USA > New York > Jefferson County > Genealogical and family history of the county of Jefferson, New York, Volume II > Part 8
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Mr. Adams was united in marriage September 29, 1892, to Char- lotte Grennell, daughter of George J. and Flavilla Diana Grennell, and they are the parents of one child, Leland W. Adams, born June 29, 1894.
ISAAC PROCTER POWERS. Among the old residents and honored citizens of Watertown Isaac Procter Powers holds a foremost place. He comes of both old and new English ancestry, the founder of the family having emigrated from the mother country to the New England on this side of the sea.
Leonard Powers was born in Proctersville, Vermont, whence lie moved to St. Lawrence county, New York. His calling was that of a farmer. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, serving at Sackett's Harbor. He was an active member of the Universalist church, in which he held the office of trustee. He married Diadence, daughter of Cald- well, a member of a family which had furnished soldiers to the patriot army of the Revolution. Mr. and Mrs. Powers were the parents of four children, only one of whom is now living: Isaac Procter, men- tioned at length hereinafter. The death of Mr. Powers occurred in 1883. He was a man whose character commanded the respect and con- ficence of all.
Isaac Procter Powers, son of Leonard and Diadence (Caldwell) Powers, was born September 6, 1826, in St. Lawrence county, New
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York, and received his education in the common schools. On complet- ing his course of study he was for a time a teacher at Carthage and Denmark, where he was also engaged in mercantile business. In Jan- tary, 1852, he came to Watertown and was for many years numbered among the successful and respected merchants of the city. Sixteen years ago he opened a book store, which he conducted for a considerable period with the most satisfactory results. He was one of the incor- porators of the Watertown Steam Engine Company, of which he is now a director. The leading position which this company has always held and its increasingly flourishing condition is a sufficient testimony to the wisdom and good management of its incorporators and officers. Mr. Powers was one of the first trustees of the City National Bank of Watertown and a director of the National Union Bank, of which he is now vice-president. He is also a director in the Watertown Carriage Company. Mr. Powers recently retired from active business, trans- ferring his book store to his son-in-law, and the establishment is now conducted under the proprietorship of E. N. Smith & Company. Mr. Powers has been for fifty years a member of the time-honored Masonic fraternity and is also connected with the I. O. O. F. He attends the First Presbyterian church.
Mr. Powers married Lorenda L., daughter of Francis R. Lamon, a member of one of the old families of Watertown. The marriage took place in 1858. and three children were born to them, only one of whom is now living: Alice, who is the wife of Edward N. Smith, a prominent lawyer of Watertown. Mr. Powers is now enjoying the fruits of a useful and well spent life, happy in the affection of his family and the sincere respect and friendship of his neighbors and townsmen.
JOSEPH MULLIN. With the country at large, and more partic- ularly with the inhabitants of the state of New York, the name of Joseph Mullin, father and son, is synonymous with legal acumen, far-sighted statesmanship, and all the qualifications, both intellectual and moral, which go to the making of an honorable public record.
The Mullin family is of Scotch ancestry, and remarkable for mental culture and attainments. John Mullin, father of Joseph Mullin, senior, was born in Ireland about the middle of the eighteenth century and dur- ing the greater part of his life was engaged in the work of an educator. He was a Presbyterian, and in 1808. while engaged as a teacher, estab- lished the first Sunday school in his district, in which in course of time
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two thousand children received instruction. In 1815 Mr. Mullin, who was then principal of a school, resigned his position and five years later emigrated to the United States. He was accompanied by his whole fam- ily with the exception of one son, Andrew, who succeeded his father in the principalship of the school and became a noted educator. Mr. Mul- lin settled in Watertown, New York, where he passed the remainder of his life. His wife was Martha Bodel, and they were the parents of eleven children, all of whom became useful citizens and rendered good service to the land of their adoption.
Joseph Mullin, youngest child of John and Martha Mullin, was born August 6, 1811, in Dromore, County Down, Ireland, and was about nine years old when brought by his parents to America. He attended the common schools and for a time worked in a printing office, but sub- sequently attended Umon Academy at Belleville. Here he was prepared for college under the able preceptorship of Charles Avery, who was then principal of the academy. In 1831 he entered the junior class of Union College and in 1833 graduated with honor. For three years thereafter he was principal of Union Academy and was for a time teacher at the Watertown Academy. Meanwhile he read law with the Hon. T. C. Chittenden until 1835, when he came to Watertown as principal of the academy and thenceforth studied in the office of Sterling & Bronson, of which firm he became a member when admitted to practice in 1837. After a time he began to practice alone and at once took rank with the tblest younger members of the county bar, but speedily rose to a position of commanding influence in the profession in northern New York. In 1845 he formed a partnership with John P. Brown, a former student in his office, the connection being dissolved in 1847 by the death of Mr. Brown. In the autumn following, Lawrence J. Goodale became his part- ner and at the end of five years was succeeded by Milton H. Merwin.
In October, 1841, Mr. Mullin was appointed examiner of chancery, supreme court commissioner and commissioner in bankruptcy under the bankrupt act. In 1843 he was elected by the Democrats district attorney for Jefferson county, an office which he held until 1845. In 1846 he was elected member of congress serving until 1849. In 1857 he was elected by the Republicans justice of the supreme court for the fifth judicial district of New York state, and in 1865 and 1873 was re- elected without opposition. In 1870 he was appointed by the governor presiding justice of the general term for the fourth judicial district, and was re-appointed after his last election in 1873. Having attained his
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seventieth year, Judge Mullin was retired from the bench December 31, 1881, having served long and faithfully in public office and enjoying the admiration and esteem of the profession throughout the state. In addi- tion to the offices in which he had actually served, he was. in January, 1864, ex-officio a member of the court of appeals. The high regard in which he was held, not only as a member of the legal profession, but as a man of letters, is evident from the fact that he received from the trus- tees of Hamilton College and also from those of Union College the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws.
Arduous and engrossing as were Judge Mullin's professional duties, and unremitting as was the attention he bestowed upon them, he yet found time to take an active part in local affairs, and in 1853 and 1854 served as president of the village of Watertown. He was one of the incorporators of the A. B. Cleveland Seed Company, and was the first president of the Watertown Cemetery Association. He shared fully the interest in educational work so characteristic of all his family, and was one of the first trustees of the Adams Collegiate Institute. From the time of the incorporation of the Young Men's Christian Association he was intimately identified with it, serving on the first board of officers as corresponding secretary, and delivering the introductory address at the first meeting held after its organization. He was also one of those prom- inently connected with the Factory Square Lyceum.
Judge Mullin married, in January, 1839. Lydia M., daughter of the Hon. Egbert Ten Eyck, of Watertown, for many years one of the judges of the court of common pleas of Jefferson county. Judge Mul- lin and his wife were the parents of five children, all of whom proved themselves worthy of their ancestry. Judge Mullin died in June, 1882, at Saratoga, but his remains were interred in Watertown, of which city for more than half a century he had been an honored citizen. He left behind him the memory of an able lawyer, an incorruptible judge, and a man truly admirable in all the relations of life.
Anthony Ten Eyck Mullin, elder son of Joseph and Lydia M. Mul- lin, was born January 24, 1841, in Watertown, and died very suddenly, at the home of his father, in that city, September 21, 1877. With a thorough course in the schools of his native city, he entered the Rensse- laer Polytechnic Institute at Troy, New York, from which he graduated in June, 1861. In August of the same year, he entered the United States navy as third assistant engineer. He went at once on board the Harriet Lane, and participated in the attacks upon the forts below New Orleans
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and the capture of that city, under Admiral Farragut. He was also in the terrific battle of Galveston, firing the last gun on the Harriet Lane before her capture by the Confederates, and being one of only two officers of the ship who escaped injury. His bravery on this occasion elicited high praise. After being paroled he walked, with others, from Houston to New Orleans, and thence went to his home for a short visit. Being ordered to the Agawam, he was one of the three officers of that vessel who grounded an old vessel. heavily loaded with powder, under the walls of Fort Fisher one dark night and fired it, in the effort to blow up the fort, es- caping upon a launch. All the officers were promoted for this act. After the war Mr. Mullin spent three years in the cruise of the Hartford, and a like period on board the Plymouth, in European waters. Stationed on special duty at New Orleans for a time, he was ordered to the Rich- mond, on which he spent two years along the South American coasts. On his arrival at Boston he was placed in charge of his department for a few days and arrived at home on the morning of the day before his death. While seated with the family. in the evening, he fell back in his chair and ceased to breathe. He had made no complaint and seemed in the best of health, and his demise was a great shock to his family and the community. In speaking of the event the Watertown Times said: "Mr. Mullin's death is a great bereavement to his family and friends, and a great loss to the service, of which he was a valuable member. He was a kind son, a good friend, and a prompt, brave and capable officer. He was exceedingly popular among his brother officers and friends here, and his sudden death will be keenly felt by all."
After Mr. Mullin's death a letter was received from S. D. Hib- bard, Chief Engineer, U. S. N., commander of the Richmond, whose assistant Mr. Mullin was, stating that he had just written to Secretary of the Navy Thompson, recommending him to the favorable considera- tion of the department for promotion.
Joseph Mullin, son of Joseph and Lydia M. (Ten Eyck) Mullin, was born May 29, 1848, in Watertown, and received his primary edu- cation in the public schools of his birthplace. He afterward attended the Troy Polytechnic Institute, where he graduated with honor. He adopted as his lifework the profession in which his father had achieved distinc- tion, and it was in the office of the latter that the son's preliminary legal studies were pursued. They were continued in the office of Judge M. H. Merwin, and at an early age Mr. Mullin was admitted to the bar. that event taking place in 1871. He was for a time associated in prac-
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tice with Judge Merwin, in 1876 formed a partnership with the Hon. Daniel G. Griffin, and the firm of Mullin & Griffin became rapidly influential in the practice of the law. Mr. Mullin was appointed attor- ney of the New York Central Railroad for the Rome, Watertown & Ogdensburg system. He was a director in the Watertown National Bank, the Farmers' National Bank of Adams, the Ontario Paper Com- pany, and the Watertown Street Railway Company.
Mr. Mullin was always an active Republican, served as chairman of the Republican county committee, and was a delegate to the Repub- lican national convention in 1888. In 1891 he was elected to the state senate from the twenty-first district, comprising the counties of Oswego. St. Lawrence and Jefferson. He was re-elected to the senate in 1893 under the new apportionment, in which Jefferson, Oswego and Lewis counties were grouped, and in 1895 he was again re-elected under the later apportionment which made the district to consist of Jefferson and Lewis counties. In the senate he was a member of the senate judiciary committee, the committee on privileges and elections, and for several years had been chairman of the finance committee, the leading commit- tee in the legislative body. In his senatorial career he initiated many important measures, and as chairman of the finance committee his serv- ices were most efficient. It may readily be supposed that in a life as strenuous as his there was little time for social intercourse or for main- taining membership in fraternal organizations, but he was, nevertheless, a worthy member of the time-honored Masonic order.
Senator Mullin married, April 20, 1887, Mrs. Rose Babcock, widow of H. P. Babcock, and daughter of John and Marietta ( Priest) Monroe.
The death of Senator Mullin, which was extremely sudden, occurred September 1, 1897, at the University Club in New York city. The con- sternation and grief caused by the sad event were deep and widespread. The newspapers, in their biographical sketches, seemed to vie with each other in their efforts to do justice to his character, both as a man and a legislator. The Watertown Daily Times said in part: "Independent in his thought and action, he strove for the commendation of his own conscience and to represent the people who had chosen him." The Jef- ferson county bar adopted resolutions of regret, and men in public life all added their words of appreciation of his private and public virtues and his helpfulness for good government.
The funeral of Senator Mullin was attended by the entire com- munity, by members of the state senate, by all state officials, and Goy-
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ernor Black was represented by his private secretary. Senator Mullin was survived not only by his widow, but also by three sisters: Mrs. Henry Boyer, Mrs. Rebecca Baker, both of Watertown, and Mrs. Cath- erine Brown, of Nashville, Tennessee. Of all the tributes paid by the press to this distinguished man, that of the Buffalo Commercial was, perhaps, the truest and best eulogy: "Whenever the test of manliness and independence has been brought to bear, he has never failed."
In the state senate at the following session memorial services were held in which resolutions of appreciation and sympathy were passed and eulogies delivered by Senator Elon R. Brown, who had been chosen as Senator Mullin's successor; Senator Cantor, of New York, the Democratic leader; Senator Stranahan, of Oswego: Senator Guy, Sen- ator Coggeshall, Senator Lexow and others. In the assembly Assem- blymen Clark, of Jefferson: Costello, of Oswego; Mills and Ives, of St. Lawrence counties, and the Democratic and Republican leaders, Messers. Donnelly and Nixon, all paid warm tributes to the distin- guished public services of the deceased.
January 5. 1898, the senate adopted the following resolution :
"That the senate of the state of New York received the sad intel- ligence of the sudden death of the Hon. Joseph Mullin with sensations of profound grief; that in his death the state of New York lost an estimable servant who, by his public spirit, broad-mindedness, high character and ability, has been able to and has rendered important serv- ices to the state, notably as chairman of the committee of finance of this body."
January 24. 1898, the following additional resolutions were passed :
"Whereas, it has pleased Divine Providence to remove from this life Joseph Mullin, late senator of the thirty-fifth district, this assembly, sharing in the general sorrow which the melancholy event has pro- duced, is desirous of manifesting its sensibility of the same and of showing its respect and affection for the memory of the illustrious de- ceased :
"Whereas, by the death of Senator Joseph Mullin this state has lost one of its most distinguished sons, an eminent citizen and legislator, a man of spotless and unstained character, of unwavering integrity, one whose genius has left an indelible impress of good upon our political life and state policies :
"Resolved. That this assembly give public expression to the pro- found sense of loss felt at this time by all classes of his fellow citizens
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in the Empire state; their gratitude for his priceless services; their sorrow for his death and affection and respect for his memory.
"Resolved, That these resolutions with the preamble be spread upon the journal of the assembly and an engrossed copy of the same forwarded to his bereaved family with the assurance of the deep sym- pathy felt for them by the individual members of this body."
To the citizens of Watertown Joseph Mullin was all this and much more. To them he was not only the brilliant lawyer and the sagacious legislator; but, over and above these, the earnest, public-spirited citizen and the warm-hearted, constant friend. In the city which was his birth- place and his lifelong home, he was the object, not only of admiration and respect, but of true affection and sincere regard.
COMSTOCK. (I) William Comstock came from England with his wife Elizabeth and probably his sons, William and Daniel, and resided in Wethersfield, Connecticut, for several years. In 1049 he removed to New London, Connecticut. Other sons were Samuel, and apparently Christopher, the latter of Fairfield, Connecticut, in 1061. Daniel Comstock died in New London in 1683.
(II) Samuel Comstock, son of William and Elizabeth Comstock, was a resident of Wethersfield, Connecticut, his native town, and Provi- dence, Rhode Island. He purchased in Providence, in 1654, a house and lot from John Smith, a mason. Mr. Comstock died in 1060. His widow, Ann Comstock, married John Smith, the mason, and died in 1661. The children of Samuel Comstock were: Samuel, born in 1654; and Daniel, in May, 1655.
(III) Samuel Comstock, son of Samuel and Ann Comstock, was born in 1654, married, November 22, 1678, Elizabeth Arnold, daughter of Thomas and Phebe ( Parkhurst) Arnold, and resided at Providence, Rhode Island, where he was taxed in 1679. He was deputy in 1699, 1702, '07, '08, 'II, and was captain at the time of his death, May 27, 1727. His widow died October 20, 1747. Their children were: Sam- uel, born in 1679; Hazadiah, April 16, 1682; Thomas, November 7, 1684: Daniel, July 19, 1686; Elizabeth, December 18, 1690; John, March 26. 1693 ; and Ichabod, January 9, 1696.
Elizabeth Arnold was a descendant of a pioneer Puritan, the gen- erations preceding her being represented by (I) Roger, (II) Thomas, (III) Richard. (IV) Richard, (V) Thomas, and ( VI) Thomas, who was born in 1599, and died in 1674. His wife, Phebe, was a daughter
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of George Parkhurst, and they were the parents of (VII) Elizabeth Arnold.
(IV) Thomas Comstock, son of Samuel (2) and Elizabeth Com- stock, born November 7. 1684. married, July 9. 1713, Mercy Jenckes, daughter of William and Patience (Sprague) Jenckes, was a resident of Providence and West Greenwich, Rhode Island. Mr. Comstock was taxed in 1713, was made a freeman of East Greenwich in 1735. and subsequently removed to West Greenwich. He died in 1761, and his wife died in that same year. Their children were: William, Job, Thomas, Patience, Susanna, Esther, Sarah and Lydia.
(V) William Comstock, son of Thomas and Mercy Comstock, mar- ried, February 12, 1740. Ann Spink, and their children, of West Green- wich record, were: Thomas, born September II, 1741 ; Mercy, May 6, 1743; Deliverance, November 16, 1744: Elizabeth, March 27, 1746; Ann, February 2, 1748; Sarah, March 3. 1749: Ishmael, October 9, 1750; Lydia, April 14, 1752: David, January 25, 1754; John, August 4. 1756; Susanna, September 2. 1758: and Gideon, April 17, 1760.
(VI) Thomas Comstock, son of William and Ann Comstock, born September II, 1741, married. November 20, 1763, Martha Matte- son, daughter of Ebenezer Matteson, and their children, of West Green- wich record, were: Lydia, born June 6, 1766; William, February 29, 1768; Ebenezer, November 9, 1770; Stephen, March 22, 1774; and Bar- bara, February 25, 1776.
(VII) William, son of Thomas and Martha ( Matteson) Com- stock, born in 1768, as above noted, married Asenath Guilford, and was a farmer in Salisbury, Herkimer county, New York.
(VIII) William Guilford, son of William and Asenath Comstock, was born in October, 1809, in Salisbury, New York. He prepared him- self for the practice of medicine at Fairfield, New York, paying his way by teaching, and practiced a short time at Auriesville, New York, re- moving thence, between 1837 and 1840, to Evans Mills, in this county, where he was the leading physician until his death, June 3, 1851, at the early age of forty-two years. With this he combined the mercan- tile business, in partnership with Dr. Ira A. Smith, under the title of Smith & Comstock, beginning with drugs, to which the demands of a growing community soon caused to be added groceries and general merchandise. This partnership was dissolved in 1845, and Dr. Com- stock continued alone until his death. He was highly respected as an
Trinity Church. Watertown
Holy"Family"Church, Walerto; 1.
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upright man. A Whig in political principle, he desired no official honors, and was busy in caring for a large medical practice.
Dr. Comstock was married November 19. 1832. to Jane Munson, of Salisbury, whose ancestral line is traced in another article in this work. Their family included five sons and two daughters. John Mil- ton, the eldest. was engaged several years in mercantile business at Evans Mills, succeeding his father, and was subsequently chief of the western division of the pension office at Washington for a long period. He died July 29. 1885. in Watertown. George Gordon, the second, died at the age of three years and seven months. William Munson was for a long period in partnership with his elder brother in business at Evans Mills, where he is now living retired. He enlisted in 1862 in the Tenth New York Heavy Artillery, and went to the front as second lieutenant of Company C. Within a year he was prostrated by typhoid fever, and after a long illness was discharged for disability. Emma Helena be- came the wife of Francis .A. Simons, a bookkeeper in the United States treasurer's office, and resides in Washington. Jane Eliza died before two years old. Clarence Edgar is manager of the Great Northwest Telegraph office at Watertown. Charles Guilford is a druggist by pro- fession, and resides in Watertown. Since 1902 he has been connected with the New York Air Brake Company.
MUNSON FAMILY. (I) The Munson family was founded in America by Thomas Munson, who was born about 1612 and is found of record at Hartford, Connecticut, in 1637, where he performed military service in the Pequot war. He was then twenty-five years old. His house lot, two and one-half acres. was on the east side of the present High street, opposite the head of Walnut. As early as February, 1640, he was among those who settled at Quinnipiac (now New Haven ). his name appearing sixth in the forty-eight signers of a "Fundamental Agreement," as to franchise and other things. In 1645 he was chosen sergeant of artillery, and was subsequently prominent in many ways. At one time, when he proposed to spend the winter in the Connecticut col- ony, he was forbidden by the authorities, as his services were judged nec- essary to the protection of the home colony. He was frequently chosen as arbitrator, highway viewer, and in other public capacities. In 1655 he became leader of a movement to found a settlement on Delaware Bay, but did not remove thither. In 1656 he bought a new residence in New Haven, and in the same year was chosen one of the seven "townesmen"
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(now selectmen), being re-elected the following year. In 1662 he ac- quired a residence on Temple street, between Grove and Wall. This was purchased from the town, at a cost of one hundred and five pounds, sterling. In 1663 he was chosen first of the six "townesmen," and deputy to the "particular" or town court for the ensuing year. In May of the same year he represented the colony at the general court. In 1644 he sold his former home, at the corner of Church and Elm streets. In this year he was again elected deputy to the general court for a year. He had now served for some time as ensign of the military, and was pro- moted to lieutenant. In 1665, after the union of Connecticut and New Haven colonies, Lt. Thomas Munson was chosen deputy to the general court, and was again chosen the following year. He was repeatedly selected as townsman, commissioner and deputy. In 1673 he was granted one hundred acres of land by the colony for his services in the Pequot war. In the same year he was chosen by the general court as one of seven, including the governor and deputy governor, as a council of war, with ample powers. In 1675 he was in command of troops at Say- brook, during King Philip's war, and subsequently commanded the dragoons sent up the Connecticut river to aid the settlers at Springfield and Hadley, Massachusetts. The next year he was made captain in command of New Haven county troops, and was also commissioned by the general court as captain commanding the seventy-eight men required to be furnished by that county as part of the standing army of the col- ony. He died May 7, 1085, and was buried on the Green. His monu- ment, a sandstone slab, may now be found in the Grove street burial ground. His wife, Joanna (supposed to be a second wife), died October 13, 1678. aged sixty-eight years. His estate was appraised at over two hundred seventy-nine pounds. His children were: Elizabeth, Samuel, and Hannah.
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