USA > New York > Jefferson County > Genealogical and family history of the county of Jefferson, New York, Volume II > Part 58
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Mr. Moore married in December. 1891. Frances P. Bigelow, daughter of the late La Fayette Bigelow, of Watertown, and two chil- dren were born to them: Louise and La Fayette. His wife is an act- ive member of the Baptist church of Malone.
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JAMES ARMSTRONG BLANCHARD, justice of the supreme court of the state of New York, is among the sons of Jefferson county who have done honor to their name and nativity. His family on his father's side is of French origin and came to America through Eng- land, whither many of the Huguenots fled from persecution in their native country.
Thomas Blanchard and Eliza, his wife, were residents of the parish of Berwick St. James, in Wiltshire, England, where they had a son born, whom they christened Thomas. The last named married Harriet Hibbard and resided in his native parish, where he was a farmer. He was much devoted to the church and composed music for its use.
Philip, son of Thomas and Harriet (Hibbard) Blanchard, was born September 9, 1796, in the same parish as his father, being the eldest child of his parents. At the age of sixteen years he enlisted as a member of a local military company, and was soon transferred to a Scotch regiment. This regiment was ordered to America during the war of 1812, and with it young Blanchard was stationed in Canada. After seven years of military service he was discharged and came at once to Jefferson county, and settled on a farm in the town of Hen- derson. Thence be removed in 1854 to Springvale, Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, where he died September 17, 1860, at the age of sixty-four years. He was a faithful member of the Protestant Epis- copal church, and acted with the Democratic party in political mat- ters. In his later years he opposed the aggressions of the slave power, and had he lived he would probably have voted for Abraham Lincoln in 1860.
Philip Blanchard married Catharine Drummond, a granddaugh- ter of John Drummond, who came from Scotland some time after the American revolution and purchased seven hundred acres of land in Henderson, then a pathless wilderness, having a mile of frontage on Lake Ontario. This land was subsequently divided between his two sons, John and Duncan, both of whom lived and died upon it. John Drummond returned to Scotland after his bride, Miss Catharine Bar- ric, a sister of Alexander Barrie, the noted educator and author of Edinburgh, and brought her to his home in Henderson in 1798. The Barries were substantial people of the Northern Kingdom, and Alex- ander left numerous bequests, including one of twenty-five sovereigns to sustain the spread of the gospel in the Gaelic language in Ireland. His brother William left fifteen pounds to his sister or her heirs in
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America. but it was never claimed. Catharine Drummond was the first child of John and Catharine ( Barrie) Drummond, and was born March 1, 1804. She survived her husband more than a quarter of a century, passing away in Springvale. October 17, 1887. Other chil- dren of John Drummond are accounted for as follows: John died at the age of twenty-four, unmarried. Christia married James Armstrong and died in Henderson, leaving children, Arthur and Sarah. Charles went to sea. married in Liverpool and settled in Williamsburg. New York, where he reared a large family and died. Sally married Morti- mer Main, and had a son Mortimer. After the death of her husband she married Mr. De Haven, who was the oldest Odd Fellow in the United States at the time of his death, in Monroe. Wisconsin. His widow now resides in Los Angeles, California, with her son Mortimer. Margaret Drummond married Allen Randall, of Clayton, and resided in Henderson for some years and then removed to Grand Ledge, Michigan, where she died. She left two children, Orcelia and Cynthia, both married and residing in Michigan.
Philip and Catharine ( Drummond) Blanchard had six children. Elizabeth, the eldest, taught school in Henderson, became the bride of Charles R. Penney, and now resides in Rosendale, Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin. George W. is a retired farmer residing in Tracy, Minne- sota. Catharine Marie married Fosdick C. Prouty, and died in Tracy in 1903. Levi Philip was a soldier of the Civil war in a Wisconsin regiment, and resides in Springvale, that state. Charles Drummond Blanchard, the fifth, is a large landholder and stock dealer at Mound City, South Dakota, and is now a member of the senate of that state.
James Armstrong Blanchard, youngest child of Philip and Cath- arine, was born August 16, 1845. in Henderson, and was in his ninth year when he went with his parents to Wisconsin. He attended the public schools until fifteen years old, and was early accustomed to labor in his own support. In the summer of 1864, before he was quite nineteen years old. he enlisted as a soldier in defense of his country's integrity, becoming a member of Company I, Second Regiment Wis- consin Cavalry. This organization saw much hard service in and about Vicksburg and Yazoo City, including two raids under Grierson between Memphis and Vicksburg. For twenty-six days it was contin- nously in the saddle, under General Osborne, in operations through northern Louisiana and southern Arkansas, returning to Memphis. It shared in the pursuit of the enemy from the vicinity of Memphis to
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Ripley, Mississippi, and in hunting guerrillas almost constantly. Un- dler General Custer it marched from Alexandria, Louisiana, to Austin, Texas, on the way to the Rio Grande. The approach of a large force of cavalry warned France that she must leave Mexico. Maximilian was left to his fate, and the army was discharged. Mr. Blanchard arrived home in December, 1865, much broken in health. He was al- ways a student, but it was decided that he must go into business in order to make his way in the world, and he gave up his ambition for a professional career. Some relatives who were engaged in the lumber business proposed to take him into it, but consented that he should at- tend school a short time, while recuperating his health, as a means of increasing his business efficiency.
In the spring of 1866 he entered Ripon College, not far from his home, and his attention to his studies and rapid progress and grasp of subjects attracted the attention of the president of the institution, who urged him to complete the college course. Acting upon this ad- vice he continued his studies privately during the summer, taking up the study of Latin. He next took up Greek, and by constant work during term time and vacations prepared for college and entered the freshman class in the fall of 1867. He worked upon the farm, canvassed for books and taught school, as a means of defraying ex- penses, and broke down during the sophomore year. By a short cessa- tion of study and return to farm life his strength was restored and he graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1871.
In the autumn of 1871 he came to New York and entered Colum- bia College Law School. reciting with both senior and junior classes. Again the lack of funds seemed to bar his progress, but in April. 1872, he secured a position as assistant teacher of one of the city schools, and kept up his law studies while teaching, and graduated with his class in 1873. He was admitted to the bar on May 18 of that year, and immediately entered upon a general practice of law. . After eight years of independent practice he became head of the law firm of Blan- chard, Gay & Phelps, which was very successful and widely known during its fifteen years of continuance. being dissolved in February, 1896. In 1899 Mr. Blanchard was appointed a judge of the court of general sessions by Governor Roosevelt. This appointment was made to fill a vacancy, and Judge Blanchard was a candidate for election to the same position in the following autumn, but suffered defeat in com- men with the Republican ticket of the city of New York. In 1895,
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he was appointed by the supreme court one of three commissioners. and made chairman of the board. to condemn right of way and com- plete arrangements for the construction of the Grand Boulevard and Concourse, from One Hundred and Sixty-first street to Mosholu Park- way, and this work consumed about five years. In August, 1900, he was appointed a justice of the supreme court of the state of New York, and was elected to the same position for a term of fourteen years on the fusion ticket in November, 1901. This service is now being ful- filled with honor and credit to the incumbent and the state of his na- tivity.
Justice Blanchard is a member of the Republican Association of New York city, and one of those who joined in 1879 (the year of its inception ) the Republican Club, of which he was president in 1802. For many years he was the executive member of his district. In 1887 the Republican Club organized a committee for the formation of a national league of Republican clubs. This was composed of Joseph Pool, Henry Gleason, Joseph Ullman, Edward T. Bartlett and Mr. Blanchard. They arranged the convention held December 15, 16 and 17, 1887, in Chicker- ing Hall, resulting in the formation of the Republican League of the United States, which became a powerful factor in controlling elections in the country. Upon the organization Mr. Blanchard was made vice- president for New York, and subsequently member of the executive committee for New York and chairman of the sub-executive commit- tee at the national headquarters, which position he held for five years. He was one of the committee of thirty to reorganize the Republican party in New York city in 1891, and in 1894 was a member of the committee of seventy which brought about the election of Mayor Strong. For many years he was an active member of the Bar Associa- tion, of which he became an honorary member upon the elevation to the bench. Justice Blanchard accepts the faith of the Presbyterian church, of which he is a supporter, and is a member of Kane Lodge, F. and A. M .. of La Fayette Post, G. A. R., and the Liederkranz, Un- ion League and other clubs.
He was married May 5, 1881, to Sallie Medbery, who was born at the summer home of her parents near New Bedford, Massachusetts. She is a daughter of Thomas Medbery and Elizabeth Jencks Arming- ton, both of Massachusetts, and is descended through her paternal line from Roger Williams, the founder of Rhode Island and the president of that colony 1654-57, and on the maternal line from Joseph Jencks,
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who was royal charter governor of Rhode Island 1727-32, and grand- son of Joseph Jencks, who founded Lynn, Massachusetts, in 1640.
Justice and Mrs. Blanchard have a son, Medbery Blanchard, now a member of the senior class in Harvard University.
EDWARD GRANT BALTZ. a successful son of a successful citi- zen of Jefferson county, is deserving of mention among those who have gone out and made a place for themselves in the world. He was born December 10. 1868, in Watertown, a son of Andrew P. Baltz, who is still in business in that city.
Philip, son of Andre Baltz. was born in 1814, in the village Hesse- Darmstadt, Germany. where he was reared and learned the printer's trade. In 1832 he came to the United States and immediately settled in the town of Orleans. Jefferson county, New York. where he engaged in farming with success. He died there December 21, 1852, at the early age of thirty-eight years. He was married in 1833 to Elizabeth Dorr, who was born in Hawitzheim, Hesse-Darmstadt. Germany, and died in 1884. She was a daughter of Valentine and Elizabeth ( Haller) Dorr. Her children are four in number. The eldest. Andrew P., re- ceives further mention below. George F. is a resident of Lafargeville, New York. August lives at Battle Creek, Michigan, and Elizabeth, wife of George Brumm. at Nashville. Berrien county. Michigan.
.Andrew Philip Baltz, son of . Philip and Elizabeth (Dorr) Baltz. was born December 7. 1837, in the town of Orleans, where he grew up on a farm and attended the district school. Upon attaining his major- ity he engaged in the manufacture of limburger cheese, being a pioneer in that line in northern New York, and continued successfully for ten years. The business grew, and he sold in one year product to the amount of one hundred and thirty thousand dollars in value. In 1868 he sold out and moved to Watertown, where he engaged in the retail grocery business and is still carrying on a thriving trade. He was married in 1859 to Miss Elizabeth Haas, who was born in the town of Clayton and died in 1883. She was the mother of six children. noted as follows : Sarah J., wife of Frank Schryver. and resides in Omar. George H. and William .1. are citizens of Watertown. Edward G. is mentioned at length in this article. Frederick W. lives in Toledo, Ohio, and Maud L., Mrs. Howard E. Reed, at Fisher's Landing. Mr. Baltz married (second) in 1884. Mary Collis, who was born July 4. 1848, in Oneida county, and is still living. Her only child, John C. Baltz. died in 1893. aged seven years.
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Edward G. Baltz grew up in Watertown and graduated at the high school of that city in 1888. He subsequently studied shorthand at Chaffee's Shorthand School in Oswego, and perfected himself in stenog- raphy, after which he was employed one year by a music house in Bur- lington, Vermont. Having acquired a knowledge of business and a practical experience in office work, and being ambitions for a wider field of endeavor, he went to New York city in March, 1890, and imme- diately took a position in the office of " The Iron Age." a journal de- voted to the interests of the hardware trade. This connection continued two years, at the end of which time he found opportunity for promo- tion and has been associate editor of the Hardware Dealers' Magazine for the last ten years. While industrious in literary labors, Mr. Baltz has given some attention to business propositions, and is now treasurer and general manager of The Columbia Skirt Company of New York, a successful manufacturing concern. Patient attention to the business in hand at all times won for him advancement, brought to him friends, and has made him a successful business man.
Mr. Baltz makes his home in that part of Brooklyn, Greater New York, known as Flatbush, where he is well known and respected. He attends the Methodist church, is a member of the Theodore Roosevelt Republican Club, the Knickerbocker Field Club of Brooklyn, and of Anglo-Saxon Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons. He takes an act- ive and intelligent interest in the progress of events. He has been candidate for state senator and other positions on the Prohibition ticket, and has acted as Secretary of the Excutive Committee of Kings county for some time.
He was married October 21, 1894. to Miss Ida Smith, who was born in New York and was early left an orphan. She died January 5, 1902, leaving a daughter Ruth Gladys, born January 6. 1896. An- other daughter. Aleine Elizabeth, died at the age of five weeks. Mr. Baltz was married at Watertown, March 30, 1903, to Miss Anna Klock, daughter of Milton R. Klock, of that city. There is a daughter of the second marriage. named Doris Gertrude, born January 7. 1904.
WARREN WALLACE JOHNSON, a prominent farmer of the town of Rutland, was prominently identified with the business inter- ests of the county for many years, and was highly respected as a citi- zen. He was a scion of a colonial family, and exemplified in his ca-
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reer the traits which enabled the Puritan fathers to establish a civiliza- tion in the wilderness inhabited by savages.
(I) Thomas, Robert and William Johnson came to American shores in 1633, and two of them were among the pioneers at New Haven, Connecticut. Thomas settled there in 1638, and was drowned in the harbor two years later. He came from Kingston-upon-Hull, in Yorkshire, England. After his death, his widow, Helena, married Arthur Bostwick, of Stratford, same colony. He left four sons: Will- iam, Thomas, Daniel and Jeremiah.
(II) William Johnson, son of Thomas, was born in 1629, at Kingston, England, and died in 1702, at New Haven. He was a deacon of the Church at Guilford, and married, in 1651, Elizabeth, daughter of Francis Bushnell, of Saybrook, Connecticut.
(III) Jacob, son of Deacon William Johnson, was born Septem- ber 25, 1674. and died July 17. 1749, in Wallingford, Connecticut. In 1736 he represented that town as deputy to the General Court. De- cember 14. 1693. he married Abigail Hitchcock, born April 10, 1674, and daughter of John and Abigail ( Merriman) Hitchcock.
(IV) Captain Abner Johnson, son of Jacob, was born August 12. 1702, in Wallingford. and died there December 28, 1754. He was married December 14. 1726, to Charity, daughter of Isaac Dayton, and great-granddaughter of Ralph Dayton, the colonist. Abner Johnson was appointed captain of the first train band of Wallingford in May, 1749.
(V) Jacob Johnson, of Torringford. Litchfield county. Connecti- cut. was born July 21. 1742, in Wallingford, Connecticut, and died June 10, 1816, at Kingsboro, New York. He served seven years as a soldier of the Revolution, from 1776 to 1783, in Colonel Brooks' Seventh Massachusetts Regiment. That part of Wallingford in which he was born is now in Cheshire, Connecticut, and there he married Esther, daughter of Stephen and Thankful (Cook) Hotchkiss. She was born June 3. 1750, and died November 1, 1839, and both are buried in the old cemetery at Cheshire village.
(VI) James Johnson was a native of Connecticut, and spent most of his life at Oppenheim, where he kept a hotel and operated a farm in connection, according to a general custom of his time. He (lied about 1840, at the home of his son in Rutland. His wife, Lydia Gere, survived him several years, passing away at the home of her daughter in Rutland, in 1848. They had six children. of whom two
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sons died young. Beside Orrin, a daughter, wife of Daniel Shaffer, lived in Rutland, on a farm adjoining that of Mr. Johnson.
(VII) Orrin Johnson was born October 3, 1802, at Oppenheim. He succeeded his father in the management of the farm and hotel, which he continued until 1834, in which year he removed to the town of Rutland, in this county. He purchased a farm of one hundred and six acres on the State Road, less than a mile from the western line of the town, and devoted himself to its tillage until near the end of his life. when he was succeeded by his son, Warren. He was a member of the Arsenal Street Methodist church, of Watertown, until the organ- ization of the State Street church, when he became one of the char- ter members, continuing a faithful attendant as long as he was able. He served his town as commissioner of highways and also as assessor. After the organization of the Republican party, he sustained it by voice and vote. Of quiet, modest tastes, he did not court public popularity, but pursued an upright and temperate life, worthy of emulation by those who came after him. \ most charitable man, he was wont to aid the widow and the fatherless, and many still survive who call him blessed.
Orrin Johnson was married in 1822, to Hettie Wight, daughter of Abner and Betsey ( Hooper) Wight. She was born December 2, 1803, in the same locality as her husband. Abner Wight's mother lived to be in her one hundredth year. Hettie ( Wight) Johnson lived to be over ninety-four years old, dying December 8, 1897. In speaking of her, after her death, one of her neighbors said: " Mrs. Johnson was an exceptionally intelligent and observing lady. She was a lifelong member of the Methodist church, a student of the Bible, an intense believer in the principles of Christianity, which, in everyday life and thought, she practiced in letter and spirit. Her disposition was ex- ceedingly sunny, and she made happy all who came within her influence. Her married life was ever happy. No dishonorable act can be traced to any whose principles and life were associated by blood and relation to her. She was respected and loved by all. The wonderful length of years which blessed her is a convincing evidence of the value of virtue and devotion to duty in life. A life so useful, so true in every relation, is an inspiration and strengthening to moral sentiments of all. She lived a life worthy of living, and died in the joy of knowing that all human hearts brought near to her loved her." She was con- fined to her bed only two days before her death, and predicted that
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event on the day preceding it. Mr. Johnson passed away January 4. 1888, in his eighty-sixth year.
Their family included six children: Mary, the eldest, died before the family left Fulton county. Warren W. was the second. Harriet, born July 10, 1828, became the wife of Israel Robinson, and died No- vember 1, 1883. on State street, Watertown. George, the fourth, died at the age of four years. Julia, born March 8. 1836, married Newell H. Winslow, and died January 1, 1904, in the city of Watertown. Oscar is now a resident of Rutland. occupying the homestead of his father.
(VIII) Warren Wallace Jolinson, son of Orrin and Hettie (Wight) Johnson, was born February 1. 1826, in Oppenheim, and em- bodied the sturdy virtues of piety, industry and probity for which the pioneer settlers of the New England States were noted. He grew up and was educated in Rutland, having the benefit of good district schools, and becoming early familiar with the duties of a farmer. Upon his marriage, he bought a farm adjoining his father's, and upon suc- ceeding to the paternal homestead, cultivated about one hundred and sixty acres. A progressive farmer, he was among the first to introduce Holstein cattle in the county, and the first in his town, purchasing reg- istered stock in Erie. Pennsylvania. He was a charter member and for some years vice president of the Jefferson County Dairy Board of Trade, and acted sixteen years as salesman for the East Watertown cheese factory. At one time, he sought to resign, on account of his ad- vancing years, but his resignation was not accepted. and he was pre- sented by his fellows with a handsome ebony cane, with gold head, suit- ably engraved. This was of great use to him, as he was a heavy man, weighing usually two hundred and twenty pounds. He resembled his father much in character and disposition, and was well known for his kindness and liberality. He was a faithful member of the State Street Methodist church throughout his life, and a consistent supporter of the principles of the Republican party. He served one term as town assessor and several as highway commissioner. His death occurred June 8, 1896, at his home in Rutland.
Mr. Johnson was married June 5. 1849. to Miss Charlotte Pierce Scott, daughter of Henry Scott. of Rutland (see Scott-V). Two chil- dren came of this union, namely: Ella L. and Sherman W. The former is the widow of George H. Austin, of Watertown, and the lat- ter is engaged in the builders' supply trade in the same city. Since
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the death of her husband, Mrs. Johnson has made her home in Water- town. The death of her granddaughter, Edith Austin, wife of Charles D. Riggs, of Watertown, which took place January 1, 1904, at the age of thirty years, was a severe shock to Mrs. Johnson, but she finds some comfort in caring for Mrs. Riggs' daughter, Aileen Louise, who was born July 18, 1901.
(IX) Sherman Warren Johnson, second child and only son of W. W. Johnson, was born October 24, 1853, on his father's farm in Rutland. He received a thoroughly practical education at the district schools and under private instructors. In the meantime he had been trained to habits of industry, and was accustomed to bear his share in the labors of the home farm. Soon after attaining his majority, De- cember 24, 1874, he purchased the homestead farm of his father, and here he successfully pursued agriculture for a period of twenty-four years. Like his father before him he was considered one of the most substantial dairy farmers of the town and county. He removed to Watertown in 1899, and has since been engaged as a wholesale and re- tail dealer in lime and cement. He has extensive yards on Court street, adjoining the railroad tracks, and does an extensive business through- out northern New York. He takes an intelligent interest in public af- fairs, is earnest in the desire for the progress and welfare of his county, state and nation, and acts politically with the Republican party. He has refused to be a candidate for political honors, and has devoted him- self to business pursuits exclusively. He is a member of the State Street church, and of the Watertown Grange. both relations extending over about twenty years, having been trustee of the church some years.
Mr. Johnson was married December 24, 1874, to Miss Kate A., daughter of the late Major James B. Campbell, of Rutland. She was born August 19, 1853, in Pamelia.
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