Growth of a Century : as illustrated in the history of Jefferson County, New York, from 1793 to 1894, Part 152

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

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IRVING C. COOPER was born May 13, 1843, and, excepting 10 years of his life, from 1854 to 1866, has lived on the large farm where he was born. About 1875 he became engaged in the manufacture of English cheese, erecting since then three cheese factories, which, to- gether with the farm, he has since conducted. He has also for several years been engaged in purchasing cheese for the English and home market. In the season of 1894 he shipped 37,000 cheese to Montreal, and about 10,000 to Philadelphia and New York. He is the largest dealer in Northern New York.

WILLIAM E. HOYT was a member of the firm of Atwell & Hoyt, for a long time mer- chants at Theresa. He is well remembered as a retiring, very modest gentleman, well educated and exemplary in every relation of life. He was brought up in Fayetteville, and in 1894 would be nearly, if not quite, 66 years of age. He was educated at Homer Academy, New York. For several years after the dissolution of the firm of which he was a member, and after his removal from Theresa, about 1861, he served several years in the quarter-master's department of the Union army. His present residence is Beat- rice, Nebraska. Mrs. Hoyt, who is a sister to President Cleveland, received for her

brother and presided at the executive man- sion in Albany while he was Governor of the State, and presided often at the recep- tions in the White House at Washington during the first year of the first term of President Cleveland, and before his mar- riage. They are a most worthy and deserv- ing couple, affectionately remembered at Theresa.

ALMANSON T. SMITH was born September 12, 1858, in the town of Gouverneur, N. Y. His father, Zadock Smith, who was one of the first to respond to President Lincoln's call for volunteers, was killed at Culpepper, Va., in 1862. His mother, Clarissa Smith, was a daughter of Josiah Walker, a pioneer, who came into the northern wilderness from Berk- shire county, Mass., and settled upon a farm near Richville. The subject of this sketch received his education at the Richville Union Free School ; commenced clerking in a country store when 14 years of age, and has ever since been connected with the mecantile business. He was a member of the class of 1880-81 of the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy ; was prescription clerk in a Bos- ton drug store for some time, and for the last 10 years has conducted a drug store in Theresa. In 1886 he married Miss Jennie Peck, daughter of F. M. Peck, a prominent merchant of Theresa.

ANSON CHEESMAN was born in 1781, and settled in Theresa in the fall of 1817. His wife lived to be 93 years of age. His chil- dren were: William C., Clifford, Jeremiah, Alanson C., Lorenzo, B. Palmer, Tammy and Lorena. About the same time Anson Chees- man came, three of his brothers also made Theresa their permanent home. Their names were Jeremiah, Abner and Clifford. Jere- miah's children were: Alonzo, Pamelia, Eliza- beth, Francis and Matty. The family of Ab- ner C. were: Hiram, Pharna, Elvira, Emily and Rufus. Three Methodist ministers have sprung from these Cheesman families-Rev. Anson C., son of Clifford, who is now chap- lain in Clinton Prison, appointed by Gov. Flower ; Rev. Elliot E., another son of Clif- ford Cheesman, has located in St. Lawrence county, and Rev. E. S. Cheesman, who is the son of Jeremiah, located at Cape Vincent. All three have been earnest and acceptable preachers, and are useful men. Tammy the daughter of Anson Cheesman, is now widow of the late Alanson Cook, long known as a lime-dealer. She and B. Palmer are the only survivors of Anson's progeny.

SAMUEL AND ANNA (WISWELL) STROUGH came into Jefferson from Herkimer county about 1820. They first settled in the town of Theresa. but afterwards removed to their permanent home in the southeasterly cdge of Theresa, near Rappole's Corners, a location now bearing the name of Strough's Crossing. Here and at their former residence they reared a family of 10 children, every one of whom has filled a good position in society. Samuel Wiswell Strough, the eldest son began to teach at 15 years of age, and helped his

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THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

father to pay for his land. He blossomed out into a full-fledged man, and became a well-known and respected citizen. He was instantly killed in 1876 by a stroke of light- ning, near his own home. His sons are now the most prominent business men in the town of Orleans, comprising the firm of B. J. & L. S. Strough. Another sonis P. A. Strough,

recently school commissioner for two terms. A daughter is Mrs. W. A. Snyder, of La- Fargeville, with whom Mr. Strough's widow is now residing. Without following out the record of all the members of this family, we would refer to the brief sketch of Mr. George H. Strough, given in connection with the town of Clayton.

SUPERVISORS OF JEFFERSON CO., 1894-95.

WILLIAM D. ARMS, supervisor from the town of Adams, was born there in 1829, and has all his life been a resident of Adams, with the exception of eight years (1866 to 1874) spent in the city of New York, and, ex- cepting the years named, has been a dry goods merchant in the village of Adams during all his business life. He has, from his youth up, been intimately and progress- ively connected with that town and village. In 1881 he was first elected supervisor, and has continuously been the town's representa- tive upon the Board since that time. When his present term expires, he will have served continuously 15 years-something quite ex- traordinary amidst the mutations of political life and the changes of public opinion. Mr. Croissant, of LeRay, is the only one who shows a longer continuous term. But it is to be remembered that Adams and LeRay are both conservative towns, inhabited by a class of people who take an intelligent inter- est in public affairs, and know a good public officer when once they have found him. For 10 years of Mr. Arms' service, he has been the nominee of both political parties, a thing altogether unprecedented in the history of Jefferson county, and an honor never before conferred upon any nomince in the town of Adams. He has also been signally honored by having been made chairman of the Board for five consecutive years, showing that he is equally as well appreciated when serving in a distinguished position as when moving along with his neighbors and friends in his native town. Mr. Arms is a desirable man to know. Though his head is gray, his heart is young and full of sympathy for his fellow-creatures. Time has dealt kindly with him, and all who are privileged to know him hope that the future will show Father Time equally as charitable towards one whose name should indeed, as Ben Adams' did, "lead all the rest."

WILLIAM M. THOMSON, the present super- visor from the town of Alexandria, was the son of Francis Thomson, a Scotchman, who emigrated from Canada to Alexandria in 1838, he having been mixed up with the "Patriot War." His wife was Miss Chris- tiana Lang. They reared eight children. William M. was the second son. He had the benefit of the common schools of that period, and at 15 years of age began a clerkship in the store of Fuller & Woodworth, where he remained six years. In 1856 he started for

California, and found himself stopped at San Juan del Norte by the Walker escapade, which was then at its culmination, and he with many other passengers returned to New York city on the same ship which had brought them out. He went from New York to Chicago, where he worked in a lumber yard, returning to Alexandria Bay in the spring of 1859. In 1861 he married Miss Catharine A., daughter of John W. Fuller, the well-known merchant. Previous to commencing trade upon his own responsi- bility, Mr. Thomson was a clerk for Sisson & Fox, and for Cornwall & Walton. In 1883 he began merchandising under his own name, and has continued in trade up to the present time. He is an intelligent, unterri- fied Democrat, has the entire confidence of his neighbors, and has held nearly all the important town offices, having been magis- trate 12 years, and has represented his town four years upon the Board of Supervisors, embracing the years 1870-71-72 and 1894. In 1877, and again in 1882, he was a member of the Legislature, from what was then known as the second district of Jefferson county. He was collector of customs at Alexandria Bay under Cleveland's first ad- ministration. The pertinacity with which our good county clerks have mis-spelled and otherwise made free with Mr. Thomson's name, has led to several foolish errors in this History. Mr. William H. Thompson, it is no injustice to him to state, has never been supervisor of Alexandria, this History to the contrary notwithstanding, and that wherever his name is so represented, it should read " William M. Thomson,"

DR. GARY H. WOOD, who is supervisor from the town of Antwerp, was the son of Rev. Benjamin F. and Asceth (Barnes) Wood. His father was for many years an itinerant minister of the M. E. Church, was presiding elder of Watertown district four years, and of Adams district six years. He is now stationed at Martinsburg, Lewis county. Upon both sides of his parentage, Dr. Wood is descended from grand old Puritan stock, tracing back his genealogy to ancestors who came to America in 1630. Dr. Wood was born in Ohio, Herkimer Co., in 1854, having the benefit of common schools of that time, completing his scholastic educa- tion at Fairfield Seminary, Herkimer county. The Doctor studied medicine at Sauquoit, Oneida county, and was graduated in 1877

Key to Supervisors of Jefferson County, 1894-95.

No. I. C. D. Grimshaw, Lorraine. 2. J. A. McWayne, Hounsfield. 3. W. M. Thomson, Alexandria. 4. C. A. Beyer, Champion. 5. B. J. Strough, Orleans. 6. H. I. Allen, Rutland. 7. R. H. Holden, Jr., Ist ward, city. 6 8. Geo. E. Yost, Theresa.

9. C. O. Roberts, Philadelphia. " 10 A. D. Seaver, 3rd ward, city. " II. L. G. Kelsey, Cape Vincent.

" 12. A D. Boyd, Worth.

" 13. A. A. Scott, Henderson.

" 14. Joseph Atwell, Chair., 2nd ward, city. " 15. S. D. Ball, Pamelia.

No. 16. Jacob Stears, clerk. " 17. H. S. Dean, Rodman. " 18. E. A. Chapman, Ellisburgh.

" 19. Conelius J. Clark, Wilna.

" 20 G. H. Wood, Antwerp.

" 21. F. E. Croissant, LeRay. " 22. W. Zimmerman, Brownville.

" 23. Wm. H. Consaul, Clayton.

" 24. Frank M. Parker, Watertown.

" 25. W. D. Arms, Adams.

" 26. Wm. H. Tallett, 4th ward, city.

" 27. E. B. Johnson, Lyme.

" 28. Charles E. Cole, Daily Times. " 29. Charles S. Adams, Daily Standard.

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JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, 1894-95. [SHE KLY ANNEXED.]

719

SUPERVISORS OF JEFFERSON COUNTY.

from Long Island College Hospital, of Brook- lyn. He commenced practicing medicine in that year, and has an extended and lucra- tive practice, in the village of Antwerp. In the fall of 1876 he married Miss Mary F. Tamblin, daughter of Jackson Tamblin, of Black River. They have two children, Lillian C., six, and Isabella, four years of age. In 1890 he was elected supervisor of Antwerp upon the Republican ticket, and has been re-elected each year until the pres- ent time (1894), he being now in his fifth term of service. The doctor has always taken an active interest in politics, and has been all his business life a consistent, work- ing Republican, Dr. Wood is a wholesome man to know, and is happy in enjoying the entire confidence of his neighbors and towns- people. This is manifested by his election for five successive terms to the responsible position of supervisor, a member of a board which is now called on to legislate upon many subjects that but a few years since demanded the attention of the Solons at Albany. Dr. Wood is a trustee of Ives Seminary, an institution of learning that has made Antwerp quite an educational centre ; but, aside from that relation, he is interested in all the educational interests of his town. He is progressive in everything-in medi- cine, in educational matters, and in every- thing affecting Antwerp.

WALTER ZIMMERMAN, the supervisor from Brownville, was born in St. Johnsville, Montgomery county, N. Y., in 1834, the son of Jacob Zimmerman, who was a native of Montgomery county, and came into Brown- ville in 1838. He married Miss Elizabeth Gray, and they reared seven children. Walter, one of the sons, came into Brownville with his parents when only four years of age. He had the benefit of the common schools, com- pleting his scholastic education at Union Academy, Belleville, and at the Mexico Aca- demy. The farm upon which his father settled has always been Mr. Zimmerman's home, though he was away teaching for some six years. In 1862 he married Miss Laura A. Allen, daughter of Esquire Charles Allen, one of the old settlers of Brownville. They have reared six children : Elizabeth, wife of Edward Parker; Charles A., Herbert, Jennie, Walter, Jr. and Laura. Mr. Zimmerman can certainly be classed as a farmer, that having been his almost life-long occupation. His farm has been in the Zimmerman family for 56 years, being what was once known as the General Britton farm, on the road from Brownville to Perch River. Mr. Zimmer- man is a successful farmer, and may be classed among those sons of the early settlers who have exemplified, by upright lives and enlarged in- telligence and virtues of their sires, who work- ed hard, endured much, but achieved much. They founded families, a result worthy of the highest ambition, and manifested the purity of their blood by the healthful progeny they left behind them. We have heard a little bird say that Mr. Zimmerman stands a fair

chance of filling soon one of the chairs old Jefferson county's representatives hold down at Albany in the State capitol.

L. GIDEON KELSEY, supervisor from Cape Vincent, is a son of Silas Leander Kelsey, who came to Cape Vincent at an early day with his father, Eber Kelsey, of whom men- tion is made in the general history of the town. L. Gideon was born and raised on a farm, and educated in the public schools of the day until of age. Not enamored of farm life he sold out, and went into the mercantile business, and now has a general store, a large and important department of which is drugs and kindred goods. Mr. Kelsey is serving the town as its supervisor for the second time, and has proved himself to be an able and efficient representative.

CHARLES A. BEYER, now serving his third term as supervisor of Champion, the son of Philip and Louise (Sherer) Beyer, was born in Croghan, Lewis county, in 1860. His parents were natives of Baden, Germany, and came to Croghan in 1852. They reared five sons and five daughters. Charles A., the eldest son, came to Carthage in 1876, and entered into an engagement with Lewis F. Bachman, then a prosperous druggist in Car- thage. During the winter he attended school. He remained with Mr. Bachman eight years, after which time he entered into partnership with George E. Hull, M. D., and opened the first drug store in West Car- thage. After one year and a half, Mr. Hull retired on account of his health, and Mr. Beyer purchased his interest and conducted the business himself, which he has continued for the past 12 years. Mr. Beyer enjoys the entire confidence of the people of the town where he resides. He has served six con- secutive terms as town clerk. In 1884 he married Miss Almeda R. Perry, of Carthage, and their home is an exceptionally happy one.

WILLIAM H. CONSAUL, supervisor from Clayton, was the son of Lewis and Jane Ann (Lingenfelter) Consaul, who came to Clayton in 1831, and died in 1884. William H. had the benefit of the common schools of Clayton. He has long been known as one of the most energetic and pushing men of Clayton, al- ways ready to aid in whatever will improve his native town. He married Julia M., daugh- ter of Francis Barrett, who died In 1893, leaving one daughter, Mrs. William H. Enos. Mr. Consaul has filled many town offices, having been assessor, deputy collector of customs. commissioner of highways and vil- lage trustee, and is now serving his fifth term as supervisor. He enjoys the unchallenged respect of his neighbors, and is a wholesome man to know.

EUGENE A. CHAPMAN, M. D., the super- visor from the town of Ellisburgh, was born at Belleville, N. Y., December 9, 1839. While still a boy his parents moved to Henderson, where he received a common school educa- tion. From 1857 to 1859 he was a student at the Union Academy of Belleville, and began

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THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

the study of medicine in 1859 with Dr. Daniel Nugent, of Henderson. He attended medi- cal lectures at the University of Michigan and the University of Buffalo, and graduated at the last named institution in February, 1862. He commeneed the practice of medi- cine at Clayton in March following, and in June entered the military service as a first lieutenant of artillery. He was mustered into the United States service September 11, 1862, and was first lieutenant and adjutant of the 10th N. Y. Heavy Artillery until July, 1863, when he was promoted to captain. In August, 1864, he was examined before an army medical board, and received a commis- sion as assistant surgeon, with orders to report to General Butler at Fortress Monroe. He was assigned to the 27th U. S. Colored Infantry in November, 1864. From January 1 to April 2, 1865, he was on duty at Point of Rocks Hospital, Virginia, and was with his regiment from Petersburg to Appomattox. After 30 days' leave of absence, in June, he rejoined his regiment at Brazos Santiago, Texas, of which port he was quarantine officer during the summer, and was mustered out of service in November, 1865. Dr. Chapman married for his second wife Miss Agnes G. McClure, August 7, 1877. He has reared seven children, three by his first mar- riage, and four by his present wife. He renewed the practice of medicine at Hender- son in 1866, and remained there until the spring of 1873, when, his health being poor from overwork, he moved to Salamanca, N. Y., and worked for the Erie and Atlantic and Great Western railroads for one year. His health improving, he resumed the prac- tice of medicine at Salamanca, in the spring of 1874. In January, 1875, on account of the death of his wife, he returned to Jefferson county and again began practicing, this time at Belleville, where he has remained since. He has been four times elected coroner of Jefferson county, for several years been president of the board of trustees of Union Academy at Belleville. He became a mem- ber of the County Medical Society, January 12, 1869, and was elected vice-president in 1890, and president in 1891. Dr. Chapman is serving his first term as supervisor, and is a faithful, intelligent member of the Board.

ADELBERT A. SCOTT, the present super- visor from the town of Henderson, was born December 12, 1847, in the southern part of Henderson, the son of Alonzo B. Scott, who came into Jefferson county about 1835, from Hammond, St. Lawrence county. His wife was Miss Lovina Templeton, and they reared two children, of whom Adelbert A., the sub- ject of this sketch, is the only one surviving. His education was in the common school, completing it at the Union Academy in Belle- ville. On leaving school he was a teacher for six terms in the winter, and spent his summers upon his father's farm. He was married in 1873 to Miss Clara E. Green, daughter of Daniel Green, of Ellisburgh. They have reared three children : Walter E.,

Daniel G. and Bessie. Mr. Scott is a farmer and dealer in live-stock, which, aside from teaching, has occupied his whole attention. He is another of those young men who have descended from farmer stock, maintaining, in the second generation, the excellencies of those men who came early into the county, and helped to bring it to its present im- portance and wealth.

JOSIAH A. MOWAYNE, at present super- visor from Houndsfield, was the son of Delos and Angeline (Johnson) McWayne, the hus band having come from Wayne county with his parents ; the mother having been born in Henderson, but broughtup with a relative in New Hampshire. They were married about 1831, and reared four children : Josiah A., Johnson P., Delos A. and Edwin G. Josiah A., the subject of this sketch, was born in 1833, and had the benefit of the district schools of that period, one of his teachers having been a Mr. Chaffe. His father moved from the farm when Josiah was seven years of age, and settled in Dexter, where Josiah was clerk in a store, and at 19 he went West and was gone four years. On his return he began a mercantile business in Dexter, finally en- tering the employ of the Ontario Woolen Company as book-keeper. This position he occupied eight years, when he again took up merchandising at Dexter. In 1834 he married Miss Eveline Smith, daughter of Ammi Smith, of Dexter, They reared five children : Addie, Albert D., Eda, Frank E. and Jesse. The mother of these children died in 1867. Mr. Mc Wayne married, for his second wife, Miss Delila Washburn, daughter of Collins Wash- burn. By this union four children have been born : Geraldine, Harry W., Mark W. and Kent W. These children have had the benefit of the Belleville Union School. In 1874 Mr. McWayne sold his property in Dexter, and removed to Houndsfield, pro- curing the Washburn farm by purchasing from the heirs. There he has resided ever since, and is a successful farmer. He was an assessor in Houndsfield for three years, and for the past six consecutive years has been supervisor from that town. He is a whole- some man to know, and possesses the entire confidence of his neighbors and townsmen.

FRED. E. CROISSANT, the supervisor from the town of LeRay, was the son of James and Eleanor (Manigold) Croissant, who came into LeRay in 1828, from the east of France, settling at LeRaysville. Mr. Croissant came to this country under the auspices of Mr. Le- Ray. Fred E. had the benefit of the common schools at that time, receiving some instruc- tion in the higher schools of Watertown. He was his father's assistant on the farm sum- mers, attending school winters, and when 19 began teaching a district school, which he continued for several winters. In 1872 he became an employe of the R. W. & O. R. R., and was long in their employ. He has been station agent and telegraph operator at Evans Mills. He was elected supervisor of LeRay in 1877, and has served continu-

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ously since, being now in the 18th year of service. Mr. Croissant is a very popular man, one who has made friends by being himself friendly. He enjoys the entire con- fidence of the people of LeRay, as is evi- denced by his continuance upon the Board for a length of time never before equalled in Jefferson county. He has been justice of the peace nine years.

CHARLES D. GRIMSHAW, the supervisor from Lorraine, was born in that town April 5, 1850, the son of Joseph and Mary A. (Adsit) Grimshaw, who came into Lorraine in 1840, from Oneida county. They settled about a mile west of Lorraine village, upon the farm where they resided until 1870, when they removed to the village, where the father died in 1880, the mother surviving him until 1891. They reared a family of eight sons, all of whom are now living, except Edelbert, who died in his infancy. This is an exceptional instance, the writer never having before come in contact with such a record as eight sons without a daughter. Charles, tl youngest of these sons and the subject of this sketch, received the benefit of the common schools. Completing his scholastic education in 1871, he became a clerk in the store of C. C. Moore, for many years the supervisor from Worth. Here Mr. Grimshaw remained until he became a partner, and continued as such until 1875, when he relinquished his interest in the firm of Moore & Grimshaw. For two years thereafter he was the village school teacher winters, and settling up the business he had in hand during summers. In the spring of 1877, Mr. Grimshaw began business in his own name at Lorraine, and has since continued in the general merchandise de- manded in a country store. In 1872 he mar- ried Miss Fanny Oatman, daughter of Elijah Oatman, of Adams. They have reared two children, Hattie M. and Allen C. Mr. Grim- shaw was first elected supervisor in 1889, up- on the Democratic ticket, and has been elected ever year since, both parties acquiesc- ing in his manner of conducting the business of the town. He is a popular man in his town and upon the Board, and his progres- sive spirit and ideas have resulted in very materially lessening taxation in the town he ably represents.

ELI BURTON JOHNSON, now supervisor from the town of Lyme, was the son of Lor- enzo and Jane (Phelps) Johnson. Lorenzo was born on Point Salubrious, on the farm where his father, William Johnson, began business life in the very early days of the settlement of that region. Lorenzo Johnson is still residing upon the paternal acres, and there, March 15, 1859, the subject of this sketch, Eli B. Johnson, was born. He had the benefit of the common schools, working upon his father's farm summers. He became a school teacher, following that profession for six consecutive years. In 1855 he began clerking in stores at Chaumont, and after two years he took up insurance, which has been his business up to the present time. In 1881

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Growth of a Century : as illustrated in the history of Jefferson County, New York, from 1793 to 1894, Part 152

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