Growth of a Century : as illustrated in the history of Jefferson County, New York, from 1793 to 1894, Part 153

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

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he married Miss Jessie A. Main, daughter of William H. Main, of Chaumont, and they have reared one child, George F. In 1890 he was elected, upon the Republican ticket, as supervisor of the town of Lyme, and has been continued in that position of trust until the present time, he now being in his fifth year of service. Mr. Johnson is a modest and unassuming gentleman, well qualified to dis- charge the duties of any public station within the gift of his fellow citizens. His unpre- tending, straightforward course entitles him to all the honors he may gain. Mr. Johnson is fortunate in having spared to him his father and mother, now in the seventies. He has settled near them, and his greatest pleasure is in contributing to their comfort, and in mak- ing the down-hill portion of their lives less arduous than was the up-hill portion, when they, as did all their neighbors, were putting forth almost superhuman efforts in making possible the present condition of life in Jeffer- son county.

BYRON J. STROUGH, the supervisor from Orleans, was born in Theresa in 1844, the son of Samuel W. and Emeline (Tallman) Strough. Samuel W. Strough came into Theresa with his parents when an infant of three years. He grew up on the farm where his parents, Daniel and Anna (Wis- well) Strough, ultimately settled, near Rap- pole's Corners, now known as Strough's Crossing. Samuel W. was killed by light- ning, and his sudden death will long be re- membered in that vicinity, for he was a man of affairs, active as a citizen, respected by all, and exemplary as the head of a family. He left four children, three boys and a daughter. Byron J., one of these boys, and the subject of this sketch, received his education primarily in the common school, completing his scholastic education in Mr. Goodnough's Theresa High School. Mr. Strough began teaching as soon as he left the Academy, and continued as an instructor of youth for 28 consecutive terms. In 1866 he received a State certificate, an honor not accorded to every applicant. In 1882 he commenced mercantile business at LaFarge- ville, and after the completion of the railroad the firm of B. J. & L. S. Strough abandoned merchandise, and began to buy and ship hay and grain. They are now the largest ship- pers of hay and grain of any firm in Jeffer- son county. In 1886 he was elected super- visor of the town of Orleans, and has been continuously retained a member of the board, now serving his ninth term. In 1867 he married L. Marie Ford, daughter of Rev. L. P. Ford, of the Baptist Church. Mr. Strough has been for 22 years in business at LaFargeville, and has met with unusual suc- cess in all he has undertaken. He has been a progressive, enterprising and honorable citizen, himself and his brother enjoying the entire respect of the community in which they reside. Upon the Board of Supervisors he is authority in matters relating to legisla- tion, for no man has given more critical ex-

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THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

amination to the subject of town and county government than Mr. Strough. Possessed of a good share of this world's goods, his posi- tion in society is an enviable one. Indeed, the writer knows of no man in Jefferson county whose individual record as a man is superior to that of Mr. Strough's.

CHARLES O. ROBERTS, the supervisor from the town of Philadelphia, was born in Martinsburg, N. Y., in 1864, the son of William and Sarepta (Wilder) Roberts. Wm. Roberts came into Lewis county from Oneida in the forties, settling upon a farm in New Bremen, then removing to Martins- burg,and finally to Lowville, where he was a railroad contractor for several years. From Lowville he moved to Philadelphia, N. Y., where he has been for the past nine years engaged largely in lumbering. Charles O., his son, and the subject of this sketch, came to Philadelphia in 1883, from Utica, in which city he had been engaged as a tele- graph operator for several years. He re- ceived the benefit of the common schools, completing his academic education at the Lowville Academy. On coming to Phila- delphia he became identified with his father's lumbering business, which had been estab- lished several years before the elder Roberts removed his family to that place. Mr. Roberts was married in 1885 to Miss Marie L. Harris, daughter of James B. Harris, of Antwerp. They have reared two children, Ethel M. and William. Mr. Roberts' princi- pal business is now in connection with the Indian River Chair Company, the stock of which is all owned by the Roberts family. He was elected supervisor in 1889, was out one year, and is now in his third consecutive year of service. He is an intelligent, level- headed gentleman, very familiar with the duties of his office, and a wholesome man to know.

HERMAN L. ALLEN, the supervisor from Rutland, was born in LeRay in 1851, the son of Erasmus D. and Delia (Graves) Allen, who were also born in Jefferson county. They removed to Rutland when Herman L., the subject of this sketch, was an infant of one year. Herman L. had the benefit of the common schools of Rutland, which were much above the other schools of the county in the excellence of their teachers. Mr. Allen has always been a farmer, and feels an honorable pride in his calling. His residence is at Rutland Center, on the State road from Watertown to Champion. In 1875 he married Miss Clara A. Litchfield, daughter of C. B. Litchfield, of Turin, Lewis county. They have reared two daughters, Edith S. and Georgia May. He is now serving his third term as super- visor. The father of Mr. Allen was a jus- tice of the peace for 12 years, and was loan commissioner for two terms. Joseph Graves, the great-grandfather of Mr. Allen, was one of the very early settlers of Rutland. He held the office of supervisor of Rutland from 1827 to 1835. In 1842 he was a member of

the Legislature from Jefferson county. In 1843 he was again supervisor. He died in Rutland in 1875, at the advanced age of 88 years. His wife survived him several years, dying at 89. They were an excellent family, fully coming up to the requirements of good citizenship, and left an example which will be safe to follow.

GEORGE E. YOST, supervisor from Theresa, was born in that town, in April, 1838, the son of Nicholas D. Yost, long a citizen of Theresa, who was born in Johnstown, Mont- gomery county, in 1808. In 1834 he married Miss Magdalin Hanson, and in 1837 they re- moved to Theresa and purchased the farm where he so long resided, reared his family, and which he owned at his death. They reared six children. Mr. Yost died in 1870, and is buried in the new cemetery at Theresa. His widow still survives him, and has her residence in Theresa village. George, at the age of 17, became a clerk with the firm of Atwell & Hoyt, the leading dry-goods deal- ers in Theresa; he remained with this firm for two years, going West for a year, and when he returned to Theresa, after a me- chanical venture in shingle-making, he pur- chased the stock in trade of Silas L. George, a merchant who was retiring from business, and in 1859 he was a full-fledged merchant in his native town, at the early age of 21 years. The Civil War came on, and having also purchased at a low figure the assigned estate of Atwell & Hoyt, our young mer- chant found himself in possession of a fine stock of goods which had in the meantime greatly enhanced in value. In 1863 he sold out his mercantile business and began to pur- chase cattle. Having been reared a farmer, he has never fully abandoned that calling, and is the owner of several farms, one of them in the adjoining town of Antwerp. Mr. Yost has always been an active and pro- gressive citizen, and has held many offices in his native town. He was elected a member of the Legislature in 1875. He has repre- sented Theresa for six years upon the Board of Supervisors, and has always given the utmost satisfaction to his constituency. His enlarged relations with trade and commerce have induced him to become a member of the New York Produce Exchange, and is a well- known member of that large and influential organization. For the past 23 years Mr. Yost has been a banker at Theresa, and pos- sesses the entire confidence of the business community.

FRANKLIN M. PARKER, the present super- visor for the town of Watertown, was born in 1842, the son of Jeremiah and Fransina (Kenyon) Parker. She was the daughter of Thomas B. Kenyon, of Amsterdam, N. Y. Jeremiah Parker was the son of Cratus Parker, whose father (Ezra Parker) came into Jefferson county and settled on Dry Hill in 1802. His title to land was the fourth deed ever given in Watertown. Jeremiah Parker was a man of almost unexampled activity and perseverance, and what he ac-

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SUPERVISORS OF JEFFERSON COUNTY.

cumulated was by his own exertions. Un- aided and alone, and without any of the opportunities afforded at the present day for an education, he became one of the most judicious and intelligent farmers of his town and vicinity. Jeremiah Parker had three children : Franklin M., Thomas C., and Ella D. Franklin M., the subject of this sketch, had the advantages of the common schools, completing his scholastic education at the Adams Centre Select School, taught by Horace Otis, and at the Belleville Academy. In 1865 he began clerking in the Union store at Adams Center, finally purchasing the store and continuing in trade for six years. He returned to the old homestead in 1872, and has ever since been a farmer, living upon a part of the original farm. Mr. Parker may be called in all respects a successful man. He is now serving his fourth term as super- visor of the town of Watertown, an office he has filled with great acceptability. He has been treasurer of the Jefferson County Agricultural Society for 14 years, and has filled that important and responsible position without any criticism upon his official action. In 1861 he married Miss Miranda H. Wilder. and they have reared three children: Nettie F., the wife of C. J. Wadley ; Charles G., a civil engineer, serving at present in Pennsyl- vania, and Miss Maude E., still residing at home. They are an interesting and respected family, a fair representation of the people who have sprung from those earlier settlers who first came to Jefferson county.

JOSEPH ATWELL, JR., was the son of Joseph Atwell, who came into Jefferson county in 1848, settling at Theresa, where he was a merchant for 14 years, and resided there until 1867. Joseph Atwell, Senior, married Miss Mary Beach, and they reared three sons : Charles B., now professor in the Northwestern University at Evanston, Ill .; Joseph, Jr., and Willlam G., pastor of the M. E. church at Chaumont. Joseph, Jr., was born in 1858, at Theresa, while his father was a merchant there. He had the benefit of the common school of that village, gradu- ating from the Watertown High School in 1873. He studied law with Mullin & Griffin. was admitted in 1881, and had a clerkship with McCartin & Williams until 1885. He was appointed city attorney in 1885, and at that time began his active practice of the law. In January, 1892, he became a partner with Watson M. Rogers, and the firm of Rogers & Atwell still continues, and is one of the most able and reliable in this part of the State. Mr. Atwell is now serving his seventh year as supervisor of the second ward of the city of Watertown and his second term as chairman of the Board. He married Miss Lily D. Bond, daughter of Samuel N. Bond, of Adams. They have one child, Miss Rosalind, now in her fifth year. Their home is a typically happy one, and Mr. Atwell has just cause to be satisfied with his position at the Bar and in society. The writer knew his father and grandfather-the

latter was for several years the colporteur of the Jefferson County Bible Society, and counted it gain to distribute for a bare sub- sistence the word of God among those who desired to know the will of the Almighty.

WILLIAM HENRY TALLETT, the super- visor from the 4th ward of Watertown. was born in 1855 in the town of Rodman, the son of George H. and Katherine E. (Baker) Tallett. On his mother's side he is descended from good old Methodist stock, for she was a daughter of that Rev. Gard- ner Baker, one of the pioneer preachers of Jefferson county, who exemplified, by a long and virtuous life, the religion he counted it gain to preach. George H. Tallett came into Jefferson from Taberg, Oneida county, about 1851, and was one of the very few travelling photographers the county has ever been familiar with. William Henry Tallett, the subject of this sketch, had the advantage of the public schools of Watertown, graduating from the High School, and has always resided in Watertown. He is an extensive horticultur- ist and vegetable gardener, having a large plant in the fourth ward, west of the Fair Grounds. He is serving his second term as supervisor, and is a most estimable and enterprising citizen. In 1885 he married Miss Rosetta L. Strong, daughter of Moses Strong, of Champion. They reside upon the property which they have made so inviting, and where they have lived since 1865.

CORNELIUS J. CLARK, the supervisor from Wilna, and the tallest man upon the Board, was born in Philadelphia, Jefferson county, July 15, 1857. He was prepared for college at Mexico Academy and at the Carthage High School. In 1875 he entered Madison University (now Colgate), and graduated in 1878. Returning to his home in West Car- thage, after graduation, he went into the milling business in company with Mr. Hutchinson, and that has been his occupa- tion ever since. Mr. Clark has taken, from the first, a deep interest in politics. He is an ardent and uncompromising Republican, has been delegate from his town to many county conventions, and twice to the State convention of his party. He is a natural and graceful speaker, and a young man of unusual promise. He is the only college graduate on the Board, and was very promi- nently put forward by his friends in 1894, as the Republican nominee for member of Assembly, a position he would have filled with distinguished ability, for he is a most agreeable and cultivated gentleman. His party will doubtless call him, in 1895, to fill the place he came so near being nomin- ated for-and to be nominated, with him means his election. Mr. Clark has a repu- tation as a speaker, which has induced the State Committee to send him into different counties during political canvasses. He always pleases his audiences, for he has that desirable foundation for any public man, an excellent education. At a late G. A. R.

724

THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

gathering in Carthage, he made a great hit, and his patriotic sentences aroused the en- thusiasm of the old soldiers to the highest pitch. Soon after his graduation, Mr. Clark married Emma, daughter of Dr. N. D. Fergu- son, long a resident of Carthage. They have one son, a fine, intelligent lad. The subject of our sketch is the son of William and Asenath Clark, who have been for many years residents of Carthage and its vicinity. The grandfather, Gardner Clark, was one of the first settlers in Philadelphia town- ship, an honored and able citizen

ALEXANDER D. BOYD, now supervisor from the town of Worth, was the son of William and Catherine (Lane) Boyd, who came into Montague, Lewis county, late in the forties, from County Mayo, Ireland, and became a farmer. He raised a family of four children. Alexander D. was born in Montague, and is now in his 39th year. He had the benefit of the common schools, com- pleting his scholastic education at the Car- thage Union Free School, having for one of his associates Mr. C. J. Clark, now repre- senting Wilna on the Board of Supervisors, and who is lately making such a good run as Republican candidate for member of Assembly. Mr. Boyd taught school some six seasons, putting in his time at farming during the summers. In 1875 he married Miss Julia Newton, daughter of Ora K. Newton, a highly-respected citizen of Rod- man, now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Boyd have reared two children, a boy and a girl, Clarence and Grace. He has been justice of the peace, postmaster, and is now serving his second term as supervisor. He is an agreeable, unpretending gentleman, at pres- ent, in addition to his farming, being an ex- tensive manufacturer of cheese for the sur- rounding farmers.

JACOB STEARS, Jr., the present clerk of the board of supervisors, is the youngest of three children of Jacob and Sally (Pratt) Stears. He was born in the town of Water- town, December 8, 1828, on his father's farm, then owned by him, and so continued until his death, in 1874. Jacob Stears, Sr., was born in the town of Johnstown, Mont- gomery county, N. Y., in January, 1790, and came to this county with his uncle, John Bliven, in 1801. Sally Pratt, his wife, was born at Leominster, Mass., in 1797, was a sister of the late Solomon and Tilly R. Pratt, the latter dying some years since in this city. Jacob, Jr., the subject of this sketch, has always resided on the farm, in the town of Watertown, where born, attend- ing district school until 18 years of age, subsequently select schools, Rodman Semin- ary and Clinton Liberal Institute, at Clinton, N. Y. In 1860 he was elected assessor of the old town of Watertown, and was re- elected and served in that capacity with the late Gilbert Bradford, Charles Clark and Theodore Ely, until the incorporation of the city of Watertown in 1869. He was again elected supervisor of the present town, and

served as such until assuming the duties of county clerk in 1871, to which he had been elected in 1870, was re-elected in 1874, and served in that capacity until January 1, 1877. In the fall of 1863 he was elected clerk of the Board of Supervisors, and was re-elected each year until 1871, at which time he was serving as county clerk. In 1885 and 1886 he was elected supervisor of the town of Watertown, and when serving his second term as such supervisor, was chosen as clerk of the Board of Supervisors, to which position he has been appointed each subsequent year, and is now serving in that capacity, having served in that position 17 years. At the organization of the Legis- lature of 1888, he was chosen deputy clerk of the Assembly, and was re-appointed in 1888-89-90. In 1891 he was given the posi- tion of engrossing clerk in the Senate, through Senator Sloan. At the session of the Assembly of 1894 he served in a similar position in the Assembly. By occupation he is a stock-raiser and farmer.

The following table shows the names of Chairmen and Clerks of the Board of Super- visors of the County of Jefferson from 1859 to 1894-5. Compiled by Jacob Stears, Jr. expressly for Haddock's History.

YEAR. CHAIRMAN.

CLERK.

1859 Ambrose W. Clark __ John A. Haddock

1860 John H. Conklin_ .Levi Smith

1861 Chas. A. Benjamin. Wm. S. Phelps

1862 Nathan Strong Wm. S. Phelps

1863 Chas. W. Burdick Jacob Stears, Jr.

1864 John H. Conklin Jacob Stears, Jr.

1865 Geo. C. Hazleton Jacob Stears, Jr.

1866 Chas. W. Burdick. Jacob Stears, Jr.

1867 Chas. A. Benjamin Jacob Stears, Jr.

1868 Geo. A. Bagley Jacob Stears, Jr.

1869 R. B. Biddlecom Jacob Stears, Jr.

1870 Theo. Canfield Jacob Stears, Jr.

1871 Theo. Canfield.

W. D. V. Rulison

1872 Royal Fuller

W. D. V. Rulison

1873 Thos. C. Chittenden. W. D. V. Rulison 1874 Fred Waddingham ___ W. D. V. Rulison 1875 O. Degrasse Greene __ W. D. V. Rulison

1876 John C. Knowlton ___ W. D. V. Rulison 1877 O. Degrasse Greene __ W. D. V. Rulison 1878 O. Degrasse Greene.Fred Waddingham 1879 James Sterling W. D. V. Rulison

1880 Isaac P. Wodell W. D. V. Rulison

1881 Isaac P. Wodell W. D. V. Rulison

1882 H. H. Bent. W. D. V. Rulison

1883 Isaac Mitchell W. D. V. Rulison

1884 Isaac Mitchell W. D. V. Rulison

1885 Wm. D. Arms W. D. V. Rulison

1886 Wm. D. Arms Jacob Stears, Jr.

1887 Wm. D. Arms Jacob Stears, Jr.

1888 Wm. D. Arms Jacob Stears, Jr.

1889 Wm. D. Arms. Jacob Stears, Jr.

1890 Walter Zimmerman Jacob Stears, Jr.

1891 Walter Zimmerman. Jacob Stears, Jr.

1892 Walter Zimmerman Jacob Jtears, Jr.

1893 Joseph Atwell Jacob Stears, Jr.

1894 Joseph Atwell. Jacob Stears, Jr.

725

WATERTOWN.

WE have already devoted much space to the City of Watertown, designating it as the geographical, financial, educational and ac- tual historical center of the grand old county of Jefferson-the heritage of a free people, wrought out by our forefathers with much travail of soul, sometimes with tears and sufferings which have never been told and never will be, but which are treasured in the secret memory of the Divine Omniscience. It is for us who are now in active life to be thankful for what we have received-a grand county of generous and fruitful acres, gov- erned by wise laws, free from the sting of any slave driver's lash-a land of peaceful valleys and of hills that "exalt themselves," and of a people worthy of such an heritage.

The history of this town is so closely inter- mingled with that of the adjacent city of the same name that it is somewhat difficult to separate them. In this case, as in other similar ones, the only way is to keep in mind that the territory of the present town is the subject under consideration, and that all which had occurred outside of its present boundaries is irrevelant to our purpose. These boundaries are as follows : Beginning in the middle of Black river, on the line be- tween the old survey township numbers 2 and 3 of the "Eleven Towns ;" thence south to the southeast corner of Township No. 2, six and a third miles; thence west to the southwest corner of No. 2, six and a half miles ; thence north to the middle of Black river, seven miles ; thence easterly along the centre of the river, two and a half miles, to the city boundary ; thence southerly, west- erly and northerly, along that boundary, at various angles, but in a general semicircu- lar direction, for six and a half miles, as laid down in the history of Watertown city, to the center of Black river, striking two and three- fourths miles from the point of deflection ; and thence easterly along the center of the river, two miles and a quarter, to the place of beginning.

The surface of this territory is moderately broken in the central and western parts, rising into hills of considerable height in the south- ern and eastern portions. Black river runs along the north side of the northeastern and northwestern sections of the present town; it is a rapid stream, affording abundant water- power within the territory of Watertown city. Besides this, the principal stream is Sandy creek, which heads in Rutland, enters Watertown about two miles south from its northeastern corner, runs south westerly about four miles, and then passes across its southern line into Rodman. Another stream, called Mill creek, heads near the centre of the town, and also runs southwesterly, its waters finally making their way into Black River Bay near Sackets Harbor. From the western part of the city across the northwestern part of the territory under consideration, and thence

southwest toward the lake, extends a long marsh, commonly known as "Long Swamp."

The soil of the west part of the town is a dark loam interspersed with gravelly ridges, while in the eastern portion the gravel be- comes largely predominant, and small bowl- ders are abundant. The original growth of timber in the east was very largely sugar- maple, with smaller quantities of beech, bass- wood and elm, and some pine near the river. Going westward, the maple becomes less abundant, and considerable birch was found on the low ground.

This town, together with that part of the city south of Black river, was originally township No. 2 of the "Eleven towns." The early titles having been delineated, it is only necessary here to say that at the beginning of settlement it was owned, together with Adams in this county and Lowville in Lewis county, by Nicholas Low, of the latter place, his agent being Silas Stow. The township (the present city and town) had been surveyed in 1795 by Benjamin Wright, of Oneida county, into 52 lots of from 400 to 625 acres each, but it was not until 1800 that its settlement was actually begun.

In March of that year Deacon Oliver Bar- tholomew, a native of Connecticut and a Revolutionary soldier, who had already reached the age of 42 years, made his way from Oneida county through the trackless forest, and made his first settlement in the present town of Watertown, close to its northwestern corner. This earliest pioneer survived the hardships of frontier life for more than half a century, dying in 1850, at the age of 92 years.

Up to this time township No. 2 was a part of the gigantic town of Mexico, Oneida county, which town extended from Oneida lake on the south to Black river on the north, and from the same river on the east to Lake Ontario on the west. But almost simultaneously with the advent of the first settler (March 14, 1800), Watertown was formed by an act of the Legislature. It com- prised townships numbers 1, 2 and 3 of the "Eleven Towns," now known as Hounds- field, Watertown and Rutland, and the main part of the city of Watertown. All the in- habitants were in what is now Rutland, and it was there that the first town meeting of the town of Watertown was held. The name was probably derived from Watertown, Massachusetts, being considered especially appropriate on account of the river, which runs for near 20 miles along the northern boundary.

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Growth of a Century : as illustrated in the history of Jefferson County, New York, from 1793 to 1894, Part 153

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