Growth of a Century : as illustrated in the history of Jefferson County, New York, from 1793 to 1894, Part 62

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

USA > New York > Jefferson County > Growth of a Century : as illustrated in the history of Jefferson County, New York, from 1793 to 1894 > Part 62

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Hon. Russell B. Biddlecome, son of Charles and Rhoda Biddlecome, was born in Deer- field, Oneida county, March 19, 1822. Upon the death of his father, in 1829, he went to live with an elder brother, and in 1835 he emigrated to Orleans, where he formerly re- sided. with the exception of the years 1857- 60, when he held the office of county clerk. He later on removed to Watertown, where he died in June, 1894. He received a good com- mon school education, with the addition of three months at Belleville Academy. His school days were alternated with work on his brother's farm. Commencing at the age of 18, he taught school for about 12 years. He

was appointed colonel by Governor Morgan, and assisted in organizing artillery companies in Lewis and Jefferson counties, and during the term of his service nearly 2,400 men were enlisted and sent to the front, comprising 16 companies, which were formed into heavy artillery regiments. He served at the front one year, and was discharged for disability. In 1865 he represented the third Assembly district in the State Legislature, and the

Second Assembly district in the same body in 1866. In politics Mr. Biddlecome was a Whig until 1855, when he became a Republi- can and assisted in organizing the Republi- can party in Jefferson county.

Dennis O'Brien was born in Ogdensburg, March 13, 1837. He studied law in the office of Messrs. Meyers & Magone, of Ogdensburg ; was admitted to the bar in May, 1861; and in November of that year removed to Watertown to reside permanently. From that time his business, and reputation in his profession, rapidly increased. From 1869 he was an alderman in the city for some years, and afterwards was elected mayor. His judicious management of these offices won the respect and confidence of the substantial portion of the city's population. His success in his pro- fession gave him a high reputation through- out the county. In 1880 he succeeded the late James F. Starbuck, as a member of the State Democratic Committee. This gave him an opportunity of extending his reputation for ability and fidelity beyond the bounds of his county, and generally over the State; and he improved it. For four years he held this position. In November, 1883, he was elected attorney-general, and was re-elected in No- vember, 1885, his term of office terminating January 1, 1888. He is now serving his first term as judge of the Court of Appeals.

George Farnham, the father of the well- known Farnham family, of Watertown, was born in Connecticut, May 16, 1794. His father, Nathaniel Farnham, removed to Rich- field, Otsego county, N. Y., and established himself in a tannery, where he died in 1803, the mother following in a few months. Thus at the age of 9 years George was left an orphan. Although not having the advantages of an early education, he became a great reader of such literature as he could obtain. He was a ready and accurate writer, and ac- quired enough of arithmetic to transact busi- ness. Before reaching his majority he suc- ceeded to the business left by his father. In 1819 he married Miss Maria Loomis, a daugh- ter of one of the early settlers of Otsego county. He was early put forward, being elected supervisor of his district, and colonel of his regiment almost as soon as he attained his majority.

In 1828 he removed with his family to Leonardsville, Madison county. He pur- chased a lot and erected a tannery on a large scale. In 1836 he was induced to undertake the manufacture of a large quantity of planes. These he sent to New York city to be sold. They arrived the day before the bank suspen- sion of 1837, and the venture was a total loss. The tannery, which was left almost entirely in the hands of the boys, suffered by the with- drawal of the funds necessary to carry on the plane business, so that when that failed it was deemed advisable to close the tannery also. After a temporary residence on a small farm near Unadilla Forks, the father removed with his family, which now consisted of five sons and two daughters, to Watertown, where they arrived in March, 1842. Nathaniel had

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preceded them, and had found work with Jasan Fairbanks, where the father also found employment at his trade until 1847, when he was elected a justice of the peace, holding that office until his death, in October, 1858. His widow survived him, with five sons and one daughter.

Nathaniel Farnham, eldest son of George, was born in Richfield, January 5, 1821. He came to Watertown in advance of the rest of the family. Being the eldest of the children, he seemed to take the lead in all their enter- prises. After working with Fairbanks for a time, he and his brother Thaddeus engaged together in the tanning business on Beebee's Island. After this business became thorough- ly established the tannery was burned. · It was rebuilt and they continued the business for some time, when they formed a partner- ship with Mr. A. D. Button, and changed the whole plant into a box and pail factory. This establishment was also burned, and as they failed to get the insurance, the result was eminently disastrous.

In March, 1852, Nathaniel married Melvina Hulbert. Abagail, the only sister living was married in 1853 to Henry Scribner, (the brother of Charles Scribner, the publisher,) re- membered as being in the book and drug business in one of the stores under the Bap- tist Church. Selling out his store, Mr. Scrib- ner and Nathaniel, with their wives, re- moved to Des Moines, Iowa, then a small town an hundred miles from a railroad. Here they went into business together, and continued till about 1860, when Nathaniel re- moved with his family to Warren, Herkimer county, N. Y. There he resided until his death, in December, 1889.

George Loomis Farnham was born January 9, 1824, As a child, he had little aptitude for learning, but a few months' tutilage under a Mr. York, opened his mind to a new field, and he began to realize that there was a re- lation between books and realities. Working by the month on a farm in summer, and at- tending school in winter, before attaining his 17th birthday he obtained a certificate from the town superintendent and taught a term of three months. Coming to Jefferson county with his parents, he attended a term at the Belleville Academy, following it with several terms at the Black River Institute. While principal of the Factory street public school, he was offered by Lotus Ingalls the appointment to a scholarship in the State Normal School, at Albany. Graduating in 1847, he taught one term in Adams, and then returned to the Factory street school. In February, 1850, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Benedict, who assisted him in teaching. He was a year at Syracuse, whence he was called to a female seminary at Indian- apolis, Ind.

The climate not agreeing with him, he re- turned to Syracuse, and the board of educa- tion of that city tendered him the position of superintendent of city schools. It was during his connection with these schools that his work as an educator began to attract attention.

In 1857 he was elected president of the New York Teachers' Association. This year his beloved wife died. She had been his most earnest assistant in all his work. In September, 1861, he was married to Miss M. Annette Hubbard, of Watertown. In 1869 Mr. Farnham was called to the superinten- dency of the schools of Binghamton, N. Y. In 1880 he was called to Council Bluffs, Iowa, where he at once put in practice his radical notion of teaching. The people were so well pleased with his methods that at the end of the first year he was appointed to a three- year term. At the end of three years he re- signed his position to accept the principalship of the Nebraska State Normal School, a posi- tion he occupied for nearly 10 years, resigning in June, 1892.

In the summer of 1893, he and his wife visited Southern California. They purchased an orange grove in Riverside, and took up their residence there in January, 1894, and there they still reside.

Warner Failing and Stancil (Pickard) his wife, were the progenitors of so large and important a family in Watertown that proper place should be given to their history and their rescue from oblivion by the printed page. They came into the Black River country from Montgomery county in the winter of 1831-32, and succeeded Jacob Cramer in the well-known hotel on the Pamelia side of what is now known as the city of Watertown. They had then a family of nine children. Here they established themselves in the regard of the people to such an extent that their hotel became one of the best known and most popular in the county, and in that hotel three more children were born to them, making 12 in all. Their names were: Catharine, who married Dr. John Spalsbury, and they are both dead; Josiah, who is still living in New- ark, N. J; he married Julia Blount, who is now dead. Nancy, who married Peter Haas; Mr. Haas died about 1866, but his wife sur- vives him. and is yet a resident of Watertown; Walter, well remembered as a bright physi- cian, who married Caroline Holmes,. After serving through the civil war as a surgeon, he died at Evansville, Ind., and his wife is also dead; Harvey, so well known and so much respected in Watertown as the mail contractor and hack owner; he married Eliza Hall; they are both dead. Oliver, who never mar- ried, and also is dead; Mary Jane, who married the distinguished civil engineer, E. C. Ferris, who is yet in the active practice of his profession, after being engaged in several important enterprises. His wife is also spared, and they are an interesting couple. George Henry, who married Pamelia Web- ster; he is dead but his wife is still living in Watertown; Elizabeth, who married Louis W. Sandiforth; she has been dead for nearly 30 years; Ellen M., who married Joseph Reade. She is still living, but her husband died a few years since. William S., who now resides in Oregon; he married Helen Hathaway, who is also living; Walstein A., who now resides in Redwood, this county; he married Martha

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THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

Thompson, who is still living. This is a numerous, respected, well remembered family.

The Failings were relatives of the old Her- kimer family, the head of which was wounded at the Revolutionary battle of Oriskany, and taken home to die in the old Herkimer house, about 16 miles west of Little Falls, N. Y. Alfred Conkling, father of Roscoe and Fred- erick A., was also a relative of the Herkimers, which made him also a relative of the Fail- ings-the two families standing in the same re- lation and remove from the Herkimer stock.

Warner Failing was fortunate in hav- ing made some purchases of real estate, while his business was good. He had pur- chased 10 acres north of the hotel as well as 100 acres on the Mayo road, both of which proved valuable investments. He died in 1865. His wife dying in 1864.

THE BALL FAMILY.

We are under obligations to Mr. Henry M. Ball, an honored citizen of Watertown, for permission to use the muster roll of the artil- lery company in which his grandfather, Nehemiah Ball, served through the Revolu- tionary war, which bears, as will be observed, the date of 1788, being probably made up after the company had been mustered out, as the American Revolutionary army were all discharged in 1783. We are also indebted to Mr. Ball for a copy of the Watertown Daily Times, dated January 24, 1876, containing the following pathetic and interesting article:

THE OLD MEN'S RE-UNION OF FIVE YEARS AGO.

Five years ago to-day (which would be Jan. 24, 1871), there was a social gathering of old gentlemen at the residence of Lewis Palmer on Washington street. It was a surprise and dinner party given to H. D. Cadwell by Mr. Palmer and his daughter, it being on his eightieth anniversary birthday. The party numbered six-Dr. Reuben Goodale, Elihu Ball, Jasan Fairbanks, Philo S. Johnson, William Wood and H. D. Cadwell, Mr. Cadwell being the youngest. Their united ages were 504 years, averag- ing 84 years. Dr. Goodale (the eldest) was the life of the party. He related a great many interesting anecdotes and repeated a great deal of poetry. Mr. Fairbanks gave a very interesting description of the Whittlesey affair, by relating all the minute incidents connected with it. After dinner, a short time was spent in having a little old style music from the violin and piano, such as "Washington's March," "Hail Columbia," "Star Spangled Banner." "Hob or Nob." and "Come, Haste to the Wedding," which was a favorite tune of Dr. Goodale's. After enjoying a very pleasant time, at about 8 o'clock the company dispersed. Mr. Ball and Mr. Johnson being infirm, were taken home in a sleigh. Dr. Goodale was urged to ride, but said, "No, he was able to walk," and would not even be assisted in putting on his overcoat. Mr. Palmer on his return (after assisting Mr. John- son home) met the doctor, who bade Mr. Palmer a vigorous good night. The doctor arriving home, became faint, sat down on the door step and had to be helped into the house, where he lay down on a lounge and expired immediately. Within a few minutes a message came to Mr. Palmer's saying that Dr. Goodale was dead. A few weeks thereafter Mr. Ball was found dead in his bed in the morning. He retired apparently well the night previons. Since that time Mr. Fairbanks, Mr. Johnson and Mr. Wood have passed away; also Mr. Palmer, who died very suddenly, as he was found dead in his bed in the morning. His age was 64 years. The only remaining one now left out of the number is Mr. Cadwell. The average age of those that have died, at the time of their deaths, was 87. Dr. Goodale was 87, Mr. Ball was 86, Mr. Fairbanks was 89, Mr. Johnson was 86 and Mr. Wood was 87.

Having said this much relating to the Ball family, who have held such close and honor- able relations with the society of Jefferson county for almost one hundred years, and yet retains upon our streets one of our most enterprising and active citizens, we will here append a bit of their early history, prepared by Mr. Elihu Ball, father of Henry M. It should be remembered that this county was settled by just such people as are here spoken of, varitable "heroes of discovery," to whom the writer accords his undying admiration for them all. "their names remembered or forgot- ten, who first explored, through perils mani- fold, the shores, lakes, rivers, mountains valleys and plains of this new land; to the brave settlers, who leveled forests, cleared fields, made paths by land and water, and planted commonwealths; and to the brave women, who in solitude, amid strange dangers and heavy toil, reared families, and made homes"; to these, all these, be honor and eternal praise.

Writing in his 70th year, Mr. Ball says:

I, Elihu Ball, was born in Elizabethtown in the State of New Jersey, July 25th, 1784, and on July 2nd,,1796, my father and mother started with eight children, of whom I was the second in age and the oldest son, for the interior of the State of New York. to find some land that he had previously purchased but had never seen. We spent the 4th of July, Inde- pendence Day, in New York City, and on the 5th started in a sloop, heavily laden, up the Hudson River, and, for the want of wind favorable to us, we were a week getting to Albany. Our family and goods were then put on to wagons and carried to Schenectady, then put on board of a boat called a "batteau," to ascend the Mohawk river, which was rowed and pushed with poles, taking a week to get where the city of Utica now stands, then known as Fort Schuyler.

My father found his land lying in the northwest corner of the town of Frankfort, Herkimer county, a perfect wilderness, within about six miles of Utica, which city then contained some half dozen houses. Ile procured a deserted log hut, about one and a half miles from his land, where we stayed until we cleared some of the land and built on his own premises.

On the 22nd of November, 1804. I married. and being disposed to emigrate, in September, 1805, came to Rutland, and bought the land now (1854), owned by E. Churchill, and on the 6th day of March, 1806, started from Herkimer for Rutland, and was four days in reaching it with a severe fatigue; the country then being entirely new; Watertown village then con- taining perhaps ten quite indifferent houses.

I cut the first tree that was cut on my land, built a log house and barn, cleared 25 acres, lived on it three years, sold it and bought the land I now own. then entirely new, built me another log house and in the spring of 1810 moved into it.

These times, just previous to the war with Great Britain, and the country new, was the time to try men's souls, ahl and women's too. Great were the privations to be endured in a new country near the lines, on the breaking out of the war, which took place on the 14th day of June, 1812. In the December following I volunteered for three months in the cavalry, having a sergeant's commission, and served the time at Sackets Harbor and Cape Vincent.

In June, 1814, I went to Buffalo with a regiment of troops with my team. In September thereafter, I went into Sackets Harbor and kept a boarding house till March, when peace was proclaimed. I then re- turned to my farm, built my first frame barn in 1817 and my house in 1822.

Anna, the wife of Elihu, and daughter of William Pelton, was born the 25th of August, 1743, in the State of Connecticut, town of Saybrook, near the mouth of the Connecticut river. She came with her father, who emigrated to Frankfort, Herkimer county, N. Y., in the winter of 1795, driving four yoke of oxen at- tached to two sleighs, being three weeks performing the journey.

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THE MUSTER-ROLL OF AN ARTILLERY COMPANY OF THE REVOLUTIONARY ARMY. H. M. BALL'S GRANDFATHER WAS FIRST SERGEANT.

[ The Roll shows all the the wear and tear and blots of the original.1

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CITY OF WATERTOWN.

Alexander Parker was born in the Green Mountain country of Vermont, Sept. 3, 1787, educated in the common schools, and came to Watertown in March, 1801, with his father, carrying packs upon their backs and on foot from Vermont. Built their shanty in what has always been called the Parker neighbor- hood, near the old district school house, so long known and actively used. The follow- ing winter Alexander lived in Deacon Bartho- lomew's family and attended the nearest school, three miles distant, on the Keyes farm, south of Watertown. His father returned to Vermont that winter to bring on the family, and they came in upon a sled drawn by oxen all the way from Vermont. In 1807 he married Betsey, daughter of Deacon Bartholomew. In company with his father he became interested in the manufacture of the solid rock millstones, then the only stones used in grinding grain, and in use throughout the whole northern country, eventually superseded by the French burr- stone. He settled upon 70 acres of land, half way between Watertown and Brownville, where he lived and died, after raising a large and long-lived family. At different times he purchased adjoining lands until his farm at last comprised 240 acres of valuable and pro- ductive land. He died in June, 1871, aged 84 years. Probably no one of the early settlers effected more in the settlement of the county than Mr. Parker, for his large family all remained in the county and themselves raised families and made homes here. He has left a grand memory as an industrious, persever- ing and substantial farmer. His faith in Democracy was sublime.

William H. Wilson, a native of the town of Rutland, was the son of Samuel Wilson, who came into Rutland in 1803, being one of the earliest pioneers of that town. He was from Massachusetts. He raised seven children. William H., the eldest son, retained a part of the ancestral estate, and lived and died upon the land his father had acquired. He lived to a good old age, being 83 when he died. One of the sons of William H. is Frank E. Wilson, who has been connected with the Grange organizations in Jefferson county for many years, a patriotic and popular citizen. He inherited the farm of his father, on the river road from Watertown to Black River, above Huntingtonville. He has one child, a daugh- ter, who has received the best education possible in the 'High School of Watertown. Mr. Wilson's residence in town is at 7} Win- throp street.

V. K. Kellogg, district attorney of Jeffer- son county, was born March 17, 1858, in the town of Rutland. He is the son of Sylvester (born January 21, 1808, at Martinsburg, N. Y., and moved to Rutland in 1822). Attend- ed county district school some, and a short time both at Watertown High School and Hungerford Collegiate Institute, Adams. He entered upon the study of law June 27, 1879, in the office of Levi H. Brown. Admitted to the bar in October, 1882, at Rochester; went to Carthage in November, 1884, and formed

a business connection with Hon. A. E. Kilby. In 1892 was elected district attorney by a plurality of 2,678 votes over John Conboy, Democrat. Opened an office in Watertown, January 1, 1893. He is a Republican, and always has been. The writer regards Mr. Kellogg as one of the brightest young men at the Jefferson county bar at the present time. He has been unusually successful in his posi- tion as district attorney, being one of three who have procured convictions in murder trials during the hundred years of the county's corporate existence. He is well grounded in the law, is a close student, and has underpinned his legal learning with a good classical education. His success in a marked degree is confidently predicted.

Amasa Trowbridge was born in Pomfret, Windham county, Conn., May 17, 1779. He worked on his father's farm in the summer, attending the common schools in the winter season, until 14 years old. After that he acquired an academic education. At the age of 17 he commenced the study of medicine with Dr. Avery Downer, of Preston City, New London county, Conn. When 20 years old he was admitted to practice, receiving a diploma from the State Medical Society of Connecticut. He then spent a year with Dr. Thomas Hubbard; then moved to Lanesboro, Mass., and practiced in company with Dr. Jarvis. He came into this State and settled in Trenton, Oneida county, in 1805, entering into company with Dr. Luther Guiteau. In 1809 he came to Watertown and was a part- ner of Dr. Paul Hutchinson. War breaking out in 1812, he was commissioned surgeon in the militia of Jefferson, Lewis and St. Law- rence counties. Under orders from General Brown, he organized hospitals at Sackets Harbor during the winter of 1812-13. On returning to civil life he was appointed assist- ant justice, under the first constitution, serv- ing from 1815 to 1818, in which last year he was appointed judge. In 1819 he was made sheriff. In 1834 he was appointed professor of surgery and medical jurisprudence in the Willoughby University, Ohio, where he gave annual lectures of eight weeks. In 1838, giving up his practice to his son Amasa, he moved to Painesville, Ohio. In 1841 he re- turned to and again settled in Watertown, where he remained until his death, April 11, 1859. He had a large and extensive practice, and was known as a bold and skillful sur- geon.

Gordon P. Spencer was born in Salisbury, Litchfield county, Conn. He was educated under the supervision of Rev. Joseph Cross- man, of his native town, and Ammi L. Rob- bins, of Norfolk. He entered Williams Col- lege in 1807, graduating from that institution with honors, and obtained his diploma from the Medical Society of New London in 1812. War with Great Britain having been declared, he sought and obtained a commission as sur- geon from the Secretary of War. He was actively engaged in 1812-13, during the cam- paign in Canada; was present at the bloody battles of Lundy's Lane, Chippewa, and the

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THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

blowing up of Fort Erie. Soon after this latter catastrophe, the army returned to winter quarters, and he was detailed to the hospital at Sackets Harbor. Peace having been declared, Dr. Spencer, on his way home, passing through Champion, was called in by Dr. Durkee to assist in dressing the leg of a man, which had been crushed.

He arranged with the Doctor for a partner- ship, and began practice with him. He had an iron constitution, was indefatigable in the pursuit of his professional duties, and rode on horseback by day and by night, fording streams, with his clothes strapped to his horse's head, as I have heard him relate it. In pursuing his extensive and extending practice, as long as his health would permit, he was called to visit patients and in council, and in both medical and surgical cases, into Lewis, Oneida, Oswego and St. Lawrence counties, and Canada, riding one horse over twenty years. In 1854 he was attacked by a malignant congestive fever, and it was about four months before he could resume his prac- tice. Finding his health was so much im- paired as to prevent his attending upon his numerous professional engagements, he con- cluded to change residence, and moved into Watertown in the summer of 1857, and here he continued to reside until his death, from heart disease, March 25, 1859

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Growth of a Century : as illustrated in the history of Jefferson County, New York, from 1793 to 1894, Part 62

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