Growth of a Century : as illustrated in the history of Jefferson County, New York, from 1793 to 1894, Part 85

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 85

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George Cooper, son of Miles, was born in Adams village in 1811. He has long been known as a successful farmer, residing upon the farm his father once owned, lying two and a half miles southeast of Adams village, on the south side of Sandy Creek, where he still resides. The farm contains several hun- dred acres of fertile and well cultivated land, which, with the fine residence and outbuild-

ings, present one of the most attractive homes in the town. He married Roxanna, daughter of George Doxtater. Both Mr. and Mrs. Cooper are estimable residents and val- ued members of the Presbyterian church of Adams village.

I. L. Hunt is the only son of Isaac L. Hunt, the late distinguished clergyman of the Methodist Episcopal denomination. He is a lawyer by profession, being a graduate from the Albany Law School. He represented the First Assembly District in the Legislature in 1882-3-4, and is one of Adams' most promi- nent citizens. He owns a large and valuable farm on the south side of Sandy Creek, to " which he gives much of his personal atten- tion. In 1874 he married Miss Alice, only daughter of Hon. William A. Gilbert.

DeAlton Dwight was born in Henderson, September 25, 1825. He came to Adams in 1861 and purchased a book store, in which business he still continues. He was one of the incorporators of the Adams National Bank and one of its directors. He was one of the founders of the Farmers' National Bank of Adams. In 1854 he married Catherine, daughter of Amasa and Sarah Hopkins Brown, of Henderson. Both Mr. and Mrs. Dwight have been deeply interested in the welfare and growth of Adams since becoming its residents, and the Presbyterian church, of which they are devoted members is largely in- debted to their liberality. The Adams Col- legiate Institute also owes its present exist- ence to their united generosity.

Justus Eddy was long known as one of Adams' most estimable citizens, and there most of his life has been spent. He was engaged in different enterprises, and was at one time editor and publisher of the Adams paper, having purchased the same of E. J. Clark, in 1855. Later he became associated with De- Alton Dwight in books and stationery, in which business he continued until his re- moval to Syracuse, where he now resides. Mr. Eddy was much interested in the history of his native county, and was one of the first to enroll his name as a member of the Jefferson County Historical Society. He was a son of Cyrus Eddy, one of the early settlers of the town, and married Miss Mary Helen Colburn.

ADAMS CENTRE

Is about three-and-a half miles north of Adams village, and was originally known as Adams Five Corners. In 1816, Luman and Hiram Arms cleared and settled farms in this locality. Soon others settled there, and it is now a thriving and pleasant village of 500 in- habitants. It is located in the midst of a rich farming country, whose sandy soil is pecu- liarly adapted to certain productions, and they have brought wealth to the inhabitants. It has three churches, a Baptist, a Seventh Day Baptist and a Seventh Day Advent.

Jonathan Davis built the first store, and eventually became a rich man.

Daniel Fox, son of Samuel Fox, one of the pioneers of the town, settled at the Centre in

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early life. He was a prominent member of the Baptist church, and greatly beloved by his many friends. He died at the age of 74.

Adams Centre has recently suffered from a severe conflagration, which destroyed the sash and blind factory with all its contents, causing a loss variously estimated at from $8,000 to $10,000.

Dr. Dickinson was the earliest physician at Adams Centre, and for many years conduct- ed a large practice in the surrounding country.

Drs. Bailey & Son are now the leading physicians of that vicinity, and proprietors of a drug store.

Those engaged in business at the present time are as follows:

George McComber, general store.

A. G. Glass, and Glazier & Bruce, hard- ware and groceries.

Mrs. J. C. Heath, milliner.

J. B. Vischer, harness shop.

Mrs. J. Tittsworth, milliner.

Arthur J. Green and L. A. Safford, meat markets.

William Morden and George Stone, black- smiths.

D'Albert Mismell, Yankee notions and jewelry.

C. N. Green and Giles Hall, printers. Miss Mattie Grannis, postmistress.

Greene's Settlement is two miles west of Adams Centre, on the road leading to Smith- ville. Some of the early inhabitants of the town settled there, and among them was Charles Greene, who lived to the age of 98. Paul Greene, Edward Greene, Joseph Greene, all of whom lived to old age, reared large families and were industrious citizens.

SMITHVILLE.

Jesse Smith, from whom the village of

Smithville derives its name, was its founder. It lies partly in Henderson and partly in Ad- ams. It is situated on Stony Creek. There were several settlers there in 1803-4-5, who built a dam and a saw mill, but all these im- provements were virtually purchased by Jesse Smith, and from this time the settle- ment at this place dates its history. He cleared land, made potash and was a dis- tiller and a general merchant. He became a rich man and for business thrift and enter- prise had few equals. In 1838 he removed to Newark, Ohio.

A carding mill was operated in Smithville about 1830, by Samuel Eaton, and afterwards by Daniel Hardy and Millard Dodge. It was subsequently consumed by fire.

Daniel Hardy kept a log tavern previous to 1810. Brooks Harrington afterwards erected a frame building for the same purpose. Jesse Smith kept the first store. In 1831 he built a large stone store.

A postoffice was established at Smithville at an early day, with Brooks Harrington as postmaster.

One of its earliest physicians was Dr. E. Adams. At present it has a flourishing school with two departments and 50 scholars.

The men engaged in business in that part of the village lying in the town of Adams are as follows :

J. W. Ivory, general country store.

Frank Ives, in the same business.

Babcock & Allen, blacksmiths.

A. W. Wakefield, wagon shop.

L. J. Hill, grist mill.

Captain C. Seeley, saw and cider mill.

F. R. Hallett, manufacturer of sash, doors and blinds and general contractor.

D. C. Ivory, contractor and builder.

M. S. Rice, manufacturer of trusses and medical and surgical specialties.

D. B. York, postmaster.

BISHOP WHIPPLE.

RIGHT REVEREND HENRY BENJAMIN WHIPPLE, D. D., L.L.D., Bishop of Minne- sota, is a native of Jefferson county. He was born in Adams, February 15, 1822. His father was John H. Whipple, for many years a promi- nent merchant of Adams. His mother was Elizabeth Wager, a daughter of Hon. Henry Wager, of Westernville, Oneida county, New York. His brothers and sisters were Rev. George Brayton Whipple, Captain John Whipple, Mrs. Z. Hill, Mrs. H. Salisbury and Francis Ransom Whipple. His grandfather, Benjamin Whipple, served in the Revolu- tionary War and was a prisoner on the Brit- ish ship Jersey.

In writing about his early life, Bishop Whipple has said : "My father designed me for a profession, but when ready for college, my health failed me, and the doctor said the only hope of saving my life was to put me in active business. My father was very anxious that I should be carefully trained in mathe-

matics, and as my uncle was professor of mathematics at Oberlin, I was sent to him. The other schools which I attended were all Presbyterian schools. My dear wife was a communicant of the Episcopal Church when we were married, and I shall always feel that it was her blessed example, her quiet faith and loving service, which made me, when I had four children, give up a brilliant offer to en- gage in business in Chicago and become a candidate for Holy Orders in this church."

After leaving Oberlin, Mr. Whipple engaged in business with his father, and at the same time took an active part in political affairs, and was rapidly rising to distinction as a politician. It was remarked of him at that time by Thurlow Weed (who was the shrewdest politician in New York State), that Mr. Whipple was the ablest political manager of any young man then on the stage, and gave promise of taking the very first rank in political life, Circumstances, however, oc-

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THE GROWTII OF A CENTURY.

RT. REV. HENRY B. WHIPPLE, D. D., L.L.D.

curred to turn his attention towards the ministry, and with characteristic energy he immediately entered on the work of prepara- tion.

He studied theology under the Reverend W. D. Wilson, D. D. He was ordained deacon August 17, 1849, and priest, July 16, 1850, by Bishop DeLancey. His first parish was at Rome, New York, which he made one of the most flourishing in the diocese. In 1857 he received an earnest appeal to come to Chicago from a devoted churchman, Mr. Al- bert E. Neeley. He went without a church, without friends, without assistance, but with a burning zeal in his Master's cause, and an energy of purpose that knew no such word as failure. He rented a hall and went into the streets, the alleys, the by-ways of the city, and gathered in the perishing souls. He rapidly built; up a free church, and in two years it was in a very flourishing condition.

During the summer of 1859 he was elected the first Bishop of Minnesota, and on October 13th, same year, was consecrated in St. James Church, Richmond, Va. He at once set out for his new field, and decided on Faribault, Minnesota, as his residence. He has steadily worked to promote the spiritual welfare of all within his great diocese.

He has devoted his energies in and out of season in the interest of the Indians, and his success in their improvement and evangeliza- tion has been something wonderful. He is a recognized authority everywhere on all ques- tions relating to the Indian problem. Among the Indians he is known as "Straight Tongue," or "The Father Who Don't Lie." Not long since an Indian chief was standing on a street corner in Minneapolis, when he said to a bystander, as he saw the Bishop pass on the other side of the street, " There goes a man who never lied to an Indian." For

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years Bishop Whipple struggled against the iniquitous system carried out by the agents of the Government among the Indians. His letters to Presidents of the United States, public officials and memorials to Congress, have been both dignified and statesmanlike. He has been a member of several important Indian Commissions sent out by the Govern- ment to make treaties, and on more than one occasion, through his influence with the red man, prevented an outbreak. He has to-day in his diocese seven native Indian clergymen, nine churches and one hospital. One of these churches, the Indians requested, should be named St. Cornelia, in memory of the Bishop's wife, and so to-day it stands on the Western prairie as a monument to Mrs. Whipple, one of the best friends these poor people ever had. The Bishop has also been instrumental in securing lands in severalty for the Indians.

A few years ago the Bishop preached in the Chapel of Cornell University. Hon. Andrew D. White, then President, paid him the fol- lowing tribute: "Take the sermons we had last Sunday, the two discourses preached by the great apostle to the Indians-discourses not only noble in themselves, but preached in such a way that you felt that behind the ser- mon there stood a man-a very great man-a man who has made his mark on the history of this country ; a man to whose honor statues will be erected; a man who has stood be- tween the helpless Indian and the wild greed of the whole Northwest; a man who has fought scoundrelism and lust and avarice in low places and in high; who has pursued it to the National Capitol, and driven it hence; who has taken hold of Governors of States and Presidents of the United States, and has told them; 'If you don't cut loose from these things, I will denounce you to the world,' and he has done it. It was something to sit in the presence of such a man-and his closing words in the afternoon regarding the future of the country and your own part in it-who can forget them? Certainly none of us ever will. There is no man who heard them who was not strengthened by them."

Bishop Whipple has founded and built at Faribault, a beautiful cathedral, the Seabury Divinity School, St. Mary's Hall for young ladies, and Shattuck Military School for young men; also the Breck School for farm- ers' sons, at Wilder, Minn. All of the insti- tutions have large and substantial buildings with ample grounds, and all are in a flourish- ing condition.

The citizens of Faribault, on the 25th anni- versary of Bishop Whipple's consecration, honored him by giving him a reception which continued three days, and invited many people from abroad as their guests. At this celebration, the clergy of his diocese present- ed him with a handsome Bishop's pastoral staff. The Pioneer Press, of St. Paul, Minn., editorially referring to this celebration, said, that it was not confined to the City of Schools nor to the Protestant Episcopal Church, but the entire Northwest felt an interest in paying him honor, and concluded by saying: "The

full measure of the results to grow from what Bishop Whipple has begun with such unerring foresight and such wise prac- tical wisdom, can only be appreciated by pos- terity. But his venerable figure is prominent among the pioneers and those who wrought valiantly the beginnings of both material and spiritual progress in Minnesota; and the tribute in which those who have assembled at Faribault, in common with the people of that beautiful city, have united to do him honor, is eminently fitting and deserved. His name will stand not only on the records of the church, but in the memories and upon the his- toric pages of this great commonwealth of the Northwest."

A writer has said of him: "He stands to- day one of the most remarkable men of America. In the homes of the rich and cul- tured, among scientists, scholars and savants, he is at home. In the cabin of the slave, the wigwam of the Indian, or the degraded homes of vice and poverty, he is in touch with their infirmities, and leads with a silken cord, the vile, brutal and dangerous characters that infest the slums of great cities. The power of his presence is marvelous."

Bishop Whipple is a natural orator. In action he is a disciple of the Demosthenian school of eloquence. His gestures are suffi- ciently frequent for effect, graceful, appro- priate and well timed. There is something in the tone, inflections and volume of his voice, as he reads the beautiful service of the church, or opens his discourse, that convinces you there is heart, soul and intellect there.

Bishop Whipple has visited Europe several times. At the request of the Archbishop of Canterbury, he preached the opening sermon at the Lambeth Conference, in 1888, in West- minster Abbey, and the same year delivered the annual sermon at the University of Cam- bridge, England. He has received the de- gree of D.D. from Hobart College, and also from Durham University, England; also the degree of L.L.D., from Cambridge Univer- sity, England, with much ceremony. On December 7, 1890, he was presented to Her Majesty, Queen Victoria, at Windsor Castle, in a special audience, and received from her a large picture of herself with her autograph, also a copy of Her Majesty's book.

The Bishop has been for 20 years a member of the Peabody Board of Trustees for educa- tional work in the South.

On June 6, 1894, the 35th anniversary of Bishop Whipple's consecration was celebrated in St. Paul's Church, St. Paul, Minn., by the Diocesan Convention. The Daily Globe, of St. Paul, in giving an account of it, said : " The celebration of the 35th anniversary of the elevation of the Rt. Rev. H. B. Whipple, of Faribault, to the Episcopate, occurred last night at St. Paul's Episcopal Church. The church was packed to the doors and. many people were unable to gain admission. The good and venerable Bishop seemed to be hale and hearty, and participated in the exercises by delivering an able address fitted to the occasion, and suitable for a great man of God,

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who is rounding up a completed life in a great work. Bishop M. N. Gilbert, the Coad- jutor of the Diocese, directed the exercises, and opened them with a terse address suited to the occasion.

There were a number of Indians present, two of whom were in the convention of 1859 that elected Bishop Whipple. For the first 10 years of the Bishop's work, there was a rapid growth in the rural districts. In the first three years of his service, the Bishop travelled 27,000 miles by wagon, in the dis- charge of his duties. He slept in frontier taverns and preached in bar rooms, cabins, log school houses and Indian villages. At the Indian massacre of 1862, at St. Peter. he bound up the wounds of the injured. Dur- ing the Civil War, he held services on the battle fields in the camps of Generals Meade and Mcclellan.

Iu 1879, the close of 20 years' work showed that Bishop Whipple had consecrated 58 churches and confirmed 6.969 persons, and delivered 5,000 sermons and addresses. He did much to encourage immigration, and in 1882, it was said that 10,000 immigrants passed through St. Paul in a single week. He established schools and did a great work among the Indians, as well as building up the church, until now there are 103 clergymen in the diocese.

One of the lay delegates, Hon. Isaac At- water, in closing his speech at this conven- tion, said: "Bishop Whipple's name has be- come a household word in the United States, and is as well known in England as the Arch- bishop of Canterbury's, and he is recognized as the greatest American who has held a seat in the House of Bishops." The magnitude of his educational and benevolent work was also alluded to.

On October 5, 1843, Bishop Whipple mar- ried Cornelia Wright, the eldest daughter of Hon. Benjamin Wright, for many years sur- rogate of Jefferson county. She died in 1890, at Faribault, Minnesota, honored and beloved by all classes for her benevolent and charit- able work.

Bishop and Mrs. Whipple have had six children : Mrs. Charles A. Farnum. of Phila- delphia, Pa .; Mrs. F. M. Rose, of Faribault, Minn .; Mrs. H. A. Scandrett, of Faribault, Minn .; Maj. Charles H. Whipple, of the United States Army; Mrs. F. W. Jackson, of Cleveland, Ohio, and John Hall Whipple.

Of late years the Bishop's age and delicate health has made it necessary for him to spend his winters in a mild climate. He has an at- tractive cottage at Lake Maitland, Orange county, the winter park region of Florida. where he spends the winter months. Here he has built a church in memory of two of his children, and while in Maitland he is the parish priest. The colored people in the vicinity claim much of his time, and he goes gladly to their churches to preach. They show a loving appreciation of his ministry. Florida being the resort of so many suffering invalids, the Bishop has found there abundant. work to do for the Master, and has been to

many weary, lonely souls, a friend in need, and a guide to " the peace that passeth under- standing."

Although brief biographical sketches of Mrs. Cornelia Whipple, wife of the Bishop of Minnesota, have from time to time appeared and although she was widely known, both in and out of the church, it seems fitting that her name should also appear in the history of her native town and village. Perhaps no person recalls more vividly her girlhood, her early married life and her sweet, motherly ways when the little ones came to brighten their home, than the writer of this sketch.

She was born in Adams, Jefferson county, November 10, 1816. In her childhood she at- tended the schools of her native village and finished her education at Mrs. Emma Willard's Troy Female Seminary. Subsequently she taught in South Carolina, returning in the early part of 1842, and the same year married Henry B. Whipple, who was then a merchant at Adams. She was a lady of culture and great amiability, and the social life of the lit- tle village was in those days largely indebted to her. She early became a communicant of the Episcopal Church, and through her in- fluence her husband was induced to abandon tempting business offers and devote himself to the interests of the church. From her early girlhood she seemed eminently qualified for the place she was destined to occupy, and most nobly did she meet the trials and priva- tions incident to her Western life. Her kind interest in the red man, the confidence she in- spired in them and their appreciation was often expressed in their own peculiar way. A beautiful tribute to her goodness to them was paid by the Indian chief "Good Thun- der," when, at the laying of the corner stone of their church at " Birch Coolie," he asked that their church might be named "St. Cor- nelia."

During the later years of her life she spent several winters in Florida, and here she be- came the warm friend of the colored people. Wherever she went she seemed instinctively to be recognized as the friend of the poor, the sick and the needy. It was on one of these Southern trips that Mrs. Whipple met with a railroad accident, which, a few months afterwards, terminated her earthly existence. On the last night of her stay in her Southern home, we are told, a number of these colored friends asked the privilege of singing their last good-bye beneath her window, and here, in the melodious strains peculiar to their race, thev sang " The Sweet Bye and Bye" and " Shall We Meet Over There." This was their last farewell. They never saw her more. The attractive home erected for the reception of the newly wedded pair in 1842, still remains unchanged. " The little church stands near," round which hallowed memories cluster. Mrs. Whipple died at her home in Faribault, Minn., July 16, 1890. Of her it can be truthfully said :

" None knew her but to love her,

"None named her but to praise." J. A. C.

JAMES M. CLEVELAND.

T HE history of the town of Adams and of Jefferson County would not be complete, nor should it be written, without prominent mention of James M. Cleveland, an old and nearly life-long resident of Adams. Mr. Cleve- land was born in 1820, from a family early identified in the history of New England, and is a direct descendant of Moses Cleveland, who came from Suffolk County, England, in 1635, and settled in Woburn, Mass., as appears by the custom-house lists and militia-rolls at that date; and from said Moses Cleve- land can be directly traced, as descendants, all persons bearing the Cleveland name in the Northern States. Mr. Cleveland was educated for and commenced life as a farmer, and up to 1851 was successful in his vocation, and by industry and foresight paying for and owning a fine property in the town of Adams. He was always a thinking man, not only devising schemes for his own advance- ment, but for the benefit of the agricultural community in which he lived. He was a prominent and valuable member of the Agricultural Societies of Jef- ferson County, and was always looked up to as a man of excellent judgment. In 1851 he conceived the idea and established at Adams the business of grow- ing peas, beans, and other seeds for seed purposes for the domestic and foreign markets. This was the first business of the kind ever established in Northern New York, and proved of incalculable value to the farmers of his town and of Jefferson County, whose lands were so well adapted to the cultivation of such products, and furnished them a fine income from their farms, as hundreds can testify who have paid for homes out of this industry alone. Mr. Cleveland conducted this business from 1851 to 1877, when the business was removed to Cape Vincent and subsequently to New York City. As long as Mr. Cleveland was interested in the business it was one of the finest enterprises in the State, and from which he retired with a competency. The farmers of this county will for years to come gratefully remember Mr. Cleveland for the advantages he furnished them, and the fair dealing which characterized his transactions with them. Few men, and certainly no other man in this section of the country, have been endowed with the love of the beautiful and taste for adorn- ment of nature in an equal degree with Mr. Cleveland. His house and grounds where he resides are arranged with the finest idea of symmetry, and a veritable paradise of flowers greets the eye of the visitor in their season, and his neigh- bors and friends delight in viewing his collections and asking his advice in lay- ing out and beautifying their homes. The people of the village of Adams have fully appreciated this quality on the streets and improvements of different kinds affecting the public.

Mr. Cleveland has always borne an enviable reputation for honesty, integ- rity, and charity. He has been foremost in the advancement of all the interests which pertain to the best advantage of his village and the community in which he lives. All of the religious societies of Adams have in time of need met with liberal donations from him, and the cause of education has received sub- stantial tokens of his liberality from the competence which he enjoys. The poor and needy have cause in every instance to thank him for kindly remem- brance in their adversity, and on all occasions speak of him in terms of praise. In rounding out a life full of business activity Mr. Cleveland can rest assured that he is and will be gratefully remembered by his fellow citizens.

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Growth of a Century : as illustrated in the history of Jefferson County, New York, from 1793 to 1894, Part 85

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