterward returning to his native state, where he preached the Gospel for over forty years. He married in 1846 Miss Mary A. White, of Boylston, Massachusetts. He died in 1881, and his widow survived him eighteen years, passing away at the age of eighty- six.
Francis G. Davis was born in 1851 in Boylston, Massachusetts, and received his early education in Worcester county, and entered the School of Technology in Worcester, taking the course of mechanical engineering. After leaving this school he spent considerable time in Kansas in the early 'zos and also in the government employ in Wash- ington, D. C., and soon afterward started in the carriage business in Massachusetts. He afterward was connected with the Studebaker Brothers Manufacturing Company, of South Bend. Indiana, leaving there in 1884 and removing to Watertown, New York, taking the position of general superintendent of the H. H. Babcock Company, which position he still occupies. This company, which has a world- wide reputation, was founded in 1845 by H. H. Babcock, who is now the president. For a number of years the energies of the firm were devoted to the manufacture of different articles, but in 1880 the mak- ing of fine carriages became its principal mission. The factory is one of the largest of the kind in the United States, and its machinery and all of its appointments are of the best and most advanced order. Within the last twenty years its output has nearly trebled, amounting now to about seven thousand carriages per year. The factory gives employ- ment to upward of 300 employes.
Mr. Davis married. in June. 1878, Caroline E. Goss, of Worcester, Massachusetts, and two daughters have been born to them, both of whom reside at home: Alice M., who was born in July. 1879. and Grace .A., who was born in April. 1883. Mrs. Davis is a daughter of William Goss, of Worcester, Massachusetts. His wife, who was
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Mary Hallett, was born in 1820 in St. Johnsbury, Vermont. Mrs. Davis's venerable father and mother are still living, the former hav- ing attained to the age of eighty-seven, and the latter eighty-three years.
FRANK D. PIERCE. It is not always that political influence is acquired and maintained by the union of incorruptible integrity with genial manners and genuine kindness of heart. That such is the case with Frank D. Pierce, of Watertown, the whole county would abtin- dantly testify. Mr. Pierce comes of pioneer and Revolutionary stock. His paternal ancestors were residents of Vermont, some of them hav- ing served with Stark and the Green Mountain Boys in the struggle for independence. His maternal grandfather, Samuel Shelley, took part in the battle of Sackets Harhor, and it is said was the first man to carry to Kingston the news that peace had been declared. He was one of the pioneers of Brownville, where he settled about 1804 and took up a farm of 160 acres. He built a grist mill on the east side of the river, where a bridge then stood, a short distance below the pres- ent bridge. He was the father of a large family, and his character was in all respects such as to command the highest esteem of his neighbors.
Frank D. Pierce, son of De Forest and Mariette ( Shelley ) Pierce. was born in Jefferson county, his boyhood being passed in Dexter, where he was taught the lessons of frugality and perseverance that have been a help to him through life. During the Civil war he offered his services as a soldier in the Union army, but much to his regret was turned away from the recruiting station as too young. He was at one time a merchant in Brownville, and is one of the directors of the National Bank and Loan Company. He was chosen several times town clerk of the town of Brownville, and in 1882, 1883 and 1884 was elected supervisor of the town, being the youngest member of the board, and also the youngest man ever elected from that town to fill that responsible position. It is worthy of note as an indication of Mr. Pierce's popularity that when in 1891 he received the nomination for county clerk it was without a dissenting voice. He was elected by a majority of about two thousand and was twice re-elected, filling the office with much honor to himself and universal satisfaction to his con- stituients. In politics he has always been a Republican, casting his first presidential vote for U. S. Grant when the latter was nominated for his second term. In October, 1893, he was elected president of the Lincoln League, the leading Republican organization of the county.
Mr. Pierce has a family of two sons and three daughters.
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CHARLES E. PIERCE, M. D. Among those members of the medical profession of Jefferson county who are distinguished for unit- ing in their practice enlightened progress with a spirit of strict investi- gation is Dr. Charles E. Pierce, of Watertown. He is of Scotch-Irish ancestry, his progenitors on the paternal side having settled in Ver- mont, where some of them served under General Stark in the Revolu- tionary army. De Forest Pierce married Mariette, daughter of Samuel Shelley, who was one of the pioneers of Brownville and served as a soldier in the war of 1812. Their son. Frank D. Pierce, is to-day one of Jefferson county's most respected and popular citizens. A sketch of his career will be found elsewhere on these pages.
Charles E. Pierce, a son of Frank D. Pierce, was born February 18. 1872, at Limerick. in Jefferson county, and received his education at Dexter. Adams and Oswego, supplementing the instruction received at those places with a special course under tutors. He was for three years employed as stenographer and bookkeeper by the Bagley & Se- wall Manufacturing Company, of Watertown, but never lost sight of his ultimate purpose, which was to enter the ranks of the medical profession. In 1897 he received from Bellevue Hospital Medical Col- lege the degree of Doctor of Medicine, graduating second in a class of 166, and receiving a prize of $100 and an appointment to Bellevue Hospital, and immediately after graduation was appointed resident surgeon in Bellevue Hospital, a position which he held for two years. In 1900 he took up his abode in Watertown and became a member of the well known medical firm of Spencer. Bibbins & Pierce, the last mentioned name being added when he was received as a partner. He is engaged in general practice, but does most of the accident surgery for the many large corporations located at Watertown and vicinity. He held at one time the appointment of visiting surgeon to the Jeffer- son County Orphan Asylum, and now holds the same position at the Watertown City Hospital. He is one of the lecturers at the City Hos- pital Training School for Nurses. Dr. Pierce is a member of the Jef- ferson County Medical Society and the City Medical Society, New York Medical Association and American Medical Association and Alumni Society of Bellevue Hospital. He belongs to the Masonic fra- ternity, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Modern Wood- men. Knights of Pythias, and other organizations of a like nature, to many of which he has been appointed physician. He is a member of
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the Lincoln League, which sufficiently indicates his Republican prin- ciples.
Dr. Pierce married. in 1901. Elizabeth A., daughter of Charles W. Sloat (see Sloat), of Watertown, and they are the parents of one boy, who bears the name of Gerald S .: and a girl. Carolyn Elizabeth.
ELY. This is among the earliest names of Jefferson county, as well as of the United States, and it is honorably associated with leading events throughout this country. Its bearers have filled efficiently re- sponsible official stations and have borne 10 mean part in social and business life.
(I) The American ancestor was Richard Ely, who came from Plymouth, England, to Boston, Massachusetts, in 1660, accompanied by his second son. Richard. He was a widower at this time, and his elder son William was then in the West Indies, probably with an uncle, James Ely, a wealthy planter. While residing in Boston, Richard Ely married the widow of John Cullick, one of the magistrates of the general court at Hartford, and who was a sister of Colonel Fenwick. This Fenwick came from England to take charge of the lands of Lords Say and Brook in Connecticut, and was himself a large landowner. It was probably this fact that led Richard Ely to settle in Connecticut. Two years after his marriage we find him at Lyme. Connecticut, where he was joined by his son William, then a lad of fifteen years. Here Richard owned three thousand acres of land, which included what are still known as the "Ely meadows," "Ely ferry " and "Ely graveyard." On at- taining their majority Richard's sons received deeds from the town of one thousand three hundred acres adjoining their father's estate. At this time Richard. senior. paid one-sixth of the town tax. Some of these lands are still in the Ely family. Richard survived his wife about one year and died November 24. 1684. His body was deposited in the "Ely graveyard" at North Lyme.
( II) William, elder son of Richard Ely, was born 1647 in Eng- land, and died 1717. He was judge of New London county court. His wife. Elizabeth Smith, hore him the following children: Richard. Elizabeth (died in infancy). Mary, Daniel, William, Deborah, Johanna and Joseph.
(III) Richard, eldest son and child of William and Elizabeth ( Smith ) Ely, was born 1690 in Lyme, and died 1767. He held a military commission in the French war and also at the siege of Louisburg in
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1745, and was thereafter called "Captain Richard," to distinguish him from his cousin. Deacon Richard Ely. In 1714. he married Ruamah Thompson, who was born in 1693. and died before 1730. In the last named year, he married Margaret Olcott, of Hartford, who was born in 1705. and was the mother of nine of his children. Including four by his first wife, his children were: William, Joseph, Richard. Simon, Ruamah, Margaret, Cullick, Elisha, Molly, Lucretia, Adriel, Sarah and Deborah.
(IV) Adriel, youngest son and eleventh child of Captain Richard and Margaret (Olcott) Ely, was born .April 11, 1744, in Lyme. Connec- ticut, where he died December 13. 1829, and was buried in the "Ely graveyard." He was married November 14, 1780. to Sarah, daughter of Jacob Stow, of Saybrook, Connecticut. She died September 17, 1796. aged forty-two years. Mr. Ely was sergeant in Captain Joseph Jewett's company which marched from Lyme in April, 1775, for the relief of Boston. He was subsequently lieutenant in Captain Martin Kirtland's company, of Colonel Erastus Wolcott's regiment, as shown by the mus- ter roll preserved at New London. A contemporary said of him: "He was a man of commanding stature, forceful character and high standing as a citizen." His children were: Horace, Betsey, Sumner. William Stow and Adriel.
(V) Adriel, fourth son and youngest child of Adriel and Sarah ( Stow) Ely, was born February 9, 1791, in Lyme, came to Watertown, New York. in 1814 and died there April 20, 1859. He was married December 28. 1826, to Evelina, daughter of Judge Jabez and Hannah ( Hungerford) Foster (see Hungerford and Foster). She survived her husband over four years, dying August 14, 1863.
Mr. Ely was among the most upright and respected citizens of Watertown, where he was active in all that contributed to the social, moral and material welfare of the town and village. An attendant of the Presbyterian church, he set an example of life worthy of emulation. He conducted a successful general mercantile business, and served as supervisor, also filling other positions of value in the community. He engaged in manufacturing and was also active as an attorney de facto for the prosecution of pension claims. He had a well equipped legal mind. excellent judgment, strong character and progressive spirit. As supervisor he was chiefly instrumental in erecting the county house. He prospered in business and thereby was enabled to give liberally of his incans to laudable objects. In politics he was a Whig until the disrup-
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tion of his party, when he became a Democrat. Four of his seven children are now living. Harriet Foster, the eldest. was the wife of Charles Richardson, of Renova, Pennsylvania, who was for many years a naval officer. She survived her husband several years. Evelina died in 1846, aged seventeen years, and Elvira in 1835, in infancy. Foster re- ceives further mention in the following paragraphs, as does Frederick Gustavus. Gertrude Sumner is the wife of George W. Knowlton ( see Knowlton. VIII). Theodore Newel is also mentioned at length herein- after.
(VI) Foster Ely was born in Watertown, New York, May 21. 1836, the eldest son of Adriel and Evelina ( Foster ) Ely. As prepara- tory to entering Hamilton College, he attended Sand Lake Academy, near Troy. New York. From his alma mater he received the degrees of B. A., M. A., and ( 1878) S. T. D. In 1859 he graduated at the New York State Law School, and the following year was admitted to the bar of Mississippi as attorney-at-law.
During the Civil war he served as soldier, and subsequently as chaplain in the Confederate States army. He was with the command of General Robert E. Lee during the "Seven Days' Battle," and at Mal- vern Hill, Virginia, was wounded. He was ordained deacon in the Methodist Episcopal church, and assigned as chaplain to the military posts at Richmond. Rome, Atlanta, Montgomery and Mobile. May 2, 186.1, he was ordained to the diaconate of the American Episcopal church and. on being stationed at Mobile, Alabama, became curate of St. John's Church. In 1866 he assumed a similar relation to Calvary Church, New York city, and during that year, having been advanced by Bishop Horatio Potter to the priesthood became rector of the Church of the Holy Spirit. Kingston. New York. Resigning three years later he made a long and extended European tour, and during the summer of 1870 he had as locum-tenens, charge of Holy Trinity Church, Paris, France. On his return, he became rector of St. Paul's Church, Newport. Kentucky, and as such was mainly instrumental in erecting a sumptuous stone edifice, in reference to which the presiding bishop said he "might well regard it as his monument." December, 1875, he assumed the rector- ship of Grace church, Lockport, New York, and after serving this large and prosperous parish for a decade, he resigned in order to have needed rest. March 1, 1889. he accepted a call to the old historic parish of Ridgefield. Connecticut, of which he is still rector.
Dr. Ely has published from time to time, sermons and addresses,
77
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and written many miscellaneous articles for the press. By the way of recreation he has for many years made numismatics his special study, and is a permanent corresponding member of the American Numismatic and Archaeological Society. Masonry has also long claimed his atten- tions, especially its higher and philosophical degrees and orders. He is not only a Knight Templar, but belongs to the New York City Consis- tory, and as a thirty-third degree Mason is a member of the Supreme Council. His Greek letter society is the Chi Psi, and his alpha the Phi of Hamilton College. In politics he has been, since 1888, a Republican.
Dr. Ely has been married twice: First in 1873, to Sarah Olive (Ely) Brewster, widow of Samuel C. Brewster. of Syracuse, New York. Sarah Olive was the daughter of William Horace Ely, eldest son of Horace Ely, who was brother of Adriel Ely, of Watertown. Her mother was Mary Coffeen Ely, daughter of George Brown. Sarah Olive was born in Brownville, New York, in 1831, and died July 1. 1884. She was a forceful and terse writer for the press, composed poems of special merit, and was a social leader. By her personal influence she founded an important public charity in Syracuse. New York, where she resided the greater part of her adult life. Rev. Dr. Ely, in 1888, married Harriette Ruth, daughter of James G. Brown, of New Haven, Connecticut, and his wife, Harriet Susan, who was a daughter of George Brown. The last named was a counsin of Major-General Jacob Brown, for thirty-six years postmaster at Brownville, and also for nearly a decade judge of court of Jefferson county.
(VI) Frederick Gustavus Ely, second son and fifth child of Adriel and Evelina (Foster) Ely, was born .August 2, 1838, in Watertown, where he grew up and received his primary education in the public schools this being supplemented by a short season at Sand Lake Academy. At the age of seventeen, he began his business career as a clerk in his father's store at Watertown, where he rapidly acquired a knowledge of human nature and of business methods. Subsequently he became clerk in a bank, and was, later, teller and bookkeeper in the Jefferson County Bank. For a time he was associated with Levi .A. Johnson in the cloth- ing and dry goods trade at Watertown, and went to Chicago in 1872. For sixteen years he remained there as cashier and clerk in a manufact- uring establishment, and moved thence to New York city in 1888. Here he engaged in the railway supply business, and soon developed a talent for large operations. He was one of the organizers of the American Pressed Steel Car Company, of which he is a director and general salesman.
Theonly
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Mr. Ely is possessed of the qualities which secure and retain friend- ships, and is popular in many associations, both business and social in nature. He is a member of the Engineers' and Lawyers' Clubs of New York, of the Columbian Yacht Club, New York Athletic Club, of several railroad clubs and the Duquesne Club of Pittsburg. He was one of the organizers of Grace (now Saint Paul's) Protestant Episcopal Church of Watertown, and is now a member of Saint Stephen's of Manhattan Borough. He has steadfastly held to Democratic principles in politics, but has never sought official honors. He became a Master Mason in Watertown Lodge, in which he still retains affiliation.
Mr. Ely was married September 12, 1867, to Matilda C. Boyer. who was born at Evans Mills, New York, a daughter of Judge Joseph and Roxana (Howland) Boyer. One son has been born of this mar- riage, namely, Sumner Boyer Ely, now chief engineer of the American Sheet and Tin Plate Company, of Pittsburg. He married Mary Updike, of that city. and has two children-Esther and Frederick.
(VII) Theodore Newel Ely, youngest son of AAdriel and Eve- lina (Foster) Ely, was born June 23, 1846, in Watertown, where he grew up and remained until he attained his majority, with the excep- tion of time spent in school. His primary education was provided in private schools. and Jefferson County Institute at Watertown. An apt and industrious student, he was able to enter Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute at Troy in the second year of its course. and graduated in 1866, as civil engineer, before he was twenty years of age. He found employment immediately as an engineer at Fort Pitt foundry, Pitts- burg, Pennsylvania, in experimenting with projectiles under General Rodman. In 1867 he was engaged in operating coal mines in the Mo- nongahela river district. He was employed in the engineering depart- ment of the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad in 1868 and was soon after appointed assistant engineer of the Philadelphia & Erie Railroad, a division of the Pennsylvania Railroad. In 1869 and 1870 he was superintendent of the middle division of that line and, from 1870 to 1873, was assistant general superintendent of the entire division ( Philadelphia & Erie), and during the next two years was its super- intendent of motive power. From 1874 to 1882 he occupied a similar position on the Pennsylvania Railroad division, and from 1882 to March, 1893, was general superintendent of motive power on the entire system east of Pittsburg and Erie. Since March, 1893, he has been chief of motive power of the entire Pennsylvania Railroad lines, his
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whole railroad career having been in the interest of one great railroad system. In fact, it may be said with truth that the pre-eminence of that system, in operation, safety and equipment, is due to its continual selec- tion of the best men to be found and, therefore, Mr. Ely may be ranked among the foremost railroad men of today. This fact is indicated by his frequent selection as representative of the Pennsylvania Railroad on important public occasions, such as the recent International Railway Congress, in which he took an active and influential part.
His standing in the world of railroad operation is indicated fur- ther by the fact that he is a valued member of numerous engineering societies, including the American Society of Civil Engineers, the Insti- tution of Civil Engineers (of England). American Society of Mechan- ical Engineers, American Institute of Mining Engineers, and the Frank- lin Institute. Mr. Ely is not alone an engineer, but a cultivated gentle- man, a patron of art and leader in the world of thought and progress. He is a member of the American Philosophical Society, American Asso- ciation for the Advancement of Science, and other technical and scien- tific societies, and an honorary member of the American Institute of Architects. He is president of the Eastern Railroad Association, and a member of the executive committee of the American Railway Asso- ciation, and of the permanent commission of the International Railway Congress.
It is not alone in railroad operation that Mr. Ely is known to the business world, but he is also conspicuous in independent endeavor, be- ing a member of the executive committee of the Pennsylvania Steel Company and Cambria Steel Company.
His home is at Bryn Mawr, one of the most beautiful and aristo- cratic suburbs of Philadelphia, and he is known in the best circles of social and moral endeavor of his vicinity. He is a trustee of the Drexel Institute of Art, Science and Industry, and of the Philadelphia Com- mercial Museum. His interest in the higher and purifying influences of life is shown in his membership in the American Academy in Rome, of which he is vice president. The honorary degree of Master of Arts was conferred upon Mr. Ely by Yale University in 1897. and that of Doctor of Science by Hamilton College in 1904. He is a member of the Church of the Redeemer at Bryn Mawr and, while not a politician, adheres to the principles of the Democratic party.
Mr. Ely was married May 19, 1874, to Henrietta Brandes, who was born December 6, 1846, in Erie, Pennsylvania, daughter of Charles
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and Katharine ( Schenck) Brandes, of German birth. Mrs. Ely passed away June 13. 1880, leaving four children, namely: Katrina Brandes Ely, born March 25. 1875: Gertrude Sumner Ely, horn September 20, 1876: Carl Brandes Ely, born January 30, 1879: Henrietta Brandes Ely, born June 9. 1880.
Katrina Brandes Ely married. June 24, 1901. Charles L. Tiffany. second son of Louis C. Tiffany of New York.
Carl Brandes Ely married, November 13. 1904. Elizabeth T. Hotchkiss, daughter of Henry L. Hotchkiss of New Haven, Connecti- cut.
Mr. Ely was married March 23. 1886, to Susanna Marie Wier- man, daughter of Thomas T. and Emilie ( Piolet ) Wierman, in Harris- burg. Pennsylvania.
JOHN M. CARPENTER. a prominent and representative citi- zen of Watertown. Jefferson county, New York, and serving in the capacity of secretary and treasurer of the Excelsior Carriage Com- pany of Watertown, is a man of large acquaintance and popularity, and his accurate judgment of men and affairs makes his counsel of value in all important movements. He has taken a foremost place in business circles, and the success he has achieved has been secured by his own judicious management and forethought. He is a native of Water- town, New York, the date of his birth being November 15, 1833. Tra- dition says that the family was established in America by three brothers who came from England about 1620. His great-grandfather was Cal- vin Carpenter; his grandfather was William Carpenter, a native of Rhode Island, and of English descent : and his father was Milton Car- penter.
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