Growth of a Century : as illustrated in the history of Jefferson County, New York, from 1793 to 1894, Part 159

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

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JONATHAN E. MILES was born among the spruce woods of New Hampshire, in June, 1782. His parents had a numerous family, and like most of the people of the Eastern States, they were under the necessity of practicing the most rigid economy. At the age of 18 he obtained the consent of his parents to seek out in the world for himself such a fortune as might result from unaided efforts. About this time nearly the whole of the eleven original towns, comprising the Black River tract, south of that river, was opened and offered for sale, and emigrants were flocking in and making purchases. The accounts given of the beauty of the country were such as to interest a mind like young Miles'. Leaving Whitestown with his knap- sack on his back, containing apple seeds and a fair supply of provisions, together with a somewhat scanty wardrobe, and with a gun on his shoulder, he put his face towards the "setting sun " again and proceeded to Fort Stanwix (Rome). Soon leaving Rome, he en- tered a dense and tangled forest, and follow- ing a rough road which led to Turin, on the Black river, where there were a few settlers,

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he passed through Martinsburg, which was entirely uninhabited, to Lowville, which was called the "eleventh town," where there were a good many families. On the 8th, 9th and 10th townships not a human face or habitation was to be seen. He saw but one family in the fifth township (Denmark), two families, Hubbard and Harris, on the fourth, (Champion); two, Keyes and Miller, on the third (Rutland) near the pond. From here the road was so indistinct and difficult to fol- low to the residence of Johnson and Andrew Howk (in the present Colonel Hungerford neighborhood), that he lost his way, and did not find their clearings, which, so far as he had any purpose, was. to have been the end of his journeyings for the present. Mr. Miles purchased the farm that he lived on so long in 1801. That was 94 years ago. We have seen how much of a wilderness this en- tire country was in the beginning. That wilderness has all disappeared, with the in- habitants, whose energies were taxed to the utmost in changing it into beautiful farms which now greet the eye. After rearing a large family of children, Mr. Miles died in 1860, aged 76 years, having been a good citi- zen and a useful man.

In writing of the unique and individual personalities of some of Watertown's earliest inhabitants, who possessed characteristics that would naturally elicit a boy's atten- tion or admiration, there was one whom the writer recalls with peculiar regret, for he was a man who seems to have passed out of the recollection of his fellow-townsmen almost completely. We refer to Pliny E. Miles, son of Jonathan E., the distinguished Iceland traveller, whose newspaper writings about that remote country at one time at- tracted much attention and approval, par- ticularly from the savants and men of letters. He was born in the town of Watertown, not far from Burrville, a farmer's son. He was educated in the public schools of that neigh- borhood, and came to man's estate like so many of the other farmer's sons of the early days of 1805 to 1845. He was very tall, and that perhaps added to his apparent forward- ness, for he was a man of words and ideas, and such are not usually popular in rural neighborhoods, being open to the charge of desiring to make themselves conspicuous, when nothing may be further from their thoughts. In company with his brother the school-teacher, Mr. Fabius Miles, Pliny opened a book store in the Fairbanks block on Court street, but the book store did not prosper, for it had to contend with Knowlton & Rice, who were well-to-do, had unlimited credit besides being themselves publishers. What turned Pliny into a "globe trotter" we never learned, but the writer heard of him after he gave up his bookstore and had left Watertown, as a distinguished traveller and frequent writer for the newspapers; but of his subsequent life we know nothing. He died on a passage from San Francisco to Honolulu, whither he was going to seek

health after his long Northern journeys. The impression he left upon our own mind is that of a man of pronounced ability, who went away from Watertown because he was unappreciated, and demonstrated, upon a broader theatre, and amid a different environ- ment, a capacity which would have perhaps had earlier development and a hardier growth if appreciated in the neighborhood where he was born and came to man's estate. It is sad to think that he was buried at sea, with a few words spoken over him, sewed up in a sail-cloth, and shot over the side from a plank-the usual way of burial.

THE SHELDONS .- One of the most interest- ing families of the town of Watertown has been the Sheldons. The father and mother came into the town as early as 1804, having been born in Connecticut in 1783. They be- gan life upon Dry Hill, a spot of consider- able note in those early days, and still dis- tinguished for its excellent farming land. The eldest son, Tilly R. Sheldon, is now in his 83d year, with his mind clear and remin- iscent. He says the first grist-mill he ever carried a grist to was upon the Wadley creek, about half a mile east of Rice's Corners, in the southeast part of the town. That is the creek which runs through Brookside Ceme- tery, and is formed solely from springs. In 1810 Joseph Sheldon had a distillery on Dry Hill. The next distillery was built on Washington street, three-fourths of a mile below the centre of the town, in 1813. The first distillery in the county was erected at Burrville, by Thomas Converse. The sur- plus whiskey found a market in Canada, and at one time it was an important trade, bring- ing cash to the farmers at a time when money was a scarce article. But there were always risks from the Canada revenue officers. Hon. Joseph Sheldon, a lawyer and judge, of New Haven, Conn., is a son of Joseph Sheldon. Mark Sheldon, of San Francisco, is another son, while nearly all the citizens of Water- town remember John Sheldon. They have been a hard-working family, always promin- ent. Originally Whigs, the sons nearly all went into the Republican organization, and have been a working force in it. Hon. Joseph Sheldon is one of the ablest writers in the country upon the silver question. He is often quoted, and his dicta emphasized by truthful and unanswerable arguments.

CHARLES RICHARDSON was born March 1, 1817, about five miles south of the city of Watertown. He was reared upon a farm, re- ceived a good common school education, and in his younger days taught school. He has resided in Jefferson county all his life, except three years spent in Onondaga county and one year in Illinois. He has been an active

participant in town affairs. and is at present town clerk. He reared a family of two sons and one daughter. Jos. Richardson, father of Charles, was born in Sterling, Mass., in 1784, subsequently removed to Herkimer county, and in 1803 settled in Watertown, where he spent the remainder of his life. He served as

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lieutenant in the War of 1812. His children were two sons and eight daughters. Tilley Richardson, father of Joseph, was born in Sterling, Mass., in 1759, and died in this county in 1852. He reared a family of two sons and six daughters. He was a Revo- lutionary soldier, and served his town as supervisor in 1808-09. The father of Tilley Richardson was a native of Massachusetts, and was a prominent man in that State, holding a civil office there many years.

REUBEN GOODALE was born in the town of Temple, N. H., April 9, 1783 ; he attended Appleton's School, in his native place, and Oneida Academy, Clinton, N. Y., and com- menced the study of medicine in 1807, with Dr. White, of Cherry Valley, N. Y. He practiced over 50 years in Watertown. In 1819 he was treasurer of the society, secre- tary and censor in 1820, and was elected dele- gate to the State Society to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Dr. Spafford. One of his sons, Charles, was a physician. In connection with his practice he carred on a farm situated on the State road, and was in partnership with Dr. Henry H. Sherwood in the drug business. He published the Con- stellation from December 13, 1830, about nine months. This paper, before coming into his possession, was known as the Anti-Masonic Sun. In physique Dr. Goodale was tall and spare, active and energetic, pronounced in his opinions, and always ready to defend them. He was public spirited, and a friend of education, the standard of which he aimed to advance. He died in Watertown, January 26, 1871, 73 years of age. He was perhaps the ablest general practitioner of his day.

E. H. THOMPSON, for many years one of the merchants of Watertown, has been so successful, and withal so popular a citizen and so wholesome a man to know that we have taken considerable trouble to hunt up his antecedents. He is the son of Dr. Wm. Thompson, and was born in Martinsburg, N. Y., in 1835. Curiously enough, we have found him not only a lover of art, but an artist of respectable acquirements, one of his pictures now hanging in his store telling of his ability much better than any words of ours can do. In 1854 he went to New Haven, Conn., where he studied portrait painting with Wales Hotchkiss for three years. But Mr. Thompson was forced to give up his chosen profession on account of defective eyesight. He came to Watertown in 1859, first entering into trade under the firm name of E. H. Thompson & Co., the " Co." being Mr. Tyler. This business relation continued until 1866, when Mr. Thompson purchased his partner's interest, and took upon himself the whole burden of business. Few men have been more successful. In 1892 he became the head of the firm of E. H. Thompson & Co., in business on the south side of Public Square, in the Washington Hall block. His partners are Jno. W. Van Camp and D. J. McDonald. They are by far the largest dealers in retail groceries in Northern New

York. Their stock is always choice and ex- tensive. Mr. Thompson's personal popu- larity has doubtless done much to bring about these results, but he is so very modest and reticent about himself that diligent ques- tioning has not elicited much of his early history. He may briefly be described as a " portrait painter diverted from his earliest aspirations to become engrossed in business."

WINCHELL DEVINNE RULISON was born in Carthage, March 25, 1844. He received his early education in that village, and his young manhood was spent as an assistant for his father, who was a surveyor. DeVinne be- came quite an expert at the business. July 13, 1865, he was married to Ella, daughter of William L. and Emeline (Henry) Easton, of Lowville. Mr. Easton was one of the most prominent citizens of Lewis county. At the age of 19 he started, in 1825, the Black River Gazette, a neutral paper. The last 12 years of his life he was in partnership with his son- in-law, Hon. D. W. C. West, in the dry-goods trade. He was one of the incorporators of the Bank of Lowville, and for many years a director and its president. Their union was blessed by 13 children, seven of whom are living. Mr. Easton died March 8, 1865, aged 59. DeVinne Rulison, subject of this sketch, was for many years the search clerk in the county clerk's office in Watertown, and was favorably known for his gentlemanly manner. He entered the office in 1868, and served therein until his death, May 26, 1891, after a short illness. He was also clerk of the Board of Supervisors for several years. "De Vinne," as he was familiarly called, was a Republican in politics, and made many friends. His wife still resides in Watertown, a lady of refinement and culture. They have buried three children.

ANSON J. COMINS, who resides on High street, was the son of Alexander H. Comins, long a resident of Watertown, coming to this city in the thirties, and learned his trade as a mason from his father-in-law, Benjamin Jeffries, who was one of the men who helped to erect Beebee's factory. Alexander H. Comins married Amanda Jeff- ries, and they reared five children. Alexan- der H. died in 1842. Anson J. Comins, the subject of this sketch, received a common school education at the old Factory Street School, taught by Mr. Ingalls. He was ap- prenticed to learn the mason's trade, which he followed for 44 years, being concerned in erect- ing the Watertown and Rome depot, the resi- dence of Mr. Cook, on Washington street, and many private residences throughout the city. In 1861 he married Miss Augusta Curtis, daughter of Bradley Curtis, of Martinsburg, Lewis county. They have reared three children, Anna R., Grovene and Jay. These three children are yet at home, and their home is a typically happy one. Mr. Comins has long been known as one of Watertown's honorable contractors and build- ers; the natural outgrowth of those early times when mechanics of all descriptions

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took an active pride in doing good work. Mr. Comins had two brothers in the Union army, one of them, Hamilton, going through three years of arduous and active service, in- cluding Fredericksburg and Chancelorsville, and coming out without a wound; another brother, Alexander, was fatally wounded at Fredericksburg, dying in Lincoln Hos- pital, Washington, in January, 1863, after having been in active service only a few months. He was another Watertown boy whose life's blood was freely given to save the Union. Can we say too much in praise of such ?

CHARLES AYERS was born in Bridgewater, Vt., in 1798, came to Jefferson county with his parents in 1806 or 1807. He followed farming and school-teaching for several years, and in 1842 was ordained a minister of the Gospel. He always lived upon the farm settled by his father. He married, in 1823, Eliza Allen, a native of Hartland, Vt. Eben. A. Ayers was born in Watertown, January 29, 1827, and was reared upon a farm, receiving a common school education. He married for his first wife Lucy, daughter of Jerome Ives, and had one son, Charles E. He married, second, Jane S., daughter of Thomas W. Warren, of Houndsfield. After marriage, Eben A. Ayers followed farming for several years, in the towns of Watertown and Houndsfield. In 1865 he built a cheese factory at Rice's, in Watertown, and has since then devoted his time to the manufac- ture of cheese, and to dairying in general, being one of the organizers of "The Jeffer- son County Butter and Cheese Makers' Association," and in, 1892 was appointed cheese instructor for Jefferson county. In 1884 he was appointed post-master at Rice's, and has since held that office. Thomas War- ren, father of Mrs. Eben A. Ayers, came to this country from New Brunswick. The Ayers family in Jefferson county are des- cended from John Ayers and Hannah Wins- low. John Ayers was a farmer and shoe- maker. He served in the war of 1812, was taken prisoner at the battle of Sackets Har- bor, May 29, 1813, taken to Quebec and died there in prison in September of the same year.

TRUMAN B. TOWNSEND was born in the town of Champion, September 4, 1806. His early life was spent upon his father's farm, receiving such an education as the common schools afforded. On attaining his majority he married Miss Sarah, daughter of Elisha and Betsy (Edwards) Allen, January 2, 1828, and soon after he purchased 35 acres of land near his father's place, and built a log house. In about five years he built a good frame house, and lived there the remainder of his life, near 60 years. In 1847 he saw the need of more land and purchased 32 acres more. He commenced life with that zeal and energy which characterized his every under- taking. In addition to farming his few acres, he learned to be a carpenter and joiner, which occupation he continued at intervals,

and became a master builder. He was suc- cessful in business, and in obtaining a good position in society, retaining the esteem and confidence of his fellow-citizens. He was called to fill several offices in his town, and discharged their duties to the satisfaction of his constituents. His estimable wife and helpmate died in 1873, aged 66 years. Their union was blessed with five children, two sons and three daughters : Priscilla K. (wife of I. W. Smith, now of Chicago); George H., who resides on the old farm of his grand- father ; Erastus E., died February 28, 1844 ; Florence A. (wife of A. W. Weeks, of Malone, Franklin county), and Mary E. (wife of Fred DeLong, of Watertown). In September, 1875, Mr. Townsend married Mrs. Margaret Copeland, of Milwaukee, Wis. After a long and useful life he died in his 82d year. This was one of the prominent families of Pamelia, a brief sketch of which is entitled to its place in the history of Jeffer- son county. The sketch is inserted in the town of Watertown, for the Townsends were also well-known on both sides of the river.

JONATHAN COWAN .- Frequent reference has been made in this History to this early comer, one of the original owners of the water-power of Beebee's Island and all the south shore of the river up to a point where he joined Jewett's land, and down to near the lower bridge. His poverty and death in old age, excited considerable sympathy, and especially as the graves of his kindred have been so pitilessly desecrated by the officials of the city of Watertown. His contempor- aries (Henry Coffeen, Hart Massey and that Jewett who owned all the water-power of the river where the Remingtons have made such great improvements), were prosperous when they died, but Mr. Cowan had not a · dollar when he passed over to the other coun- try. I remember him well, a tall, heavy, silent man, apparently digesting some sub- ject in his mind as he passed along the streets. He proved himself a narrow man- for when he came to sell water privileges he insisted upon limiting the grant to some specific use-doubtless intending to hold for himself the best business opportunities ; whereas a liberal man would have been will- ing, when he sold a piece of property, that the grantee should use it for his own pur- poses, untrammeled by any clause of restric- tion. This course made Mr. Cowan many enemies, and he gradually withdrew from active life. But he should ever be held in kind remembrance by the people of Water- town, for he was one of the men who con- veyed the Public Square as a perpetual gift. It has been well improved, and is justly a source of pride to our people.

ALONZO M. WATSON, for several years a resident of Watertown, was admitted to the bar in 1837. In 1840 he was a law partner with John F. Hutchinson, a man of eccentric character, at one time postmaster at Water- town. Marrying unfortunately, he died early of consumption. Mr. Watson, his

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partner, before Hutchinson's death, had be- come infatuated with Fourierism, and, with many other able men-notably Horace Greeley and several of his astute contempor- aries-had attempted to reduce Fourier's principles to practice. The association which he aided in getting together at Cold Creek, two miles east of Watertown, after a year of bickerings and petty squabbles, principally among the women, relapsed into a state of "innocuous desuetude," and the result was bankruptcy, pure and simple. Watson left Cold Creek and went to Sodus Bay, in Wayne county, where the Fourierites had a second establishment on a farm of 1,100 acres. There he remained a year, and then removed to Rochester, resuming the practice of the law. After a couple of years he died suddenly of pneumonia, at the early age of 40 years. His capable wife was left with a family of seven children, whom she reared

to habits of usefulness and respectability. Don A., one of her sons, served in the Union army most patriotically, and on his return from the field was elected superintendent of schools for the third Assembly district, a position he filled with entire acceptability. He has been the kind friend and carable assistant of the author of this Histoi in preparing the matter for Alexandria, the town where he has resided for nearly a quarter of a century, much respected and beloved. Another son, Dr. L. C. Watson, also served through the great Civil War, and died at Alexandria Bay, aged 57 years. One of the boys, George M., became a newspaper man in Michigan, and died there. A daugh- ter, Emma, married George Snell, of Ant- werp, and Mrs. Watson now resides there with her daughter, at the advanced age of 84 years, a heroic, noble woman,

SOME OF THE 10TH N. Y. HEAVY ARTILLERY.

COL. CHARLES C. ABELL, whose face is shown upon the composite page of soldiers of the 10th N. Y. Heavy Artillery, went into the Union army as captain of Company C, of that large and meritorious regiment, raised mostly in Antwerp, where the Colonel had resided for many pears. He was the son of Dr. Chester Abell, of Fairfield, Vt., whose wife was Miss Abigail Corliss Stone, of East Berkshire, Vt.

When the call came for 300,000 men, which the great and good President Lincoln hoped would be the last personal sacrifice the North would be called upon to make in order to put down the Rebellion, Col. Abell set about raising a company from his townsmen and acquaintances. This accomplished, he took up the life of a soldier as if he had been born to it, for it suited his ambition, and the martial spirit of his ancestry began to mani- fest itself in him. His ability as a soldier soon attracted the attention of his superior officers, and he was detached from his com- pany to serve upon the staff of the chief of artillery of his division of that great army which, under Grant and Meade, was to roll up the Confederates and eventually destroy their military power by hard blows, and by the sacrifices which were only too manifest in the Wilderness and at Cold Harbor.

Charles early developed what in New Eng- land is called "faculty," a knack for doing anything or everything, being naturally in- genious, skillful and deft in many kinds of mechanical work, and was in general a boy "handy to have about the house," but for a further "faculty " to tease the life out of the rest of the household. As a youth he was active, sturdy, energetic and of an enterprising spirit, with a taste for military life, and especially desiring an education at West Point, but as circumstances did not favor this, he promptly turned to business pursuits,

having first acquired a good academic educa- tion in St. Albans, Vt.

Col. Abell comes of notable hardy pioneer stock. As early as 1763, his great-grand- father, Major Uriah Stone, emigrated with his wife and infant son from Massachusetts to Piermont, N. H., when that part of the province was yet an unbroken wilderness. Here he built a log cabin for a residence, and a block house near by for defence from the In- dians. The ruins of this fort were still visible on their farm well on into the present century. Major Stone won his title by hon- orable service in the old French wars of Colonial times, and from then till now the numerous and patriotic family which he rep- resented has not failed in ready response to our country's call for good men and true. Col. Abell resided in Vermont until 1855, when he came to Antwerp, continuing in mercantile business there till he entered the Union army.

Detailing with more particularity his ser- vice, we may say that he served with his company and regiment until June, 1864, when he was detailed as inspector of artillery for the 18th corps, commanded by the distin- guished "Baldy" Smith. After serving as inspector for four months, he was promoted to be chief of artillery for the same corps. The 18th corps and the 10th each had colored troops and white troops intermingled. By putting the colored troops of each corps under one command they became the 25th corps, and the white troops were designated as the 24th. Col. Abell remained with the 24th as chief of artillery. He served through with that corps until Appomattox, and was honorably mustered out with his regiment in Septem- ber, 1865, after being relieved from duty with the 24th corps.

Col. Abell soon made Chicago his home, where he remained 18 years, then he was two

MV ORMSBEE BÜG. (. SYR VY.

COL. JAS. B. CAMPBELL.

CAPT. J. H. PARKER.

COL. C. C. ABELL.

CAPT. JOHN ARMSTRONG. LIEUT. GEO. W. WOOD.

MEMBERS OF THE TENTH N. Y. HEAVY ARTILLERY.

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years in Mexico. Since then he has resided in Denver and Omaha, and is now cashier of the Omaha Packing Company, where his business ability is appreciated by that large concern, with which he occupies a trusted and responsible position, and he is held in esteem as a citizen.

However much Col. Abell may have dis- tinguished himself in the field, where his service was one of exposure and great re- sponsibility, it is as the sincere and courteous gentleman that he has developed the qualities that have endeared him so closely to his friends and acquaintances. By natural in- heritance he is brimful of vitality, intellectual vigor, and strength of character, abounding too in the charm of genial humor in a re- markable degree. He is a friendly man, who finds in social life and in the society of con- genial friends his greatest enjoyment.

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Growth of a Century : as illustrated in the history of Jefferson County, New York, from 1793 to 1894, Part 159

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