Growth of a Century : as illustrated in the history of Jefferson County, New York, from 1793 to 1894, Part 115

Author: Haddock, John A. 1823-
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : Sherman
Number of Pages: 1094

USA > New York > Jefferson County > Growth of a Century : as illustrated in the history of Jefferson County, New York, from 1793 to 1894 > Part 115

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Mr. Rees has been permanently retired from active pursuits for nearly 13 years, but is yet active and visible every day upon the streets. His erect figure and stalwart frame promise many years of life and use- fulness. He has been twice married. In 1845 he married Miss Alzada Hudson, who

died in 1867. In 1870 he married Miss Alicia S. Radcliffe, widow of Captain Thomas Rad- cliffe.

Mr. Rees was prominently connected with building the large steamers which made the Clayton ship-yard so celebrated upon the river. Those boats were the honest pride of all these inland waters, and reflected great credit upon all concerned in their construc- tion. Their memory is still cherished. The last sight the writer had of one of these fine boats, was that of the New York, chartered by the government as a transport boat. She was lying in the Potomac river, above Belle Isle, in the winter of 1863.

In connection with this family we may state that Mr. Merick, when in Clayton, was noted for discovering and bringing forward able men to aid him in his large enterprises. He made no mistake in receiving Thomas Rees into his firm, as was evidenced by the success which followed in their construction of the finest fleet upon the great river.

CHARLES E. REES, son of Thomas, mar- ried Mary, daughter of Richard M. and Margaret (Reed) Esselstyn, by whom he had three children: Alzada, Sherman and Galen. He is a grocer and ship chandler in Clayton village. William H. Rees, son of Thomas, was born in Clayton, where he married Charlotte C., daughter of Perry and Harriet Caswell, by whom he had the following chil- dren: Edna A., Thomas P. and Carl R., who survive; and Ethel, Zelica and Ruby, deceased. Mr. Rees read law with H. E. Morse, of Clayton, for three years, and in 1878 was admitted to the bar, and has since practiced in this town. He has been presi- dent of the village, supervisor, justice of the peace and notary public.

540

THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

GEORGE H. STROUGH

Is one of the most active and energetic of the business men of Clayton. He is of Ger- man and English descent. He is the fifth son and tenth child of Daniel and Anna (Wis- well) Strough, who came to this county from Herkimer in 1820. He married Bersina M. Ballard and they have three children: Arthur B., bookkeeper for Strough & Brook; Anna B. (Mrs. W. W. Gillett, of Spokane, Wash- ington), and Metta V., a student in her graduating year, at the Potsdam Normal School.

Naturally anxious to secure data concern- ing such a man as Mr. Strough, we called on him for a statement of facts concerning his life, and received the following brief answer, which we print without change, remarking.

however, that Mr. S. was one of the young men whom we knew when in business at Theresa, and that his prominence and ability were predicted by us in his youth, for his studious disposition and persistency in whatever he undertook clearly shadowed forth his future character. He certainly " justifies the honors he has gained."

Mr. Strough has been a welcome writer for the press, displaying considerable of the editorial ability that has characterized so many Theresa men.

MAJOR JOHN A. HADDOCK,

Watertown, N. Y.

Dear Sir-My life presents few silent points. I farmed it for 40 years; taught

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CLAYTON.

school 30 years; was school commissioner in the 3d Assembly District six years ; super- visor of Clayton one year; railroad commis- sioner in Orleans one term, and helped make the Orleans bonds; am railroad commis- sioner in Clayton at the present time, and have helped to pay the old Clayton seven per cent. bonds ; sold meats and provisions in Watertown one year, and have sold lumber and other builders' supplies in Clayton for 14 years. My father and mother were healthy people and both lived to 82. I do not use

tobacco or get drunk; am 58 and healthy, and, unless something happens, I do not ex- pect to offer up my checks under 20 years. I disapprove of biographical sketches that no- body cares to read, and if you utilize this letter or any part of it in your History, I ask as a special favor that my most humble apology be permitted to accompany it to the public.

Respectfully yours,

GEO. H. STROUGH. CLAYTON, October 8, 1894.

ALDEN FARNSWORTH BARKER.

ALDEN FARNSWORTH BARKER was born October 21, 1822, in the town of Walden, Caledonia county, Vermont. He was the eldest of nine children. His parents were descended from English stock, and were as rugged and hardy as the hills that witnessed the birth of their children. In Walden young Alden passed his early boyhood, doing chores on the homestead and going to the district school at odd intervals, until 1833, when 11 years of age, he went to the village of Pierrepont, St. Lawrence county, this State, to work on his father's farm of 60 acres, and the following year he went to the town of Potsdam, to live with Aaron Eddy, and in May, 1837, moved with Mr. Eddy to Clayton and was clerk in the grocery store of A. & L. Eddy, of that place, until 1842, when, with his savings, aggregating the modest sum of $100, and the credit obtained through strict honesty and sober and industrious habits, he purchased the stock of that firm, and thus may be said to have got his first start in business. In August, 1844, he mar- ried Laura D. Smith, who was then teaching a district school in the town of Clayton, a daughter of the Hon. Benjamin Smith, of Russell, St. Lawrence county, N. Y. Three sons and one daughter have been the issue of this marriage, all of whom reside in Clayton.

Henry S. Barker, the eldest son, is engaged in merchandise in Clayton. Seymour B. Barker, next youngest, is general manager of the Thousand Island Electric Light Co., and is engaged also in the vessel business. Frank D. Barker, the youngest son, is an alumnus of the Syracuse University and the Albany Law School, and occupied the position of deputy collector of customs at Clayton, to which office he was appointed in October, 1885, under President Cleveland's administra- tion. Celinda, the daughter and youngest child, is married to Solon H. Johnson, only son of the Hon. James Johnson, of Clayton.

Mr. Barker continued in the grocery trade at the old stand, known as the "Cataract House," on Water street, until 1845, when he, together with A. & L. Eddy, put up the building now known as the "Hayes House," and conducted the business with them until 1847, when he built a store of his own and carried on a general merchandise business in

this building until it was destroyed by the great fire of August, 1853, but this was re- placed by a brick structure the following year, and which is still standing. In 1856 he formed a partnership with Simon D. Forbes, then a clerk in the store, and continued this relationship up to the year 1860, when the partnership was dissolved, Mr. Barker con- tinuing the business, together with other and larger interests, up to the year 1873, when he was succeeded by his sons, H. S. and S. B. Barker.

In 1856 Mr. Barker purchased his first in- terest in vessels, engaging in the grain trade on the chain of lakes between Chicago and Ogdensburg. During the years 1863, 1867, and 1868, respectively, and while having an interest in other vessels, he built at Clayton the schooners Portland, Frank D. Barker, and Hoboken, and continucd in the business up to the year 1887.

But the enterprise with which Mr. Barker's name is most prominently associated, was the building of the Clayton and Theresa Railroad. The bonding of the several towns along the line for this project was com- menced in 1871, but on account of the strong opposition made by many of the tax- payers it was only accomplished after a hard- fought and closely contested struggle. But the organization of the Clayton & Theresa Railroad Co. was effected that year, with Mr. Barker as president, and Russell B Biddlecom, of the town of Orleans, as secre- tary and treasurer, which respective offices these gentlemen held until the road was merged into that of the Utica & Black River Railroad, in 1885. The building of the road was commenced soon after the towns were bonded, was pushed forward with great vigor, and was completed in October, 1873, but only after many obstacles had been over- come. An appeal had been taken from the decision of Judge Sawyer (then county judge), that the several towns along the line had taken all the necessary steps to qualify them to issue bonds in aid of the construc- tion of this road, and while this appeal was pending, the bonds, which nevertheless had been issued, had no market value. As it was necessary to realize on these bonds to buy the iron and carry forward the project, Mr.

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THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY

Barker bought $25,000 of them with his own means, and thus enabled the company to carry on the work to a successful termination. It is not too much to say that while this road, which has been a great source of the pros- perity of the towns of Clayton and Orleans for the past 24 years, would have ultimately been built in the then distant future, its building would have undoubtedly been many years postponed had it not been for the in- domitable pluck and preseverance, the untir- ing labors and generous support of Alden F. Barker and his able coadjutor, Russell B. Biddlecom.

In 1884 Mr. Barker associated himself with the Folger Bros., of Kingston, Canada, in building the magnificent steamer St. Law- rence, to take the place of the Island Belle, and an organization was effected under the name of the "Thousand Island Steamboat Company," which still owns this steamer with several others, controlling as it does most of the steamboat traffic on the river. Mr. Barker is at present vice-president of this company. Prior to 1876 Clayton had no

bank, but that year Mr. Barker formed a partnership with R. P. Grant and conducted a private bank, styled the Bank of Clayton, Mr. Barker being the president and Mr. Grant cashier, and continuing the same until January, 1883, when it was organized into a State bank, and with the same officers. In July of the following year, Mr. Barker sold his interest in the bank, and in December fol- lowing organized a private bank known as the "Citizens' Bank," and conducted the same to October, 1887, when he organized the "First National Bank of Clayton, with over 70 stockholders and a capital of $50,000, and with himself as president; William Reese, vice president ; W. H. Morse, cashier, and A. A. Warner, assistant cashier, who are the present officers of the bank. It is doing a large and profitable business, and is now counted one of the leading financial institu- tions of the county. Mr. Barker is also a trustee of the Jefferson County Savings Bank. Any account of Mr. Barker's success- ful business career is largely the history of the village of Clayton.

THE FRAME FAMILY.

LUKE E. FRAME, M. D., son of Dr. William Frame, was born in Russia, Herki- mer county, N. Y., and began the study of medicine in 1840 with his father. He attend- ed lectures at Geneva Medical College, and graduated from there in 1844. He located in Depauville, N. Y., where he died March 20, 1883, aged 71 years. Dr. Frame practiced there 37 years. He was supervisor of the town, postmaster at Depauville, and during the Patriot War in 1838 was adjutant of the 225th Regiment State Militia. He became a member of the Jefferson County Medical Society, June 8, 1869; was its vice-president in 1870, and its president in 1878. He has two sons, Silas Wright Frame, of Belleville, and Solomon V. Frame, of Clayton, both of whom are physicians. Dr. Frame was an unterrified Democrat, affiliating with the Free-soil branch of that party, from which at last sprang the Republican organization.

He was supervisor of the town of Clayton for five consecutive years, and was president of the board of supervisors one session.

The father of Luke E. Frame was born in Vermont, and graduated from Fairfield Col- lege, Herkimer county. Practiced in Russia, Herkimer county, until 1822, in which year he removed to Depauville. He took the place of old Dr. Page, the first physician in Depauville. His ride extended from Brown- ville, Pt. Peninsula, and as far north and west as Gananoque, in Canada. He died in 1848, at Omar, away from home, being taken suddenly ill while upon a tour among his patients

Dr. Solomon V. Frame, now a resident of Clayton, son of Dr. Luke E., was assistant surgeon in the 14th New York Heavy Artil- lery, and was afterwards transferred to the 16th Heavy, having been mustered out with that organization.

SOLON H. JOHNSON

WAS born at Depauville, Jefferson county, N. Y., September 8, 1855. Is son of Hon. James Johnson. Was. married December 31st, 1882, to Celinda Barker, only daughter of Alden F. Barker, President of the First National Bank, Clayton, N. Y. Two

daughters bless their happy home: Kittie, aged 10, and Beulah, aged 8 years. He lived in Depauville until he was 11 years old, at which time his father was elected sheriff of Jefferson county and moved to Watertown, N. Y., where he remained three years, and re-

turned to Clayton, attending the public school and finishing his studies at Hungerford Col- legiate Institute, at Adams, N. Y. After- ward he engaged in business with his father until 1881, when he entered the employ of A. P. Tuller & Co., Rome, N. Y. Remained in their employ five years, returning to his former home in Clayton to engage in busi- ness with his father.

Was appointed postmaster of Clayton by President Harrison in September, 1890, serv- ing in that capacity until 1895. His efficiency

CLAYTON.

543

SOLON H. JOHNSON.

and business methods have placed the post- office at Clayton upon a par with any office of its size in the country, and for which he has been repeatedly complimented by officers of the postoffice department, and received the encomiums of the press and citizens of Clayton, regardless of politics. He is a staunch Republican. Mrs. Elsie McCarn is his reliable and capable assistant in the post- office. He is a very prominent member of the Independent Order of Foresters. While acting in the capacity of Representative of his Court to the original formation of the High Court of New York, held at Rochester February 27th, 1890, he was unanimously chosen its first Past High Chief Ranger, in which capacity he served continuously until 1893, when he was succeeded by the Hon. Jacob Stern, Judge of the Surrogate's Court, of Buffalo, N. Y. Owing to the unavoid-

able absence of his superior officer, Hon. Jacob Stern, he acted as High Chief Ranger at three sessions of the High Court, and re- flected great credit upon himself for his efficiency as a presiding officer. At the an- nual session of the High Court, held in Utica in 1893, he not only secured through his own efforts the holding of the next session of the High Court at the place of his residence, but was honored by his brethren, who elected him by a complimentary ballot as Representa- tive to the Supreme Court, held in Chicago, Ill., September 1st, 1893, and, at the High Court meeting held in Clayton, September 4th and 5th, 1894, was again elected Repre- sentative to the Supreme Court to be held in London, England, July, 1895. He occupies the position of Noble Grand of Clayton Lodge, 539, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is a hard worker in his own lodge.

544

THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

FAMILY SKETCHES.

JOHN NORTON, JR., was born in Herkimer county in 1798, and came to Clayton with his father, from Brownville, in 1816, their only guide being "blazed" trees. His wife, Susan Smith, of Norway, N, Y., daughter of David and Susannah (Hathaway) Smith, was born in 1800. They were married in 1823, and their children were Maryette, David 1st, David 2d, Isaac S., Lucena, Eliza, Irene, and George A., born July 25, 1841. Lucena, Eliza, and George A. still reside in Clayton, on the farm settled by their grandfather.

ANTHONY ATWOOD, a native of Vermont, , was one of the early settlers of Clayton. He came here in 1817, and located at Depauville, where he resided until the time of his death. At the time of his settlement here there were no houses where the village of Clayton now is. His wife, Polly, bore him six children. Isaac Atwood was born in Vermont, and came to Clayton with his father. He mar- ried Luthera Stetson, and their children are Jeanette, Charles, James L. and Montreville W. The latter, who was born in Clayton, married Emma, daughter of Isaac and Ada- line (Hudson) Cleveland, of this town, and they have a daughter, Adaline. James L. Atwood married Arvilla, daughter of Fran- cis Dodge, and their children are Celia and Isaac. Heis a hardware merchant, in com- pany with his brother, Montreville W., and has been in business since 1879.

ELKANAH CORBIN, a native of Russia, N. Y., came to Clayton in 1818, and died here in 1864, aged 75 years. He married Lucy A. Clark, and their children were Simon J., Ira H., Melzar, Irving and Alanson C. The latter was born in the town of Russia, and when 7 years of age came to Clayton with his parents. He married Eliza, daughter of Elijah and Betsey (Howe) Bowe, of Troy, N. Y., who bore him 10 children, viz: Eliza- beth, Lucy A., Caroline, Harriet, Ellen, Flora, Emily, Salomia, Sherman and James H. The latter, who was born in Clayton, married Caroline A., daughter of Calvin and Zaire A. (Romain) Guiteau, of Cape Vincent.

AMOS T. PUTNAM was born in Clayton and married, first, Eliza H., daughter of Potter and Nancy (Hart) Sheldon, by whom he had a daughter, Georgianna, and second, Harriet, adopted daughter of Isaac and Mary (Bab- cock) Carter. He is a farmer on road 51, where he has resided 36 years. Albert H. was born in Clayton, where he married Susan, daughter of John and Magdalene (Consaul) Lingenfelter, July 29, 1883, and they have three children. He resides in Clayton on the homestead farm on road 53.

PAGE ACKERT was born in Clayton, Octo- ber 8, 1824. He married Martha E., daugh- ter of Benjamin and Florenza (Ellsworth) Pierce, of Cape Vincent. He occupies the homestead farm of his father on road 27. Benjamin Pierce was a native of Connecti- cut, and served in the Revolutionary War.

His son, Benjamin served at Sackets Harbor in the War of 1812, and drew a pension.

PHILANDER A. SPENCER was born in Clay- ton in 1833. He married Sophia D., daugh- ter of Lewis Grace, of Madison county. Mr. Spencer served in Co. G, 186th N. Y. Vols., and was honorably discharged in June, 1865, and is now drawing a pension.

WILLIAM BASS was born on Grindstone Island in May, 1824. He married Sarah M., daughter of Daniel and Arvilla (Marsh) Whitney, of Brownville. Mr. and Mrs. Bass reside in Clayton. They occupy a farm on road 48, where they have resided 42 years.

ARCHIBALD MARSHALL removed from Galloe Island to Clayton in 1820, and died here in 1886, aged 80 years. Mr. Marshall was a captain and river pilot. When he re- moved to Clayton there was but one log house in the village, located where Strough & Brooks' sash and blind factory now is. He married Julia A., daughter of William and Ann (Whitney) Hawes, of Cleveland, Ohio, by whom he had three children-Emma J., Charles M. and Willard R. His widow sur- vives.

DANIEL HILL, JR., was born in Saratoga, N. Y., located in Watertown in 1815, and in 1822 removed to Clayton, where he died in 1866, aged 79 years. He married Margaret Stevenson, of Saratoga City, daughter of Peter and Elizabeth Stevenson, and they had six children. Margaret Hill married Alanson P., son of Gideon and Lucy (Cong- don) Rogers, and their children are Winfield and Ella.

OREN W. SMITH was postmaster at Clayton for 20 years, and served as coroner several years. He served in the Patriot War in 1838, and was taken prisoner at Prescott, in what was known as the "Wind-Mill Fight," and with 100 others was sentenced to death. His sentence, with 80 others, was commuted to banishment for life, and he was transported to Van Diemen's Land. After living five years at Van Diemen's Land, he was par- doned by Queen Victoria, through the inter- cession of friends in Canada, and returned to Clayton, where he now resides.

FRANK D. LOWE, who was born in Clay- ton, married Gertrude, daughter of Sanford and Betsy (Rice) Plumb, of this town, and they have a son, Ross B. Mr. Lowe now occupies the homestead farm upon which he was born.

IRA SYLVESTER was born in Pittsfield, Vt., in 1826, and came to Clayton with his father. He married Achsa, daughter of Hannibal and Lois (Greenleaf) Dixon, of Orleans, and their children are William, Nettie M., Charles E., and Dr. George E. Mr. Sylvester occu- pies the homestead farm on road 18. Charles E. Sylvester married Alice, daughter of James and Lucretia (Evans) Babcock, of Clayton, and they have a son, Elwin J. He is a farmer in this town.

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CLAYTON.

STEPHEN HALE removed from Brownville to Clayton in 1835, and was engaged in mer- cantile business until 1873, when he retired. Hc married Betsey D., daughter of Seabury and Hannah Allen, of Galaway, N. Y., and their children are Carrie, Lucy, John and George. The latter is a clerk in the Michigan Central Railroad office at Detroit.

HENRY ELLIOTT was born in Brockville in 1814, and in 1836 located in Clayton. He married Catherine Carkey, of Potsdam, N. Y., daughter of Joseph and Catherine (Dubois) Carkey, who were natives of France. Mr. and Mrs. Elliott reside in this town, aged re- spectively 75 and 73 years. William Elliott was born in Clayton, and married Helen, daughter of James and Sally (Lamphear) Carey, of Port Huron, Mich., and is now a captain on the lakes, where he has been sail- ing for 34 years. He resides in Clayton village. The Elliott family is of English origin. Henry J. Elliott married Ella, daughter of Jacob and Jane Hubbard, of Clayton, who bore him three children. He has been a sailor on the lakes since 1868. He resides in Clayton village.

WILLIAM H. LINGENFELTER was born in Montgomery county, and in 1837 located in Clayton and engaged in blacksmithing. He occupies a farm on road 35, in this town, where he has resided 30 years. He served as supervisor two years, and has been assessor nine years. His son, Merritt E., married Frankie A., daughter of Almond and Jane (Saulsbury) Barney, of Clayton, January 10th, 1877, by whom he had a son, A. Lee. He is also a farmer.

HON. ELI SEEBER was born January 24, 1838. In 1860 he married Amanda Lewis, daughter of John and Mary, and settled at Depauville, where he now resides. He fol- lowed the business of milling until 10 years ago, when he engaged in farming. He was supervisor of the town in 1878, '81, '82, and '83, and represented the Second Assembly district in the Legislature in 1884 and '85. He has a family of three children, Mary (Mrs. Clarence Whittier), and Clarence and Willis E., who live at home.

JOSEPH THIBAULT was born in Sorel, and in May, 1840, located in Clayton, where he now resides. He married Harriet, daugh- ter of John and Ellen (Dufault) Bertrand, of this town, and their children are Joseph, Anthony, George, Louise, John, Philemon, Anna and Bruno. Mr. Thibault has been a blacksmith in Clayton village for the past 38 years.

ELIJAH MCCARN was born in Montgomery county, and came to Clayton in 1842. He was the first permanent settler on the farm on road 22, now known as the McCarn farm. He married Susan, daughter of Adolph and Sally (Yates) Seeber, of Canajoharie, N. Y. Mr. McCarn has retired from business and resides in Clayton village. Nelson E. Mc- Carn has been editor of the interesting weekly newspaper On-the-St. Lawrence, published in Clayton village.

MARTIN W. WRIGHT was born in Oswego county, and in 1846 located in Clayton, where he married Mary, daughter of Amasa and Clarissa (Hubbard) Smith, by whom he had five children, viz : Mary E., Sarah L., Martin W., Anna V. and Beeri E. Mr. Wright is a farmer on road 56, where he has resided since 1870.

WILLIAM O'TOOLE was born in Constable- ville, N. Y. He married Mary, daughter of Alexander and Eliza (Delany) Manson, of Macomb, N. Y., by whom he had three children-Edward W., Anna and Sarah E. Mr. O'Toole was captain of the schooner Hartford, which foundered in October, 1894, with all on board.

ALEXANDER MANSON was born in Halkirk, Scotland, emigrated to Quebec in 1840, and in 1848 located in Clayton, where he married Elizabeth, daughter of Michael and Mary (Fitzpatrick) Delaney. Their children are John W., Mary H., Ann, Ellen, James A., Elizabeth, Michael D., William P., Margaret J. and Janette J. Mr. Manson has resided in Clayton village since 1860. Previous to residing in Clayton, Mr. Manson resided in Theresa 10 years ] He has been a sailor and farmer, and is now a merchant tailor.

An unusually afflictive calamity overtook the family of Mr. Manson in the month of October, 1894. His daughter had married William O'Toole, captain of the schooner Hartford, and he was making a voyage from the upper end of Lake Ontario to Clayton, his home. His wife and infant daughter were with him on the trip. A very severe gale had been blowing for several days, when it came out that the Hartford had foundered, with all on board, off Sandy Point, near the mouth of Little Sandy Creek. The Hartford was observed at the life-saving sration to be acting strangely, and was ap- parently unmanageable, and showing signals of distress. When about two miles off the shore she went down with all on board, causing a loss of eight lives. Only the little infant's body has ever been recovered. The O'Toole's left a family of five small children.

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Growth of a Century : as illustrated in the history of Jefferson County, New York, from 1793 to 1894, Part 115

Author: Haddock, John A. 1823- Publication date: 1894 Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : Sherman Number of Pages: 1094

Author: Haddock, John A. 1823-
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : Sherman
Number of Pages: 1094