Growth of a Century : as illustrated in the history of Jefferson County, New York, from 1793 to 1894, Part 80

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 80

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a proper estimate upon their machinations. Dr. Huntington has for many years been engaged in Christian-like efforts to benefit society. He was for several years chairman of the room committee, having charge of the property of the Y. M. C. A. in Watertown. He was president of the Asssociation in 1874. He was the one who, more than any other, influenced the late John A. Sherman to leave the Washington Hall property in per- petuity to the Y. M. C. A., and in a few years it will be entirely under their control, and a source of profit to that philanthropic body. When on his dying bed, Mr. Sherman notified the Doctor that no more rent would be ex- acted, and the opening of the will more fully developed the extent of Mr. Sherman's donation, and indicated the extent to which Dr. Huntington's influence had been instru- mental in procuring a permanent home for the Association.

JOHN HOSE,

THE architect, so well known in Watertown, was the son of Jacob Hose, who came into the Black River country in 1840, from Manheim, Herkimer county. He married Miss Lena Schall, also of Manhcim. They came to the town of Lyme and purchased a farm, residing there until his death, in 1860. His son John did not remove to Watertown until 1841, one year after his father had settled in Lyme. John's first work in Watertown was as an ap- prentice with a Mr. Hough, a carpenter, with whom he continued until Mr. Hough's death. John then went into the tool shop of Lorenzo Case, which was soon sold out by the sheriff. That drove Mr. Hose back to his original occupation as an all-around carpenter. By working at coarse jobs, and taking hold of anything that came along, he was enabled to support his family. Step by step he rose from one grade of excellence to another in his calling, until he began to have aspirations that rose above the coarser work of building fences, and the other rough work of carpen- tering. He bought a poor set of draughting tools, and began to make plans and specifi- cations for buildings. Working onward and upward, he was at last employed upon the First Presbyterian Church, which had an un- usually high spire. While engaged upon this church he demonstrated such unusual capa- city that he was retained through the whole job, the very last and most difficult joiner work being given to him. In the Arsenal Street Methodist Church, soon after com- menced, he had further opportunities of demonstrating his ability, and these oppor- tunities he availed himself of to their utmost limit. After completing his work upon the Arsenal Street Church, his life-labor began to develop into that of an architect and con- tractor. He afterwards built the court house on Arsenal street, price $24,000; and the Stone Street Presbyterian Church. He was the architect for the Doolittle & Hall build-

ing; of the Taggart block; of the Agricultu- ral Insurance marble building on Washington street, and of very many other important and costly edifices.

Perhaps the most important work done by Mr. Hose, was in connection with the Con- necticut Asylum for the Insane, at Middle- town. Of this large undertaking he was the superintendent and assistant architect. His labors here were long and arduous, continu- ing until the institution was completed. The great confidence placed in him by the build- ing committee, of which the Governor of the State was an active member, was faithfully earned, and Mr. Hose left that work with the respect of all with whom he had been associ- ated.

In May, 1843, Mr. Hose married Miss Fanny Jones. They have one daughter, Miss Mattie, who is the wife of Mr. Isaac Brint- nall.

Mr. Hose has proved himself equal to all the exigencies of his profession, and that is surely the best test of a man's ability. He began life as thousands of others have, with- out political or personal influence, and has worked his way up to the highest rank in his arduous profession. Hc was a contemporary of Otis L. Wheelock, who was at one time the favorite and almost the only architect in Watertown. He removed to Chicago in the fifties. But Mr. Hose, when he succeeded Mr. Wheelock, evinced an originality and versatility in his work that proved at once his superiority over any contemporary. He is to-day at the head of his profession in Watertown, and he has all the elements of success, for he was at first a carpenter's ap- prentice, then a journeyman, then a contrac- tor, then an architect-his knowledge cover- ing the whole range of those experiences called for in constructing buildings. The im- portance of architecture upon the develop- ment of a city is something remarkable, and

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JOHN HOSE.

is inevitably the best tangible evidence of the refinement of a people. The traveller is at- tracted toward localities where taste and real beauty are exemplified in the buildings. In that way the work of the architect becomes a great public benefit, and he himself rises almost to the position of a more or less recog- nized benefactor. The European traveller observes this. That is why Paris is more at- tractive than London. Its beautiful architec- ture fills the mind with harmonious and agreeable sensations, and Louis Napoleon who was such a fearful failure as a soldier, may be called the benefactor of his people, when we remember what he did to embellish the French capital. Those grand streets which

radiate from the Arc de Triomphe, are an enduring memorial to the grand men whose work, as architects, have created these things of beauty that are indeed a joy forever. Bos- ton is facetiously called "the Hub," because the hub of a wheel is the main support and the central influence from which emanate the diverging spokes-so from her central position are supposed to go out the influences which adorn society and perpetuate learning -go there and note its harmonious styles of building, the massive fronts, the completeness of detail in construction, and by comparing that great attractive city with others, the observer will be able to understand the bene- ficent influence of the architect.

376 b

THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

CHARLES AUGUSTUS SHERMAN

WAS the son of Hon. George C. and Mary Ann (Hubbard) Sherman. He was born in 1838. As his father was a lawyer he had the benefit of early legal training, and his mind was turned naturally towards the law. His scholastic education was superior, and he was a rapid learner-mastering difficult problems of classics, philosophy or law, with equal facility. He was a student at law in Albany, and admitted to practice soon after. He mar- ried, in 1861, Miss Caroline Norton, daughter of Nathaniel and Caroline Norton, of Charlestown, Mass. Miss Norton had also received a superior education, graduating at the Packer Collegiate Institute. They reared six children : George C., who married Miss Alice Taggart, daughter of Hon. W. W. Taggart; Caroline G., wife of Henry Whitte-

more, of New York; Francis A., Charles N., who married Misst Grace Stebbins, daughter of Mr. Stebbins, president of the Agricultu- ral Insurance Company; Nathaniel N. (de- ceased), and Margaret A.

Mr. Sherman was a member of the well- known law firm of Lansing & Sherman, his partner being Hon. Frederick Lansing, formerly member of Congress, who died in 1893, from wounds received in the Civil War. Mr. Sherman held many positions of trust and responsibility, some of them when he was comparatively a youth; he was presi- dent of the Watertown Steam Engine Com- pany for 13 years, and one of its directors from its organization, and a trustee of the Jef- ferson County Savings Bank. He was always efficient in church work, his devoted mother

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CITY OF WATERTOWN.

and wife being his contemporaneous workers in all such labors. In Trinity Church he was particularly useful, and ever honored. By the death of Mr. Sherman, on April 25th, 1882, in his 43d year, the city of Watertown lost a high-minded and progressive citizen, the profession he adorned for all the years he gave to it an intelligent, conscientious prac- tioner, and society a courteous and sympa- thetic friend. To the church of his choice, his loss was almost irreparable. In his legal practice he was particularly successful in prosecuting the claims of those who were sufferers from losses upon the river, resulting from the great flood of 1869. But he was an all-round lawyer, ready to aid a client as far as he was able.

Mr. Sherman's widow still survives him, a most interesting and estimable lady.

In order to show the high estimation in which Mr. Sherman was held by his church, as well as his associates in business, we append some extracts from laudatory reso- lutions, passed at the time of his death :

By the death of Charles A. Sherman, Esq., of Water- town, our diocese loses a loyal, devoted and active friend and promoter of its best interests. He has for many years taken a prominent part in the proceed. ings of the Convention, of the Board of Missions and of the Standing Committee, being always ready to serve the church at the cost of time and trouble, manifesting in these public relations the strong con- victions and warm feelings belonging to his nature, but without bitterness or animosity in debate. His large family and many friends were only in part pre- pared for his departure by a lingering disease .- Gos- pel Messenger.

At a meeting of the trustees of the Watertown Steam Engine Company, held April 26, 1882, the fol- lowing preamble and resolutions were adopted:

Whereas, it has pleased Almighty God in his wis- dom to take from our midst Charles A. Sherman, a member of this board from its organization, and for 13 years its president; and whereas, we realize that in his death our company has lost an efficient head, and we ourselves an honored friend and associate; now therefore be it

Resolved, That we, his former associates. express our cordial appreciation of his constant devotion to the interests of our Company, his ready watchfulness, his prompt recognition and thorough performance of every duty, his decision of character and indepen- dence of action, his firm adherance to whatever he believed right and good.

Resolved. That in his death we mourn a friend of ready sympathy, uniform courtesy, thoughtful and considerate, whose memory is made pleasant by fre- quent acts of kind attention and good will, a discreet adviser, a careful and painstaking co-laborer, and efficient officer, a warm friend whose prudent coun- sels and cordial greetings we shall greatly miss.

Resolved, That we tender to the bereaved family our deepest and most sincere sympathies in the great affliction that has come to them; that we publish on our own record and in the daily paper these resolu- tions of respect, and that we attend the funeral in a body.

Just before the noon adjournment at the court house on the day of Mr. Sherman's death, General Winslow rose and said that as a member of the com- mittee appointed at a meeting of the bar, the sad duty devolved upon him of formally announc- ing to this court the death of the young and beloved member of the profession, Charles A. Sherman. Mr. Winslow read the resolutions which had been prepar- ed, and moved that they be entered on the minutes of the court Remarks were made by Lysander H Brown, Watson M. Rogers and Levi H. Brown, when the court ordered the resolutions entered upon the records, and out of respect to the deceased, after a few touching remarks by Judge Vann, adjourned.

HON. CHARLES R. SKINNER.

AVERY SKINNER came to Watertown from New Hampshire. He began in Watertown by teaching school. He took the first census ever taken in Jefferson county. Avery Skinner's wife was Charlotte P. Stebbins, daughter of Rufus Stebbins, whose parents came to Pamelia from Connecticut, in 1840. Charles R. Skinner, son of the above, and the subject of this sketch, was born August 4, 1844. He was educated in the district schools, the Mexico Academy, and at the Clinton (Oneida county) Liberal Institute. He came to Jefferson county in 1861, in his 16th year, and accepted a position in the post office under Levi Smith. He remained in Watertown until 1867, when he went to New York to take a position in the house of Walter A. Wood, of the Mowing Machine Company, he having charge of their house for three years. In 1870 he purchased the interest of L. J. Bigelow in the Times and Reformer, where he remained until 1874. In 1876 he was elected to the Assembly, which was repeated for the fifth term, enabling him to sit in the old capital, and the first two years in the new capital. He was chairman of the Committee on Railroads, and of Print- ing, and was an active participant in the ex- citing scenes of the years from 1877 to 1881 -probably the most peculiar of any during

the history of the State, before or Isince. In 1881 Mr. Skinner was elected to the 47th, and was also a member of the 48th Congress. These positions he filled most creditably and acceptably to his constituents. He was on the Committee on Post Offices and Post Roads, introducing one of the bills which recommended two-cent postage. He was the author of the bill requiring special delivery of letters for a special rate of post- age. In the Harrison campaign he was an active participant. While in Congress he voted steadfastly against excluding the Chinese from the rights of citizenship. .

After his second term in Congress he re- turned to Watertown, and was associated with Hon. L. Ingalls in editing the Daily Republican until 1886. In the latter part of that year he was appointed Deputy Superin- tendent of Public Instruction, which position he held for six years, until 1892, when he was appointed Supervisor of Teachers' Insti- tutes and Training classes, in the same de- partment. He is a life-member of the New York Press Association, and is recognized as being the custodian of the interests of that Association before the Legislature of the State. He has been the delegate of the New York State Association to the National Association, for several years.

376 d

THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

JOHN WINSLOW.

THE root of John Winslow's genealogical tree runs back to the days of the Puritans, seven generations, to Kenelm Winslow, a brother of Governor Edward Winslow, the first governor of Plymouth colony. John had many characteristics that indicated his Puritan origin. He bore himself steadfastly in whatever course he had marked out to pursue, moving onward with a well-defined purpose, and always acting from the prompt- ings of his judgment and convictions. He was never borne away from the rock of prin- ciple on which he had placed himself, by any sudden passion or impulse. His life, there- fore, from boyhood to the ripe age of 71 years, flowed on in a strong, steady current, undisturbed by those adverse elements of mental constitution that make the lives of

many men an endless, frothing sea of trouble. Without attempting to follow the ances- tral line forward from the original progeni- tor in this country, we will simply record that Samuel Winslow, the father of John, was born in Warwick, Massachusetts, April 21, 1765, from whence in his childhood he re- moved with his parents to Pomfret, in the State of Vermont, where they died. John's grandmother's maiden name was Goodspeed. His father, Samuel, married Lucy Frasier in 1794, and the twain commenced their life partnership at Woodstock, Vermont, where John, the fifth child, was born to them December 19, 1802.

His parents, 13 years after marriage, in May, 1807, removed from Woodstock to the Black River country, then comparatively a

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CITY OF WATERTOWN.

wilderness. They settled on a forest-covered farm, two and three-fourths miles from the present city of Watertown.

The road passing through the farm, and on which the farm buildings are situated, is known as the Smithville, or Feld Settlement road. There was no road between the farm and the village of Watertown at that time. The dwelling into which the family moved was constructed of logs. The loft, which was the usual sleeping apartment of the children, was open to the storm, and soon after the arrival of the family, in the night- time, a heavy storm came on, and John re- lated that his mother covered himself and brother to shield them from it, with a calf skin. His boyhood surroundings were those of a pioneer life. The howl of the wolf, prowling in the darkness of the night, in the forest surrounding the humble dwelling, was a sound familiar to his ear.

On that farm he spent his days, except the last five or six years of his life, during which he resided in the city of Watertown. He had but limited facilities for education, attend- ing school for a few weeks on two or three different occasions, completing his education, so far as the schools were concerned, with one term at the academy at Lowville, Lewis county.

On October 18, 1827, at the age of 25 years, he was married to Betsey Collins, daughter of John Collins, who at that time lived about a mile and half from the then village of Watertown, on what is known as the Beaver Meadow road. Five children were born of this marriage, namely, Lucy J., wife of G. W. Candee, Esq., Bradley, Nor- ris, Jennie C., wife of Dr. H. B. Maben, of Kingston, N. Y .; and Bessie, wife of Rev. E. Horr, D. D., pastor Congregational Church, Worcester, Mass.

John Winslow, in his early manhood, was interested in the condition and growth of the community with which he had grown to man's estate, and in which he lived. Janu- ary 19, 1826, he was commissioned ensign of light infantry in the 76th regiment of Infan- try, by Gov. De Witt Clinton. The next year he was promoted to be lieutenant, and was commissioned by Governor Clinton. September 26, 1828, he was further promoted to the position of captain, and commissioned as such by Lieutenant-Governor Nathaniel Pitcher, acting governor of the State, in the same regiment. His mother died August 26, 1826, and his father died December 21, 1832. About three years after the death of his father, he purchased the interest of the other heirs in the homestead farm, which, with a small number of acres adjoining, and on which he had resided since his marriage, comprised a farm of about 200 acres. At his father's death, three sisters and himself were all that survived of his father's family of eight children. · To raise money to purchase the interest of the heirs in his father's estate, a mortgage had to be put upon the farm, and to the extinguishment of that mortgage, and

to provide for his increasing and growing family, he diligently devoted his best ener- gies. Prosperity attended him. But the quiet course of events with him was suddenly interrupted, and a great shadow fell upon him in the death of his wife. The life of this amiable, intelligent, Christian wife and mother, came to a close at the age of 37 years. The five children were all much too young to realize that in that mother's death there was a loss to them, as well as to him, ir- reparable. Standing beside her open grave, the husband and father, with his mind filled with a sense of his terrible bereavement, his voice trembling with emotion, said that he had followed' to their last resting-places, father, mother, brothers and sisters, all save one of his father's family, but no one of those afflictions had occasioned such intense sor- row as the parting forever in this world from his dear wife.

Mr. Winslow was called to different civil positions by the suffrages of his fellow- citizens. He was several years assessor of his town, four years supervisor, was elected to the Legislature in 1849. Subsequently he was 10 years one of the commissioners of excise for Jefferson county.

He took a deep interest in agriculture, and for many years was an active member of the Jefferson County Agricultural Society; was president of the society in 1853. For several years previous to his death he was a director and vice-president of the Agricultural Insur- ance Company, an institution devoted to the insuring of farm property. Mr. Winslow was again married May 23, 1844, to Miss Sarah Bates, daughter of Merrick Bates, Esq., of Houndsfield, who still survives him. By this marriage he had one son, John, born May 21, 1845, who resides in Rutland, N. Y., and is a farmer.

Mr. Winslow was thoroughly domestic in his tastes and habits. He took a deep inter- est in the welfare of his children; was ready at all times to assist them by his counsels, and in a pecuniary way when necessary. He watched their course in life with tenderest solicitude. His life was free from every species of vice and immorality, his daily walk being a continuing precept and example of integrity and uprightness. He died at his home in the city of Watertown, July 7, 1874, in the presence of his wife and children and other relatives and sympathizing friends, after a brief illness, of congestion. A large concourse of his neighbors and fellow-citizens attended his funeral. His remains were in- terred in Brookside Cemetery, where a plain granite shaft-granite from Massachusetts, the home of his ancestors-marks his last resting-place.

If Mr. Winslow had one excellence which surpassed another, it was manifested by his willingness to encourage young men. Many are yet living who can testify to this trait in his character. He has left a memory pecu- liarly sweet and enviable, which is worthy of all emulation:

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THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

NORRIS WINSLOW,

SON of Hon. John Winslow, long a resident of Watertown, was born in that town in 1835. John Winslow's obituary is found on page 376 d. This family traces its origin to Pilgrim stock, their American ancestor having been Kenelm Winslow, who came to America in 1624. Norris Winslow, the sub- ject of this sketch, had the advantages of the common schools at Field's Settlement, completing his education at the Falley Seminary and at the Black River Literary and Religious Institute. He left the farm in 1854, and commenced a clerkship with Truman Keeler in Watertown, at $2 per week. Here he continued for nearly two years; then, in company with Mr. Candee, he purchased Keeler's stock, and began busi- ness for himself. He continued as a leading

and progressive merchant for 10 years, sell- ing his interest to Mr. W. H. Moore, who is yet in trade at the same stand. There, in 1866, he began the Merchant's Bank, occupy- ing the corner so long held by Wooster Sher- man. In this business he continued for another 10 years, when he began to build upon the Keyes property in the south-eastern part of the city, where he erected nearly 100 properties, large and small. Then, in 1870, he put up the Davis Sewing Machine build- ing, now owned by the Watertown Spring Wagon Company. About this time he was elected to the State Senate, filling that office for two terms.

Previous to putting up the Sewing Machine building, he had, in 1869, purchased the old Watertown Cotton Mills property,

CITY OF WATERTOWN.

376 g

and commenced at that point the remarkable improvements now so observable at Factory Square, making that square one of the most extensive and industrious of any in the country.

In 1872 the work of organizing the Car- thage, Watertown and Sackets Harbor Rail- road was begun, and Mr. Winslow became an active participant in the labors of that organizatian. He was made one of the directors, and one of the first engines on the road was named for him. Mr. Winslow was one of the organizers and stockholders of the Agricultural Insurance Company, and was for many years a director. Still later, the Watertown Fire Insurance Company was organized, and Mr. Winslow was its presi- dent. In 1873 he erected the Winslow (now Commercial) block, which fills a place once occupied by cheap and tumble-down build- ings. This building cost over $100,000.

Through Mr. Winslow's influence, the Watertown Spring Wagon Company was organized, in which he was the first presi- dent, and for many years director. From that enterprise has sprung the grand indus- trial developments which have made Water- town one of the great wagon manufacturing cities of the United States.

Mr. Winslow was special agent of the Treasury Department of the United States from 1882 to 1890, resigning the position on account of ill-health.

The greatest impetus ever given to the

Thousand Islands of the St. Lawrence, was when the State Editorial Association held their meeting at Watertown in 1871, and, by Mr. Winslow's invitation, were taken to the islands and elegantly entertained. The editorial comments resulting from that visit, were spread all over the State, and attracted extended notice to these wonderul islands and the delightful archipelago in which they are grouped. People began to come on to buy properties and build homes, until, in 1873, the best localities were taken up, and the islands began to be included in the regular summer programme of all wise travellers.

We think the risk nothing in saying, after familiarity with Watertown's improvements and the men who have made them for the past 55 years, that no man has done more to improve and build up Watertown than Norris Winslow. In one of the legends on the seal of one of our Western States, is the motto : " If you wish to see a land of free- men, look around you;" so, we can say to any citizen of Watertown, if you wish to see what Norris Winslow has done for the city, "look around you " and you will see the evidences. He has been a rich man, earned by his own sagacity and energy-but has lost much of his wealth, though it has not soured his disposition. He continues to be the same approachable, agreeable gentleman -a pleasure to know and to call "friend."

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Growth of a Century : as illustrated in the history of Jefferson County, New York, from 1793 to 1894, Part 80

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