Growth of a Century : as illustrated in the history of Jefferson County, New York, from 1793 to 1894, Part 19

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

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(except for a couple of months in the winter of 1862, when on detail in re- cruiting service, while his regiment was in winter quarters at Taylor's Tavern, Va.), and he never failed, while on a march, to be present with his comrades when they stacked arms, except on two occasions, when, owing to the severity of the march, only two were present, himself and another, and so they re- versed arms and stuck their bayonets into the ground.

In 1863 he was appointed special agent of the provost marshal's office in Watertown, under Capt. Fred Emerson, and was discharg- ed at the close of the war, in 1865, receiving the warm thanks of the commanding officer for his "able and faithful performance of every duty." In 1866 he was elected member of Assembly from the Second District of Jef- ferson county, and served one year with credit to himself and the district. During his brief legislative career, the writer well remembers a notable speech upon the tariff question, made by Col. Shaw, which was an earnest promise of his subsequent fame as an orator.

In 1868 he was appointed U. S. consul at Toronto, Canada, and his consular service at that point was made conspicuous by his con- sular reports, which Hamilton Fish, Secretary of State, declared were "the very best of any consular officer in the service."

In 1878 he was appointed to the important consulate at Manchester, England. Just be- fore his departure for England, the citizens of Toronto tendered him a public dinner at, the Queen's Hotel. The Prime Minister of the Dominion, the Honorable Alexander Macken- zie, sent a laudatory letter from Ottawa, com- plimenting him for his ability and impartiality in the discharge of his official duties. Hon. Oli- ver Mowat, Premier of Ontario, was present, as was the Hon. George Brown and Mayor Mor- rison, who presided, and many other leading citizens of Canada, and of the United States. An address was presented to Col. Shaw, couched in warm terms of appro- val, for his services as an official, and his good qualities as a man.

In 1885, owing to a change of administra- tion at Washington, he was superceded by an appointee of President Cleveland. Upon his retirement from Manchester, a public meeting was held in the town hall of that city, at which the citizens presented him with a silver casket and an illuminated address, both of great intrinsic value and beauty. The speeches on that occasion were freighted with good words, and some eighteen hundred of the leading citizens were present.

In 1880 he was elected a member of the famous Manchester Arts Club, and from time to time delivered addresses before it. This Club represents the highest type of English art and literature. To be elected a member of it is an honor awarded to but few foreign- ers, and Englishmen only of social distinction and culture are admitted.

At the Saint Andrews Society dinner in Manchester in 1882, he presided in the absence of the Earl of Aberdeen, the first time an

THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

American ever took the chair at a dinner of that society. The Colonel made two speeches, which were highly complimented. Soon after the death of General Philip Sheri- dan, a memorial meeting was held in London, England, in his honor, by members of the United States army, past and present, tempor- arily sojourning in England. Colonel Shaw made the principal address, and it was eminently worthy of the occasion and of the memory of the distinguished soldier in whose honor the memorial meeting was held.

In 1867, Governor Reuben E. Fenton appointed Col. Shaw to be colonel of the 36th regiment of the N. Y. S. N. G.

In 1872 he married Mary Sherwood Keith, daughter of Charles W. Keith, Esq., of Chicago, Ill. His was the first marriage after the great fire in that city. Three children have blessed this happy union-Henry L. Keith Shaw, Mabel Keith Shaw and Minnie Scott Shaw.

Since his retirement from the consulate at Manchester, Col. Shaw has resided in this city, but since coming to Watertown to reside, he has made several trips to Europe. In the in- tervals he made several addresses on Grand Army occasions, which were characterized by graceful thought and fervid eloquence, among which was an address on the laying of the corner stone of the monument to the soldiers and sailors of Jefferson county, and which now decorates the public square of our city. His address upon this occasion was replete with earnest thought expressed in cultured and eloquent language ; its delivery enchain- ing the attention and charmed all who heard it. [See that address in full. ]

In several presidential campaigns he has been in demand as a Republican orator, and under the direction of the National Republi- can Committee has addressed the people in various parts of the country in a convincing and effective manner.

In January, 1893, he was unanimously selected by the board of trustees of Cornell University, to deliver the Founder's Day oration. On that eventful occasion he was surrounded by men of culture and of high literary attainments, but he was fully equal to the occasion, and his effort won the encomiums of all who heard it. That Founder's Day ora- tion will always be cherished by the friends of Cornell University, and will rank with the masterpieces of oratory.

Col. Shaw has been three times elected President of the Young Men's Christian Association, and in 1893 was elected President of the Chamber of Commerce, Watertown.

Thus do we record on the printed page of our History a brief summary of a most bril- liant career, fully believing that the record thereof will carry with it an influence that will be lasting for good, and especially will it stimulate youthful minds to higher endeavor, and illustrate what success and noble achieve- ments are possible, yea probable, to him who industriously labors with an honest, intelli- gent purpose, to do the best he can in his day and generation.

Col. Shaw is now in the prime of life, in the full enjoyment of mental and physical vigor, which indicates that his distinguished career of usefulness will be greatly prolonged, and we are confident that the future will bring to him greater preferment and honor than have yet crowned his brow with the laurel of victory.

LIEUT. LOTHARIO D. MORGAN.

Chauncey D. Morgan came to Watertown about 1825, and settled upon a large farm near the centre of the town. He was for a time in the employ of the R. W. & O. Railroad, but he is best remembered as a progressive farmer, a man of enlarged intelligence and one who kept up with the times. He raised two sons, Homer Bartlett and Lothario Donaldson. He died in 1872, and his beloved wife (Almena Bartlett) in 1877. Homer graduated from Hamilton College, and became a Christian missionary to Turkey, dying at Smyrna in 1865. Lothario D. was born in 1829, and came to man's estate upon his father's farm. He married Evalina M. Manning. In 1861 Lothario enlisted in the 35th New York, was made lieutenant in Company A, and served ncarly through the regiment's term of two years, resigning after Antietam, from impaired health. Returning to Watertown, he engaged in business, and lived respected by all. He died in 1884, leaving his widow with one daughter. They reside at 27 Ten Eyck strect, Watertown. Lieut. Morgan is remem- bered by his comrades as one of the most courageous, amiable and democratic officers of that brave regiment, which went at the first call, without bounties, and gladly went, to aid the Union cause.

COLONEL WILLIAM WALLACE ENOS

Was born in Depauville. Jefferson county, in 1835. He was the son of Gaylord and Minerva Enos, who were among the early settlers of this region. Gaylord Enos was a man of strong character, striking individuality, and superior ability. He was long prominent in the life of the section, and his wife was a beautiful woman, eminently endowed with all the home virtues that make married life sweet and tender. As a neighbor, she was loved for her interest in the sick, and her ever faithful friendship: as a wife and mother, she gave her life to her family, and was the ever dear center of her home.

William W. Enos was reared at his father's home in Depauville, until his 16th year. He was educated in the common school and at the academy in Lafargeville. He was a good student, and early developed a fondness for commercial life. In 1852 he accepted a posi- tion as clerk in a country store at Chaumont, N. Y., with Mr. Ira Inman, in whose employ he passed two years. At the age of 20, in 1855, he became the junior partner with Messrs. Ira Inman and George W. Smith, of Chaumont, and continued with this prosper- ous firm until the breaking out of the great rebellion in 1861. The wave of patriotic

THE WAR FOR THE UNION.

fervor which throbbed through the whole North when Sumter was fired upon, stirred young Enos like a bugle call, and he left his business and enlisted in defence of the Union. He was the first to respond from the town of Lyme, for two years' service-under President Lincoln's first call for 75,000 volunteers In April, 1861, he joined Co. "A" 35th N. Y. Vols., and served two years faithfully until mustered out at the expiration of the term of service of this famous regiment. Owing to causes resulting from jealousies and combina- tions, common in the first two years of the war, Mr. Enos did not receive the promotion so plainly his due-and he was mustered out as sergeant. Brave, loyal and faithful, his service was a proud part of the gallant record of the 35th, which was made up of some of the best material of any regiment in the Union service. In the fall of 1863-having been mustered out of service in June, he entered Co. "K," 18th N. Y. Cavalry, as lieutenant, and served in the Department of the Gulf until the close of the war. He passed through the famous Red River campaign under Gen- eral Banks, and was promoted to a captaincy for meritorious services in the field. In June, 1865, after the last rebel had surrendered, he resigned, and returned to his home and friends in Jefferson county. This covers, very briefly, a record of faithful service unsurpassed for pure patriotism and unselfish devotion to principle and duty. Young Enos left a very promising commercial business, which would undoubtedly have made his fortune. He was a business man-full of enterprise-and the war period was a rare one for accumulating wealth. As it was, he came home to re-enter business just as prices began to decline, and he found it hard work to get a foot-hold on a paying basis. However, by the exercise of great caution he gradually won his way to fair success. His subsequent business career in Chaumont, N. Y., has been most creditable and fairly prosperous. He has dealt in dry goods, grain, real estate and other commercial lines. Since his return from the army he has been prominent in the public life of his town and county. He has been justice of the peace, postmaster, supervisor and member of Assem- bly. In 1867 Mr. Enos was commissioned lieutenant colonel of the 36th Regiment, N. G. State of New York, by Governor R. E. Fen- ton. Mr. Enos was married to Miss Emma Dayan in 1872. Four children have blessed that union. Miss Clara was educated at Albany, N. Y., and his sons George and Copley are at Cornell University ; Julia, the youngest, is now attending school at home.

The above brief record gives an outline picture of one of that grand army of volun- teers who periled all for the defence of their native land, and without bounties. Col. Enos was a type of citizen to which our present civilization owes a debt of gratitude that can never be repaid. His highest ambition was to see the laws of his country enforced, and free- dom become the heritage of all our people, black as well as white. He passed safely through the four terrible years of war, and at

the age of 59, in fairly good health, with an interesting family about him, a competency sufficient to secure him all his needed com- forts, he looks back upon a useful life-work with no regret over the part he played in the wonderful events which secured a new birth of freedom to his country and its people.

Colonel Enos is a man of peculiar force of character, but of a high standard of citizen- ship. His word is always regarded as good as his bond. He is frank and outspoken almost to a fault, but his heart is in the right place and his impulses broad and generous. He is a man of large intelligence, loyal friendship, and ranks among the best citizens our county has ever produced, for integrity of character, patriotic services and usefulness in all the relations of life. A. D. S.

The author of this history is glad to bear honest testimony to all our beloved comrade, Col. Shaw, has said above. Young Enos I first knew in the field, a soldierly, enterpris- ing, resolute and sham-hating man. The wet, cold ground was only too often his resting place after a weary day's travel. I well re- member when we were stalled near Catlett's, in Virginia, by an unprecedented snow storm, with no shelter save the light summer tents, which were so short at both ends that if your head was protected, your legs from the knees down were "out in the rain," and by frequent changes in the night, at morning both legs and head and shoulders would be soaked through. And how well I remember that Enos and some dozen of those bright Co. A boys had got on the lee side of a hay rack, built for feeding cattle, and were bragging how com- fortable they were! Think of it, such a party of tenderly-reared young men only too glad to lie down in a place built for cattle. The very next night after we left Catletts, under a forced order to relieve troops at Fredericks- burgh, Col. Lord, at dark, was holding regi- mental headquarters in an abandoned hog-pen, and was thankful to get enough clean straw to drop down upon, fatigued almost to insensi- bility. These are episodes which endear men to each other. J. A. H.

George F. Dressor, whose scholarly face is shown on the composite picture of officers and men of the 35th Regiment, was born in Houndsfield, in 1841, was one of the first to enlist and was assigned to Co. A, 35th N. Y. Infantry. He was a meritorious and examplary soldier, participating in all the marches and skirmishes of that regiment until the battle of Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862, when his left leg was shot away by a cannon ball, the regiment being for a time exposed to a severe artillery fire at compara- tively short range for over two hours while in position upon the left of Burnside's com- mand. Of course his fighting days were then over, and as soon as he could be removed from the hospital he returned to his home in Watertown, which city has since been his resi- dence. Mr. Dressor enjoys the respect and regard of all who know him, and his acquaint-

THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

ances are by no means limited. He married Helen L. Wilson, July 26, 1866, daughter of Samuel and Lucy Wilson, and they have one son, Walter William.

George Dressor's father was that Chauncey Dressor whose life for many years ran parallel with the history of Watertown. He was born in Tunnbridge, Vt., in 1800, and in 1804 his father (Alanson) removed to Watertown, and helped to strike the first pioneer blows with such contemporaries as the Masseys, Keyes and Coffeen-when Canfield was the only shoemaker and Doolittle the only blacksmith in town. The farm owned by Judge Keyes was the originial purchase of Alanson Dres- sor. Chauncey was left penniless at an early age by the death of his father, but he acquired enough education to enable him to teach school. In 1838 he married 'Lydia S., daughter of Farmington Styles, of Evans Mills, and in 1850 had accumulated enough means to purchase a farm of 100 acres at Huntingtonville, to which he made additions until he possessed 200 acres. Upon that farm the soldier son George grew up, and from it he enlisted when Capt. Haddock opened a recruiting office in Watertown for the 35th. The father of George died July 21, 1876, re- spected as a just and intelligent man, leaving a son who inherited all his father's patriotism and intelligence.

CAPTAIN JAY DEFOREST MCWAYNE.

Among the citizen-soldiers from Jefferson county, Jay DeForest McWayne was a fine type of the resolute young men who left the school, the farm and the forge to battle for a common country. Mr. McWayne was born at Sackets Harbor, June 21, 1834. He grew up under conditions rendering it necessary for him to early help himself, and at the breaking out of the rebellion in 1861, he was engaged in business as a blacksmith. He had come from good New England stock, and his patri- otic ardor early showed itself in an offer he made to pay $300 to the support of volunteers from his town who would cnlist to sustain the old flag. But when the stars and stripes were fired upon at Fort Sumter, and the call for 75,000 volunteers came, he patriotically re- fused to make a breastwork of his business between himself and the field of war-and he was the first in his town to enlist as a private to go and protect " Old Glory." He aided in recruiting Co. K of the 35th N. Y. Vols., and was 1st sergeant, and when the regiment was fully organized was promoted to 2d lieutenant. He was a faithful officer, and won high praise from all by his energy, bravery and strict attention to every duty. During the winter of 1861-62 he was stationed at Falls Church, Va., a small town, and was made 1st lieuten- ant while there. In the spring and summer of 1862 he commanded the provost guard at General Patrick's headquarters, and had charge of the court house and jail at Fred- ericksburg, Va. This was a position demand- ing good judgment and executive ability, and he filled it with satisfaction to his superior

officers. At his urgent request he was relieved of provost duty on Sept. 14, 1862, so as to go back to his company. The captain and 2d lieutenant being sick in hospital, Lieutenant Mc Wayne had charge of his company during the eventful campaign which followed. Through all the battles the 35th were engaged in, Lieutenant McWayne did his part nobly- ever first to the front, and the last to leave a post of danger. He was discharged at Elmira in June, 1863. On his return home he at once commenced recruiting for the 18th N. Y. Cavalry, but, owing to an unfortunate lack of honor on the part of the officer having the organization in hand, he did not finally enter this regiment. But he. could not keep out of the great conflict, and took a prominent part in organizing the 186th N. Y. Vols., and he Was mustered in as captain at Madison Bar- racks, Sept. 5, 1864, the first company to do so. The regiment was ordered to City Point, Va., before it was fairly organized, where they arrived seasick and homesick, and dis- gusted with being put to work on fortifica- tions. Many were sick, and the dissatisfaction became so great about fighting with shovels and picks as sappers and miners, that the regiment was ordered before Petersburg. Here there was activity enough, and the sound of the Rebel bugle calls could be dis- tinctly heard the first day the regiment got into position. In a short time excellent drill and discipline followed careful attention to details, and it was surprising to see men just from civil life so soon become well trained soldiers. The 186th regiment participated in the ever memorable assaults on the Rebel works about Petersburg, and won high praise for its valor, as the Rebels again and again gave way before this splendid regiment's charges. With the close of the war, Captain McWayne was mustered out of a service he greatly honored, and in which he won great distinction as a model American volunteer soldier. At this writing he is living on a farm, in a happy and pleasant home, near the village in which he was born. His later ambition is to further improve the American trotting horse, of which he is an excellent judge. A. D. S.

Since the biographical sketch of Captain J. D. McWayne was prepared, the following facts have come to the knowledge of the author, and which relate both to Captain Mc- Wayne and to the 186th Regiment, in which he served as captain. On the morning of the 3d of April, 1865, succeeding the engagement of the previous day, in which the regiment had participated, Captain McWayne, because of the disability or absence of the field officers of the regiment, was the senior captain present, and commanded the regi- ment. On that morning he received an order to report, with the regiment, at the head- quarters of the 2d brigade of the 2d division, 9th army corps, to which the 186th belonged. At the moment when he had completed the formation of said regiment, Gen. S. G. Grif- fin, then in command of the 2d division, and

THE WAR FOR THE UNION.

who was present on the field of battle the day previous, rode up with his staff and addressed the regiment. In his speech he complimented the regiment for its bravery and heroism in the late battle, expressing at the same time his sorrow for the wounded and absent Colonel, and his sincere wish and also his sincere sorrow for all those who had been killed and disabled. In further addressing the regiment he said : "Soldiers of the 186th Regiment, you have crowned yourselves with glory. Your country can never pay you for your services. You have taken the impreg- nable Fort Mahone, and have largely contrib- uted to the crushing of the rebellion. In future you will be held in reserve, and when we want good men we will call on you."

For this report of General Griffin's words, the author of this History is indebted to Mr. John G. Wood, of Pillar Point, a member of the 186th Regiment, and who was present and distinctly remembers the words uttered by General Griffin.

Louis C. Greenleaf, whose well-known like- ness is shown on our composite soldier-page, is a decendant of that John D. Grenleaf, born in Vermont in 1803, coming, when a mere child, with his father to Smithville, N. Y., and a few years later settled in LaFargeville. When 20 years of age Mr. Greenleaf removed to Clayton, and for a short time was a clerk in the store of General W. H. Angel. He then engaged with Merick & Smith, as clerk, and had charge of their lumber business in Que- bec, being employed by them for nearly 20 years. He then returned to LaFargeville, and there remained until 1857, when he located in Seneca, Ontario county. He married Julia Truesdell, of Quebec, and they had seven children, only one of whom, Louis C., resides in this county. Louis C. Greenleaf was born in LaFargeville, November, 23, 1840, whence he removed to Ontario county, and in 1860 located in Watertown, where he was engaged in the county clerk's office for one year. He enlisted in Co. A. 35th N. Y. Vols., and was with the first company that left Watertown for the battlefields in the South. He served two years, and then entered the provost-mar- shal's office in this city, where he remained until the close of the war. He married Lorra Cornelia Shaffer, and they have two children, Josephine A. and Lydia C. After the dis- continuance of the office of provost-marshal, Mr. Greenleaf was discount clerk in the Jef- ferson County Bank for two years, when he entered the Merchants' Bank as teller and assistant cashier, which position he ably filled for four years. In March, 1872, in company with C. W. Sloat, under the firm name of Sloat & Greenleaf, he engaged in the lumber business, and the firm is now one of the most extensive in this part of the State. Mr. Greenleaf has always been prominently identi- fied with the interests of Watertown. He was the first city treasurer, which office he held two years, was county treasurer two terms, supervisor of the second ward several years, and is now a member of the board of educa-

tion. He was captain of the State militia, and was mustered out as major.

James Dolan, sergeant Co. G., whose face is upon our composite plate, enlisted at Adams, May 3, 1861 ; discharged at Elmira, June 5, 1863 : born in Ireland, (" Ballyshanon,") July 15, 1840; re-enlisted at Denmark, Lewis county, Dec. 24, 1863 ; mustered into U. S. service, Jan. 4, 1864 ; discharged, July 18, 1865, at Norfolk, Va., as Q. M. sergeant Co. H, 13 Regt. N. Y. H. Art. Was absent from company as guide on Gen. French's staff at battle of Fredericksburg, Va., from Dec. 12, 1862, till Dec. 16, 1862 ; was never absent at any other time for any purpose from either company during his two terms; was never wounded ; participated in every action and skirmish in which either company was en- gaged ; elected President of 35th N. Y. Vol. Veteran Association, Dec. 13, 1887; Post Commander, Joe Spratt Post, No. 323, at its organization ; served two terms as A. D. C. on staff of commander-in chief G. A. R., and is remembered by the old soidiers as one of their best friends in procuring proper recogni- tion from the government for their ardorous services. Captain Dolan is a living and charming personality, a fair representative of the intelligence, the ardor and the patriotism of the men who first went into the Union army, not seduced by bounties, but actuated by the purest and noblest patriotism. They will live in history as a noble example of manly devotion to the great cause. Captain Dolan is in the prime of life, with the promise of a bright future yet before him.

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Growth of a Century : as illustrated in the history of Jefferson County, New York, from 1793 to 1894, Part 19

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