Geographical gazetteer of Jefferson county, N.Y. 1684-1890, Part 114

Author: Child, Hamilton, 1836- [from old catalog] comp; Horton, William H., [from old catalog] ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., The Syracuse journal company, printers and binders
Number of Pages: 1384

USA > New York > Jefferson County > Geographical gazetteer of Jefferson county, N.Y. 1684-1890 > Part 114

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Besides those already named the following have positions at present in the Agricultural office, viz .: John Quincy Adams, Prentiss P. Cook, L. Hollister Prentiss, James S. Boyer, Jefferson T. Raplee, and William C. Stebbins.

Jefferson County Patrons' Fire Relief Association .- On the 2d day of May, 1877, the following named gentlemen, members of the different granges of Jefferson County, met at the Kirby House in the city of Watertown and organized the " Jefferson County Patrons' Fire Relief Association," for the purpose of insuring at actual cost the property of patrons: Elliott Makepeace, L. D. Olney, O. W. Baker, L. H. Bishop, George W. Rickett, E. S. Wright,

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O. S. Potter, G. H. Countryman, G. H. Hall, S. O. Adams, and Frank Had- cock. At a subsequent meeting the following directors were elected and authorized to solicit applications for insurance: William A. Eastman, O. S. Potter, G. H. Countryman, O. W. Baker, G. H. Hall, L. H. Bishop, G. W. Rickett, S. O. Adams, S. G. Wiggins, L. D. Olney, William Southworth, and Everett Clements. The officers chosen were Elliott Makepeace, president ; Frank Hadcock, secretary ; and E. S. Wright, treasurer.

The first policies were issued August 21, 1877, to the amount of $101,- 150. At the first annual meeting, held June 4, 1878, William Mathers was elected treasurer in the place of E. S. Wright. At the annual meeting held June 7, 1881, the following officers were elected: L. D. Olney, presi- dent ; Frank Hadcock, secrectary ; and George E. Bull, treasurer. Octo- ber 11, 1881, O. W. Baker was elected secretary in place of Frank Had- cock, resigned. At the annual meeting held June 6, 1882, by laws were adopted for the reorganization of the association under the law of 1880 and 1881. At this meeting the secretary reported the amount of risks carried to be $502,885. The jurisdiction of the association embraces the counties of Jefferson and Lewis. During the years 1887 and 1888 there were many new granges organized in Lewis County, which greatly augmented the business of the association. At the present time (March 31, 1889) the directors of the company, 33 in number, are as follows : L. D. Olney, Watertown ; George E. Bull, Rural Hill ; O. W. Baker, Water- town ; J. W. Overton, Bishop Street ; O. S. Potter, Mannsville ; L. F. Allen, East Hounsfield ; A. F. Sheffner, Pamelia Four Corners ; S. A. Grimshaw, Lorraine ; Charles Kinsley, Three Mile Bay; R. M. Flaherty, Antwerp ; H. S. Wilson, Watertown ; George W. Smith, South Rutland ; J. A. Bemis, Pierrepont Manor ; W. H. Walrath, La Fargeville ; William Whiting, Phila- delphia ; Sylvester Loomis, Champion ; C. J. Dutton, Natural Bridge ; R. C. Otis, Denmark ; Ira Sharp, Lowville ; J. B. Zehr, Indian River ; F. W. Palmer, Natural Bridge ; R. C. Hills, Turin; H. G. Wood, Harrisburg ; P. G. Reynolds, Carthage ; J. B. Frost, Belfort ; Augustus Pachond, Beaver Falls ; Alvin Burrington, Naumburgh ; Charles Matty, Montague ; C. C. Wakefield, New Bremen ; S. F. Woolworth, Pickney ; Charles Johnson, Harrisburg ; Edwin E. Alger, Glendale ; Duayne Miller, Leyden. The officers for 1889 were L. D. Olney, president ; Ira Sharp, vice-president ; George E. Bull, treasurer ; O. W. Baker, secretary. The number of policies now in force-March, '89-is 589. The amount of insurance in force to date is $1,223.965.

Otis & Goodale, fire, life, accident, and plate-glass insurance, is one of the largest and strongest agencies in the county. The business of this firm was established by D. M. Bennett, and is one of the oldest offices in the city. Charles M. Otis, the senior member of the firm, is a native of Watertown and son of David D. Otis, an old hardware merchant, who became a resident here about 1825. He served as president of the village and died here in 1881. Charles M. was engaged in various lines of business in New York city. The firm of Otis & Goodale was instituted in 1885. They represent 12 leading companies in fire insurance, and several companies in other branches.

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Henry D. Goodale is a son of Dr. Charles and Mary (Sewall) Goodale, and was born ils Watertown in 1852. He entered the office of the National Bank and Loan Co. in 1869, as office boy, and worked his way up to the position of teller and cashier. He remained with that in- stitution until he formed his present affiliation. Mr. Goodale is also the district agent of the old Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York, and a broker and dealer in real estate.

Henry S. Munson is a son of Dr. Isaac and Cornelia (Stebbins) Munson. Dr. Isaac Mun- son was born in Herkimer County in 1812, and came to Jefferson County in 1835. He settled in Evans Mills, where he was associated with Dr. Ira Smith. He subsequently removed to Rut- land, where he practiced medicine until the fall of 1849, when he was elected clerk of the county, and removed to Watertown, serving three years. A short time after resuming his pro- fession he was elected secretary of the Agricultural Insurance Company, which position he filled until elected president of the company. He remained at the head of the company until his death, in 1886. The maternal grandfather of Henry S. Munson was Amos Stebbins, who came to what is now Rutland, and located a farm, in 1799. He served in the War of 1812, and represented his district in the state legislature in 1820. He continued a farmer of Rutland until his death. Henry S. Munson, born in Rutland, early in life went to Iowa, where he became a law student in the office of Hon. William B. Allison. He was admitted to the bar in that state, and subsequently became a partner with Hon. Emory Storrs, of Chicago. His law prac- tice extended over a period of seven years. Returning to Watertown he has since been en- gaged in the insurance business. He was secretary of the Homestead Fire Insurance Com- pany three years, and with the Agricultural Insurance Company for two years. He then entered the field of life insurance, and since 1875 has been connected with the Phoenix Mutual Life, of Hartford, Conn., of which company he is now manager for Western New York and a portion of Pennsylvania. Mr. Munson is president of the Gifford Manufacturing Com- pany.

Alanson D. Seaver. county treasurer (1889), was born in Watertown in 1845. His parents, William and Eliza (French) Seaver, are natives of Vermont, and early settlers and residents of Watertown. Mr. Seaver, early in life, learned the trade of a machinist, and for many years was employed by the Davis Sewing Machine Company as a toolmaker. He was elected treasurer of the county in 1884, and is now serving upon a second term. He has also served the city as clerk one year. Mr. Seaver is associated with Frank H. Munson, under firm name of Munson & Seaver, having the city agency for the Agricultural Insurance Co.

Frank H. Munson, son of Dr. Isaac Munson, is also a native of Rutland, and has also been active in insurance circles. He became connected with the Watertown Fire Insurance Company about 1868, acting as cashier. He continued with the Sun Company after it suc- ceeded to the business of the old company, and remained with the Sun Company until they removed their office to New York in 1887. Since the latter period Mr. Munson has been active in the organization of the Jefferson Paper Company, and is serving as his first president. He is also the head of the firm of Munson & Seaver. city agents for the Agricultural Insurance Company, of which company he is a director.

John R. Pawling, fire insurance, real estate, and loan agent, representing nine of the leading fire insurance companies doing business in this country, has a large real estate busi- ness, both in the city of Watertown and county of Jefferson. He was born in Rodman in 1851. and is a son of Rev. John and Eveline (Smith) Pawling. His father was a graduate of Hamil- ton College of the class of 1843, was admitted to the Jefferson County bar in 1847, and prac- ticed law for some time in Watertown. He afterward entered the Congregational ministry. and finally became a Baptist clergyman. After preaching for some years he went on to a farm in the town of Rodman, where he stayed until 1869, when he died. Mr. Pawling lived upon. the homestead in Rodman until his 20th year, when he came to Watertown and entered the Merchants' Bank, and remained in said bank for some 10 years, occupying the various posi- tions of clerk, book-keeper, and teller. He subsequently engaged in the business of insurance. He has filled various important positions, having been city assessor, secretary and treasurer of the board of trade of Watertown, and other equally important positions.

William Quinn was born in Ireland, and when a youth came to America with his parents. in 1847. His father, John Quinn, settled in Antwerp and followed farming. William was reared upon a farm, and engaged in husbandry until he came to Watertown in 1888. He still >wns 200 acres of land in Le Ray. Mr. Quinn was a soldier of the late war, enlisting in 1862

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in Co. C, 10th N. Y. H. A., in which company he served until the close of the war. His com- pany participated in the battles of Cold Harbor, Bermuda Hundred, and the engagements in front of Petersburg, besides other minor engagements. He now devotes his time looking after the interests of several well known and reliable life insurance companies.

Joseph Atwell, Sr., general fire insurance and loan agent, was born in Chenango in 1822. He came to Jefferson County in 1848, and began general merchandising at Theresa, forming the firm of Atwell & Remington, which was succeeded by Atwell & Hoyl, the latter firm con- tinning until 1862, in which year he was appointed commissioner of public accounts for the state of New York, by Governor E. D. Morgan. Since 1866 he has been engaged in the insurance business, and since 1869 his home has been in Watertown. He represents eight leading fire insurance companies, and the Western Farm Mortgage Trust Co., of Lawrence, Kansas. Mr. Atwell served as supervisor of Theresa in 1860, and deputy collector of customs of Cape Vin- cent district from 1879 until 1887.

O. S. Wilcox was born at Point Peninsula, Jefferson County, in 1834. His parents were William and Mary E. (Burdick) Wilcox, both natives of Connecticut. William Wilcox came to this county prior to the War of 1812, and followed farming here until his death, at the ripe age of 90 years. The business life of Oren S. Wilcox has been pursued in Three Mile Bay, Point Peninsula, Chaumont, and Watertown. He became a resident of Watertown in 1880. and in 1883 engaged in the insurance business. He represents the Northwestern Mutual Life, of Milwaukee, for the connties of Jefferson, St. Lawrence, Lewis, Franklin, and Clinton, and has other companies of merit. Mr. Wilcox served three years as deputy revenue collector at Chaumont. His family consisted of seven boys and four girls.

HOTELS.

The Woodruff House is the principal hotel in Watertown. It is a brick building located on Public Square, with a frontage of about 300 feet, is five stories high, and contains 150 rooms. These apartments are elegantly fitted up and furnished, and the whole house is heated by steam. Electric bells connect the rooms with the office, and there are bath rooms for the conven- ience of guests. The proprietor, F. W. Hayden, is a well-known and deserv- edly popular young man.

The Crowner House, located at 72, 74, and 76 Court street, was built by John D. Crowner in 1853, and was bought by the present proprietors, Solon and George Wilder, in 1867. It is a three-story brick building, and will ac- commodate Ico guests. The extensive barns connected with the hotel will accommodate 400 horses. Wilder Brothers are breeders of Hambletonian and dealers in gentlemen's road horses.

The Kirby House, built prior to 1850, on Court street, is a three-story brick building, with excellent accommodations for its numerous patronage. The present proprietor is A. D. Williams.

City Hotel, 82 and 84 Court street, has recently been thoroughly renovated and refurnished. It is a properly conducted hotel, and Joseph B. Mckinley is the present proprietor.

The Dillon House, at 78 Factory street, was built in 1871 by Thomas Dil- lon, who has since been its proprietor. It is a three-story brick structure, and will accommodate about 40 guests.

The Globe Hotel, located on Court and Arsenal streets, was built soon after the fire of 1849. It is conveniently located near the central part of the

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city, and is ably conducted by Erwin L. Harris, the present genial proprie- tor.

The Harris House, on Public Square, is one of the oldest hotels in the city.

ILLUMINATING COMPANIES.

The Watertown Gas Light Company was organized March 3, 1852, by Frederick T. Story, with a capital stock of $20,000, which has since been increased to $100,000. The first officers were James O. Morse, president ; Albert M. Utley, vice-president ; George A. Bagley, treasurer ; Frederick T. Story, secretary. The present officers are F. T. Story, president and treas- urer ; E. Q. Sewall, vice-president ; H. C. Whitney, secretary. The plant of the company is located at 19 Anthony street.

Watertown Electric Light Company (Limited) was organized in 1885, with a capital stock of $15,000. The first officers were John C. McCartin, presi- dent ; Charles Tubbs, treasurer; and E. S. Goodale, secretary. The com- pany first located in what is known as "the old stone shop," on Beebee's Island, remaining there one year, when they removed to their present loca- tion on Moulton street. The systems in use are the Excelsior, American, and Thomson-Houston. The present officers are D. C. Middleton, presi- dent ; Frank L. Baker, treasurer ; and W. H. Moore, secretary.

PRESENT MANUFACTURES.

As a manufacturing city Watertown has many and superior advantages. Black River, at this point, furnishes a permanent and inexhaustible water- power, unsurpassed by any in the state and by few in the United States. Its shipping facilities are also excellent, three branches of the R., W. & O. Rail- road extending to important shipping points in Jefferson County, on Lake Ontario, and that great commercial highway, the St. Lawrence River. Ex- tending south are several lines connecting with the New York Central, West Shore, D., L. & W., and other important railroads. Few cities are more favorably situated for commercial operations than Watertown. A short sketch of many of the manufacturing establishments here we trust will be of interest to our readers.

The Bagley & Sewall Co. was established in 1823, by George Goulding, and after a number of changes of title and proprietorship was finally organ- ized as a stock company, under the present title, in 1882. The plant is most extensive in character, and covers an area of about two acres. The main structure is of a V shape, the base being 40 feet wide, and extending on one side 325 feet in length. This contains the machine shop, and on the other side the building is about 110 feet long, and is utilized as an erecting shop. The blacksmith shop is at the end of the building, and there are two foundries, each respectively 120x40 and 80x40 feet in dimensions. Between

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these is a space of 25 feet which is partly taken up by the ovens used for making and baking cores and molds. In addition to the above there are other buildings on the land, including the offices, the pattern shops, etc. The motive force for operating the works is derived from the water-power of the Black River, the company utilizing this to the extent of about 150 horse- power, requiring the aid of four powerful water-wheels, and in the various departments a force of about 130 mechanics and work people are given em- ployment. It is one of the oldest enterprises of Watertown and has been operated upon the same site for more than 60 years. The products of this industry consist of printing presses, wood pulp machines, weighing jacks, ro- tary pumps, patent vices, paper-mill machinery, etc.

Hon. George A. Bagley, president of the Bagley & Sewall Co., a native of Watertown, was born in 1826. His parents were Bernard and Zurviah (Gates) Bagley. His father was a prominent lawyer of Jefferson County, and a sketch of his life appears in the chapter devoted to the Bench and Bar, in another portion of this work. George A. Bagley was a law student in the office of his father, and was admitted to practice in 1846. He devoted a few years to his profession, associated with his father, and in 1853 entered upon his business career, which has been eminently successful. The original business had been inaugurated by Mr. Goulding, and in 1853 the firm of Goulding, Sewall & Bagley was established. In 1862 Mr. Goulding re- tired, and the present company was established, with a capital stock of $100,000. Mr. Bagley is president; Edward Q. Sewall, secretary and treasurer. Mr. Bagley has also been prominent in political affairs, having served as supervisor of his town for a number of years, during which time he was chairman of the board. He also served as president of the village. From 1863 to 1870 he was collector of internal revenue, and in 1874 was elected to represent the 22d district in Congress, serving two terms. He is president of the Davis Sewing Machine Co., and a director of the Eames Vacuum Brake Co. Mr. Bagley is also prominent in the management of Brookside Cemetery, the City Hospital, Grace Church, and is active in all works of charity and benevolence.

Eames Brake Company .- Lorett Eames, the youngest of the family of Daniel Eames, went West in 1831, and settled in Jackson, Mich., building there the second frame house in the town, which was then called Jacksonville. From there he went to Kalamazoo, then called Bronson, and engaged in farm- ing on Grand Prairie, where, he said, he was " free from the stones and Canada thistles of Jefferson County." He later went into mechanical business, building portable saw-mills. In 1861 he put in the pump for the city of Watertown, and then bought Beebee's Island, in company with his brother, Moses Eames, and located his shop there. They changed the old boarding- houses into shops, putting power and shafting into them, and here some of the important industries of Watertown had birth, notably the Taggart Brothers' paper-bag factory, the Davis Sewing Machine Co., and the Eames Vacuum Brake Co., who still occupy the shops. He died suddenly, of paralysis, September 6, 1863. He married Lucy Morgan, and had seven children.

In 1874 Fred W. Eames came into Watertown with the nucleus of his in- vention of the vacuum brake. He made some experiments on the R., W. & O. Railroad, and in 1876 organized the Eames Vacuum Brake Co., with a capi- tal of $500,000, which was all paid for his patents of 1874 and 1875. The officers were Fred W. Eames, president ; Judge F. W. Hubbard, vice-presi- dent ; F. W. Spicer, secretary ; S. T. Woolworth, treasurer.

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In 1876 E. D. Eames, his brother, came here from Michigan, and went to Perm, S. A., with a brake equipment for the Ayora Railroad, over the Andes, which attains an altitude of nearly three miles. The brake worked very suc- cessfully there, and Mr. Eames brought back the first money ever received for the Eames brake. Meantime F. W. Eames had made a display at the Ex- position at Philadelphia, which resulted in a number of orders from home and abroad. A shop for the manufacture of the brakes was started on Bee- bee's Island, and other patents obtained on improvements by both Fred W. and E. D. Eames. A long and expensive litigation with the Westinghouse Brake Co. resulted ultimately in victory for the infant company, and the business increased rapidly. The elevated roads in New York were all fitted with the Eames brakes, and they were sent to Australia, Cuba, South and Central America, Sweden, Russia, and England.

In 1878 F. W. Eames went to England to introduce his brake there and in France, and while he was away complication arose here which resulted in the entire business and franchises of the company being sold to New York men. Mr. Eames, who was president and principal stockholder in the com- pany, immediately returned from England and began a suit for recovery of his property, and at the earliest moment replaced the old directors by new ones, and elected the following officers: F. W. Eames, president ; E. D. Eames, vice-president ; H. C. Townly, secretary and treasurer. The suit resulted in his favor, but on taking possession of the shops he was shot and killed April 20, 1883. The management of the company then fell upon E. D. Eames, president ; A. D. Remington, vice-president ; and H. C. Townly, secretary and treasurer. George A. Bagley was also a director. The company continued to prosper under this administration until, in October, 1884, Mrs. F. W. Eames sold the controlling interest in the stock to Boston parties, who reorganized the company, elected an entire new board of directors, and moved the office to Boston, and increased the board of directors from five to 15. The present officers are J. C. Thompson, president, Boston ; R. C. Vilas, vice-president, New York ; G. B. Massey, treasurer, Watertown. They have added to the buildings and machinery, and are employing about 75 men.

Knowlton Brothers, paper manufacturers .- The business now conducted by this firm had its inception in 1808, when a paper mill was built by Gurdon, Caswell & Co., which firm was succeeded by Holbrook & Fessenden in 1816. In 1824 Knowlton & Rice became the owners of the plant, enlarged the works, and in 1832 introduced the first machinery for making paper in Jefferson County. This firm was composed of George W. Knowlton and Clarke Rice. They were also largely interested in real estate and in water- power privileges, and for a long time were engaged in publishing school books and common school libraries, conducting in connection a book store. These branches were continued until 1854, since which period the manufact- ure of paper has been the exclusive business of the firm and their succes -

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sors. Mr. Rice retained an interest in the business till 1856. In 1861 Mr. Knowlton disposed of his interest to his sons, George W. and John C., and the firm of Knowlton Brothers was thus established. This firm has in- creased the business twelvefold, and their trade extends throughout the United States. They manufacture exclusively colored cover paper, employ- ing about 50 hands, and their product is about 9,000 pounds daily. Their mills are furnished with the latest improved machinery, and are located at 14-16 Mill street, upon a portion of which ground the original mill was erected in 1808. The plant covers an area of about tivo acres, three build- ings, and several minor conveniencies. The main building is 130x60 feet, and is three stories high besides basement and attic. Connected with it by a bridge is a wooden structure of three floors, 50x100 feet in dimensions. On the other side of Mill street, opposite the main building, the firm owns a pulp-mill, 40x90 feet in area and five stories in height, which is also joined by a bridge to the rest of the plant. The mills were formerly occupied in manu- facturing writing paper exclusively, and later in the production of book and colored papers, but at the present time only colored and tinted papers are made at this establishment.

John C. Knowlton was born in Watertown in 1837, and has been a resident of Jefferson County since his birth, and prominent in business and manufacturing circles. His father, George W. Knowlton, was a native of Vermont, and his mother, Elizabeth (Carroll) Knowl- ton, a native of Boston. The former died in Watertown in 1886, aged 91 years, after a life of active business enterprises, during which period he maintained a reputation of the highest character as an unsullied, honorable business man. The mother still survives. John C. Knowlton, since 1861, has devoted his attention to the interest of the firm, of which he is a member. He has been a director of the Jefferson County Bank since 1877, and is president of the Steam Engine Co. For nearly a score of years he has been one of the water commis- sioners of Watertown, and is now president of the board. George Willard Knowlton is also a native of Watertown, born in 1839, and educated in the schools of his native city. He is thoroughly conversant with the manufacture of paper, having commenced to master the details at the age of 16, and has devoted his business life to the advancement of this impor- tant industry. He is president of the Ontario Paper Company, and of the Watertown Na- tional Bank; progressive in all of his ideas, and ranks as one of the leaders of the business men of Jefferson County.

Watertown Steam Engine Co .- The inception of this business dates back to the year 1850, at which period the enterprise was known as Hoard & Bradford. In 1860 the firm title became Hoard & Son. In 1866 the Port- able Steam Engine Manufacturing Co. was organized, and finally, in 1872, the Watertown Steam Engine Co. was constituted. The capital stock of the company is $200,000. The plant, which has recently been built, is one of the most extensive of its character in the United States, and is located on Main street. From 150 to 175 men are employed in the manufacture of stationary and portable steam engines, boilers, steam pumps, circular saw- mills, etc. The officers of the company are John C. Knowlton, president ; G. C. Sherman, vice-president ; and S. F. Bagg, secretary and treasurer. In connection with this sketch we append the following sketch relative to the origin of the portable steam engine, by Hon. Moses Eames :-

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Geographical gazetteer of Jefferson county, N.Y. 1684-1890, Part 114

Author: Child, Hamilton, 1836- [from old catalog] comp; Horton, William H., [from old catalog] ed Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., The Syracuse journal company, printers and binders Number of Pages: 1384

Author: Child, Hamilton, 1836- [from old catalog] comp; Horton, William H., [from old catalog] ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., The Syracuse journal company, printers and binders
Number of Pages: 1384