USA > New York > Jefferson County > Genealogical and family history of the county of Jefferson, New York, Volume II > Part 66
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On attaining his majority, Mr. York went to Sherburn, Chenango county, and opened a general store in partnership with Elwood R. Fail- ing of Leraysville. For four years they conducted a successful busi- ness, under the style of York & Failing, after which Mr. York sold out to his partner and went to New York city in 1889. Here he engaged in the insurance business, going out as special agent for the Merchants' Casualty Company, appointing local agents, and continued this connec- tion three years. He traveled one year in the same capacity for the People's Mutual Accident Company of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and was then two years with the Guaranty and Accident Lloyd's. This con- cern was reorganized by the same owners in May, 1895. as the United States Casualty Company, and since that time Mr. York has been in charge of the personal accident and health departments. This is one of the successful insurance organizations of New York, and Mr. York has
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contributed in no small degree to its prosperity, by his diligent efforts and conservative management.
With his family, Mr. York resides at Cranford, New Jersey, and is a vestryman of Trinity ( Protestant Episcopal) church of that place. Ile is also affiliated with the Masonic order there, and is a member of the Cranford Casino, a social organization. Since the formation of thie Jefferson County Society in New York, Mr. York has been its cor- responding secretary and his enthusiasm has been a potent influence in its upbuilding. Of genial and kindly disposition, suave and courteous of manner, he is a valuable adjunct to any undertaking which he may espouse.
Leslie C. York was married December 21, 1892, to Elizabeth Fail- ing Reade, who was born in Redwood, daughter of Joseph W. and Ellen M. (Failing) Reade, natives of Jefferson county. Two children complete the home circle of Mr. York, namely: Natalie Louise and Marguerite Reade.
IVILL ROSWELL PORTER, representative of the eighth gener- ation of the Porter family, whose prominent historical connections in Jefferson county and elsewhere in the northeastern states have been set forth on other pages, was the youngest son of Ora B. and Caroline E. (Gibson) Porter, and was born May 12, 1868, at Norwood, New York, where he grew to be fourteen years of age, in the meantime receiving tuition in the public schools. After a short stay at West Camden, he went to Theresa, and was employed in a chair factory there for several years. During this time, he attended Ives Seminary, at Antwerp, and thus completed his education, so far as schools were concerned. He has, however, been a student all his life, and is among the well-informed men of his day. He has perfected himself in mechanical drawing and engi- neering, largely through private study in connection with the practical training of the workshop. The plant in which he was employed at Theresa was destroyed by fire and he was thus thrown out of employ- ment, being at the time foreman of a department. In 1891 Mr. Por- ter went to Watertown, and was employed nearly five years by the New York Air Brake Company. Here some of his hardest work was done. Starting in a subordinate position, his persistent study and application to the work in hand advanced him steadily until he was qualified for a superintending position. Being ambitious, he soon found an engagement with the Barnes Cycle Company at Syracuse, where he was in charge of
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the tool room three years. Subsequently he was superintendent of a de- partment in the factory of the Smith-Premier typewriter works at Syra- cuse. After a short time with the Russell & Erwin Manufacuring Com- pany at New Britain, Connecticut, he went to Prince's Bay, Staten Island, in 1902, to take the position of assistant master mechanic of the S. S. White Dental Manufacturing Company, the largest maker of den- tal instruments in the world. Here Mr. Porter finds field for the exer- cise of his talents, in the production of the finest tools made anywhere. He is an active member of the Methodist church, being now superin- endent of the local Sunday school, and usually acts politically with the Republicans, though somewhat independent of partisan direction, especially in local matters.
Mr. Porter was married June 11, 1889, at Theresa, to Miss Della Devendorf, who was born May 7, 1871, in Theresa, a daughter of Wil- lard L. and Nancy E. (Stearns) Devendorf, the latter a daughter of Ly- man Stearns (see Stearns, VII). Mr. and Mrs. Porter lost their first child, Gage, at the age of sixteen months. They have a daughter, Esther Irene, born March 6, 1899.
The Devendorf family is of early origin in New York, having descended from four brothers who came from Holland and settled in Herkimer county. The name has several forms in use among its bear- ers, but all are supposed to be descendants of one or the other of these four brothers. Abram Devendorf came to Pamelia Four Corners when a young man and was there married, March 4, 1845, to Alvira Mat- toon. Two children were born to them in Pamelia, namely : Willard L., January 3, 1846, and Matilda, May 23, 1847. Both are now living.
Willard L. Devendorf was a soldier of the Civil war, serving from August 23, 1862, to June 17, 1865, in Company C., First New York Light Artillery. He was married December 24, 1866, to Nancy E. Stearns, who was born March 28, 1842, and they now reside in Theresa (see Stearns, VII). Four of their six children are living, namely : Della D., wife of W. R. Porter, as above noted; Sallie S., Mrs. C. P. Barber, residing in Schenectady, New York; Willard L., Jr., of Syra- cuse, and Grace N., with her parents in Theresa.
STEARNS. This name is among those earliest planted in Jef- ferson county, and comes down through a long line of New England ancestry, bringing those qualities of patience, industry and strong phys- ical makeup essential in a pioneer. It is not necessary to remind those
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acquainted with its representatives that the stern virtue of the Puri- tans also came with these pioneers to Jefferson county.
(I) Isaac Stearns, the immigrant ancestor of the family, em- barked in the ship Arabella from Nayland, England, April 12. 1630, accompanied by his wife, Mary, and two daughters, Mary and Ann. Among their fellow voyagers were Governor Winthrop, Sir Richard Saltonstall, and Edward: Garfield, ancestor of the martyr president. Mr. Stearns settled in Watertown, Massachusetts, and was among the first freemen established there, in 1631. He was selectman several years, and died June 19, 1671, being survived nearly six years by his wife, who passed away April 2, 1677. Beside the children above named. they had John, Isaac, Sarah, Samuel, Elizabeth and Abigail-the first of these said to have been born in England.
(II) Samuel, sixth child and third son of Isaac and Mary Stearns, was born April 24, 1638, in Watertown, where he passed his life, dying August 3, 1683, in his forty-sixth year. He was married February 1, 1663, to Hannah Manning, who was born June 21, 1642, a daughter of William and Dorothy Manning. Mr. Stearns and wife were the parents of ten children, namely : Samuel, Hannah, Nathaniel, Sarah, Samuel (2), Isaac, John, Margaret, Abigail and Joseph.
(III) John, seventh child and fifth son of Sammuel and Hannalı (Manning) Stearns, was born June 24, 1677, and succeeded to the paternal homestead, where he died in 1729. He was married February 21, 1701, to Abigail, daughter of John and Abigail ( Parks) Fiske. She was born June 12, 1684, and survived her husband until 1735. Their fifteen children were named as follows: John, Josiah, Joseph, Abigail, Rev. David, Thomas, James, Hannah, Benjamin, Peter, William, Lydia, James (2), Lois and Abijah. The last was a colonel in the Revolution- ary army.
(IV) John Stearns (2), son of John (1) and Abigail (Fiske) Stearns, was born October 14, 1704, in Watertown, and died April 1 I, 1756, in Westminster, Massachusetts. He was married February 15, 1725, to Anna Coolidge, who was born July 23, 1706, daughter of Deacon John and Margaret (Bond) Coolidge. They lived in Water- town until 1741, when they settled in Westminster. They were the parents of seven children.
(V) Aaron Stearns, son of John (2) and Anna (Coolidge) Stearns, was born February 2, 1746, in Westminster, Massachusetts. He was married in Lancaster, Massachusetts, February 6, 1766, to
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Esther Glazier, daughter of John and Esther Glazier, of Lancaster. She was born April 24, 1743, and died in 1820, in Langdon, New Hampshire. With Colonel Benjamin Bellows, Mr. Stearns moved to Walpole, New Hampshire, and owned an excellent farm in the fertile valley of Walpole. In the Revolution he served in Captain Christopher Webber's company, of Colonel David Hobart's regiment, from July 21 to September 22, 1777, and was in the hottest part of the fight at the battle of Bennington. Late in life he moved to Langdon, New Hampshire, where he died September 11, 1807. He was the father of eight children. Jesse, the eklest, lived in Walpole, Langdon and Grafton, Vermont, and died on the old homestead in Walpole. He was lame and was a shoemaker, and had ten children. Levi receives further notice below. Lydia married Jonathan Martin, of Bradford, Vermont, and died childless. Zenas was a clothier in Newbury, Vermont, and died in Corinth, that state. Esther was the wife of Simeon Mead, of Langdon, New Hampshire. John lived in Utica, New York, and had nine children. Aaron and Rhoda were twins, the former dying in infancy. The latter married Joseph Brockway and settled in Canada.
(VI) Levi, second son and child of Aaron and Esther (Glazier) Stearns, was born December 29, 1767, in Walpole, New Hampshire, and married Eunice Hill of Ackworth, New Hampshire. She died before 1798, and on February 18, 1798, he married Keziah Wetherbee. She was born September 27, 1774, in Lunenburg, Massachusetts, a daughter of Ephraim and Keziah Wetherbee, and was the mother of eleven children. There was one child of the first marriage, namely, John Glazier Stearns, born 1795. He died about 1870, in Utica, New York. Levi Stearns was a pioneer settler at Felt's Mills, Jefferson county, locating there previous to 1809, and was a soldier in the war of 1812. He died November 15, 1857, in Theresa.
(VII) Lyman, son of Levi and Keziah (Wetherbee) Stearns, was born February 19, 1809, at Felt's Mills, and died May 24, 1887, in Theresa. He was married July 18, 1830, at West Theresa, to Sallie Mason. They had eight children, all born in Theresa, only three of whom left descendants. Julia Maria married Daniel Ladd and died in Theresa in 1899. Nancy E. is the wife of Willard L. Devendorf, of Theresa (see Porter, VIII). John G. was born May 11, 1835, married Angeline R. Herrick, and left two sons who are still living, namely : Egbert and Fred, farmers residing at Redwood and Felt's Mills. John G. Stearns enlisted late in the Civil war and died December 6, 1864, from illness contracted in the military service.
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NOADIAH HUBBARD (5). eldest child and son of Noadiah and Phoebe ( Fairchild) Hubbard (geneaology given elsewhere), was born October 11, 1765, in Middletown. The first husband and the eldest son of his mother were lost at sea, and, after making a few voyages to the West Indies, he gave up his inclination for the sea, at her urgent request. He spent several winters at Guilford, Connecticut, learning the cloth- dresser's trade, and attending evening school in the meantime. By this means he was well equipped for the part he subsequently played in the development of Jefferson county.
In 1791 he left the paternal home and went to Whitestown, New York, and there burned the first kiln of brick and also the first lime made at that point. In the autumn of the same year, he bought fifty acres of land, on which the York mills subsequently stood. The two succeeding winters were spent in working at his trade in Little Falls, the summers being devoted to his land. The task of clearing this was a severe one, and he soon made up his mind that he could make more with his brain than by manual labor. He sold out his improvements (his first specula-' tion) and moved to the town of Steuben, in Oneida county, where he was a neighbor of Baron Steuben. In 1793 he took a contract for the construction of canal locks at Little Falls, and went to Middletown, his native place, and brought back men, oxen and tools for the work, and was the first to break ground on the first canal in the state. Several summers were devoted to the farm in Steuben, until 1797, when he was induced by Lemuel Storrs to accompany the latter to the Black river country on a tour of exploration. Receiving an offer of two thousand acres at half price, as an inducement to settle on the lands owned by Storrs & Cham- pion, and act as agent for the sale of their holdings, Mr. Hubbard ac- cepted, and made some improvements during the next two years. Having produced some crops in the summer of 1799, he brought his family in November of that year and occupied the bark cabin which he had pro- vided. This was near the center of the present town of Champion, and here a village grew up around Mr. Hubbard. Through the failure of Mr. Storrs, the original agreement was abrogated, but Mr. Hubbard received a deed of one hundred acres, in return for five hundred dollars which he had paid on account. He continued to act as agent for subse- quent owners, and was thus engaged through most of his active life. He was instrumental in securing most of the improvements made in the com- munity, and was active in public affairs. Ile acted many times as super- visor, was an officer in the war of 1812, and was appointed judge in 1813,
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being ever after known by the title of Judge. He was actively interested in the organization and maintenance of the County Agricultural Society, the second in the state. At his own expense he erected a church building at Champion village, expecting to be reimbursed by the sale of pews, but this hope was never fully realized. He also built schoolhouses, and at the age of eighty-four years constructed the plank road from Great Bend to Copenhagen, a distance of eleven miles. He was interested in the mer- cantile business almost from the time of location here, but was never active in its management, beyond an occasional trip to wholesale centers to buy goods. He was a man of great industry and executive ability, and was universally respected.
On his first social visit to his native place, in the winter of 1793-4. he was married, January 30, 1794, to his faithful sweetheart, Eunice Ward, a comely maiden, who thereafter shared his labors, pioneer priva- tions and triumphs. They were the parents of eleven children, of whom nine grew to maturity. The great soul of Noadiah Hubbard passed out of his body June 12, 1859, and his beloved wife preceded him to the better land by nearly ten years, dying November 3, 1849. Of their chil- dren, the following brief account is given : 1. Hiram, born October 30, 1794, died April 6, 1888. 2. An infant, born and died August 18, 1795. 3. Ward, born September 26, 1796, died March 13, 1890. 4. Horace, born September 1, 1799, died March 10, 1863, not married. 5. Maria, born May 23, 1802, died March 28, 1839. 6. Cornelia, born October 4, 1804. died November 17, 1885. 7. Mary Ann, born August 16, 1806, died 1891 (see Sherman, X). 8. Augustus, first, born October 24, 1808, (lied 1810. 9. Parnelle Fairchild, born March 27, 1811, died March 21, 1897. not married. 10. Augustus, second, born January 5, 1813, died October 16, 1838, not married. 11. Frederick William, born June II, 1815, died September 28, 1882.
(VI) Frederick W. Hubbard, youngest child of Judge Noadiah Hubbard, of Champion, decided upon a legal career and read law in the offices of Lansing and Sherman, his brothers-in-law, and was ad- mitted to the bar in 1838. He formed a co-partnership with his cousin, J. H. Dutton, and conducted business for several years under the firm name of Hubbard & Dutton. and later with his nephew, Stephen J. IFubbard. He was a man of strict integrity and high moral character, and was very successful in his profession. He was elected a justice of the supreme court. and on January 1, 1852, took his seat upon the bench for eight years. During this time the politics of the county changed and
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he was succeeded by Hon. Joseph Mullin. He resumed the practice of his profession, and conducted an extensive and profitable business until his death. A year or two prior to his death Mr. Hubbard removed his business offices to New York city, where he passed away September 28, 1882.
He was married January 16, 1840.
ANDREW J. MOORE, an enterprising attorney of New York city, with offices at No. 302 Broadway, was born in Adams, Jefferson county, New York, in October, 18449. He was a son of Joel Moore, a native of Saratoga county, and Marinda Holloway, a native of Jefferson county, New York, the daughter of Samuel Holloway, a native of England, and a successful and enterprising farmer.
Joel Moore had a strong liking for farming and followed agricul- tural pursuits all his life. Ile married Marinda Holloway, and they were the parents of five children. Andrew J. is the only one surviving. The death of Joel Moore occurred in 1869, and that of his wife in 1888.
Andrew Joel Moore obtained his early education in the district schools of Jefferson county, and also attended a private school in Water- town, conducted by Professor Horace Otis. He decided upon a legal course, and upon the close of his studies took up the study of the law, reading in the office of Messrs. Moore and MeCartin, and was admitted to the bar in 1873, at the city of Oswego, New York. Ile entered upon the practice of his profession in Watertown, and for some years was a member of the firm of Whiting and Moore. During this period he took an active part in public affairs, and served as a member of the board of aldermen of the city of Watertown under the administration of Mayor Porter.
Seeking a broader field of effort, in 1883 Mr. Moore, with his brother Anson B. Moore (who for many years had been a practicing attorney in the city of Watertown and a member of the firm of Moore and MeCartin), removed to the city of New York and there engaged in practice with his brother as one of the firm of Moore and Moore. This arrangement existed until the death of his brother in 1891, since which time Mr. Moore has conducted a general practice alone.
Recognized as an industrious and capable practitioner, he has drawn to himself the patronage of a large and influential clientage, and has cared for legal interests of the first importance.
Politically Mr. Moore is a Democrat of the old school. He is a
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member of the Jefferson County Society. He is president and treasurer of the "AAmusement Racing Railway Company," incorporated under the laws of the state of New Jersey. The business of the company is the use of electrically operated cars on parallel tracks, which pass and re- pass each other, and this is considered one of the most novel and at- tractive inventions ever brought to the attention of the amusement-seeking public, and as a remunerative device has no equal. With Mr. Moore as president and controlling director, and with the financial advisory assistance of prominent and well known New York business men, the AAmusement Racing Railway Company cannot but prove a great success.
Mr. Moore is also one of the directors of the "Midway Construction Company," a corporation organized for the purpose of promoting and building amusement devices. He is also secretary and treasurer of the "Syndicate Construction Company," organized for the purpose of build- ing steel structures in the city of New York.
In October, 1883, Mr. Moore was united in marriage with Miss Helen Banister, the daughter of Wayne Banister, a prominent merchant and business man in the city of Watertown for more than a half century. Two children, Minola and Zylphia Helen, have been born to them, the former having died at the age of four years.
CALVIN MARTIUS CLEMONS, a successful farmer of Cham- pion, is a native of this county, born October 18, 1845, in the town of Lyme. His parents, Henry and Rachel ( Brothers) Clemons, were natives of this state, the former born at Johnstown. His grandfather, John Clemons, lived all his life in the Mohawk valley, and two of his sons are now living, namely: Henry, of Watertown, and Oliver, of Lyme.
Henry Clemons came to Lyme before 1840, and subsequently lived in Pamelia. Most of his life has been spent as a farm laborer, until old age prevented further activity, and he now resides with his children in Watertown. His wife died about 1893. She was a daughter of John Brothers, an early settler of this county, and was probably born here. She was a member of the Methodist church, with whose faith her hus- band coincides. In politics he has always been a Democrat. Of their children, five sons and two daughters grew to maturity. William, the eldest, and Sarah, the second, reside in Watertown. Calvin M., the third, is mentioned below. John contracted mountain fever while serving as a soldier in the Civil war, and died in 1864, on the day following his
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arrival at home. George is a citizen of Watertown, Edmund of Chicago, Illinois, and Alvira Jackson, a widow, living in Watertown.
Calvin M. Clemons grew up in Lyme, and received a meager educa- tion in the district school at Three Mile Bay. Ile was early introduced to hard labor, and was employed as a farm laborer, continuing to reside with his parents until twenty-six years old. Before he was of age, he purchased a farm in the town of Pinckney, Lewis county, and disposed of it after holding three years. For some time he was employed as a laborer at Watertown, and saved his earnings, so that he was able to acquire an interest in a good farm.
In March, 1872, in partnership with William E. Williams, he pur- chased his present farm, north of Champion "Huddle," on which he con- tinued to reside for the ensuing three years. At the end of this period, he sold his interest, and spent the next three years on a rented farm in the town of Rutland. In 1879 he was obliged to resume his interest in the farm, on account of the failure of the purchaser in paying for same, and he then purchased the interest of his father-in-law, and has since been sole owner and tiller of the farm, which consists of one hun- dred and fifty-two acres and is among the best in the town. Mr. Clemons produces some grain for the market and usually maintains a dairy of eighteen to twenty cows. He is an industrious and progressive farmer, and enjoys the proceeds of perseverance and thrift. He is a member of the Methodist church at Champion, and supports the Prohibition party in politics, and has never sought or desired public office.
Mr. Clemons was married January 16, 1872, to Miss Sarah Will- iams, who was born September 9, 1851, in Manchester, England. Her parents, William E. and Mary Williams, were natives of Wales, and came to America in 1857. They first located in Lewis county and later removed to Watertown, in this county, where they died. Mr. and Mrs. Clemons lost one child when about one year old. The living are: Helen Alena, wife of William Freichel, living in Oswego, New York, Evan Henry and Rachel, residing with their parents.
In 1864 Mr. Clemons enlisted in Company H. One Hundred and Eighty-sixth Regiment. New York Volunteers, and served nine months. The only severe engagement in which this regiment participated was at he capture of Petersburg, in April, 1865. Though he received no wound, Mr. Clemons is a sufferer from rheumatism. as a result of exposure in the service.
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CLARK. Those of this name in Jefferson county have been men of probity and intelligence, and have borne an important part in the clearing of the wilderness and the development of civilization. Not all appear to be of one family, but it is probable that a successful tracing of their ancestors would lead to one common parent in the dim past of the colonial period.
(I) Among the early English immigrants is found record of John Clark, who settled in Middletown, Connecticut, and later removed to the adjoining town of Haddam, where his descendants are still numerous. His son, William ( IF), was born there in 1651, and died in 1688. ( HHI) Nathaniel, son of William, was the father of Jabez (IV), who was born in Haddam in 1717, and died in Chatham, April 25. 1765. He set- tled in Chatham about 1742, locating on what is still known as Clark's Hill.
(IV) Five brothers, William, Aaron, Moses, Ebenezer and John Clark, received a grant of land in the northern part of the town of Chat- ham, in consideration of their building the first bridge over Little River in Middletown. Of the last two little is known, except that Ebenezer moved to New York, in which state he died. All were born in Middle- town. Moses was born in 1718, and died October 12, 1801; Aaron, born in 1721, died in 1800. William, the eldest, was born in 1713, and died September 26, 1812, almost one hundred years okl. After the grant of land was made to the five brothers, William settled upon it, and chiefly supported his family by hunting and fishing. By trade he was a shoe- maker. His wife, Mary, was born in 1721, and died February 18, 1797. They had two sons, Stephen and Samuel.
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