History of Clinton and Franklin Counties, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 111

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) 1n; Lewis, J.W., & Co., Philadelphia
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis & co.
Number of Pages: 922


USA > New York > Clinton County > History of Clinton and Franklin Counties, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 111
USA > New York > Franklin County > History of Clinton and Franklin Counties, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 111


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


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# The present academy building was erected at a cost, including furniture, of $40,000.


173 0 005


PHOTO. BY FAY


Harry Whipple .


Harvey Whipple, the honored subject of this notice, was born in Cornish, Vt., in 1798. His parents subse- quently removed to Norwich, N. H., where he remained until the age of sixteen years. He attended the common schools, and pursued his studies with diligence and atten- tion, and succeeded in securing an education which well qualified him for his subsequent successful business career. When sixteen years old he entered the employ of Mr. Lyman, an extensive merchant, residing at White River Junction, Vt., with whom he remained until twenty-one years of age, when he came to Malone, and located at Whippleville. This section was then a comparative wil- derness, scarcely a pathway leading from Malone village to the location which he had chosen for a home. Here he remained until 1868, engaged in the farming and milling business, and did much to develop that section of the town. He then removed to the village of Malone, where he resided until his death.


In 1826 he united in marriage with Sophia Shepherd, daughter of Dr. Shepherd, of Brandon, Vt. He was married a second time to Frances McHutcheon, daughter of Hon. George B. R. Gove, of Fort Covington, N. Y., by whom one son was born,-George J. Whipple. In 1858 he was again married to Mrs. Sarah Haskell ; of this union one son was born,-Fred. H. Whipple. Both sons are residents of Malone. Politically he was a Re- publican. He was a consistent Christian, and a deacon in the Baptist Church from 1845 until his death, which 'occurred Jan. 20, 1872, at the age of seventy-four.


Mr. Whipple was a man of active business habits, and acquired an ample competency. He lived to see a thriv- ing hamlet grow up about the place where he made his first selection, and with which his name will always be associated. He was an honored citizen, and during his long and active life was esteemed by all who knew him as a just and upright man.


-


411


TOWN OF MALONE.


Simeon Bicknell was the first principal of Franklin Academy, and was succeeded by S. M. Boynton, Lorenzo Coburn, John Hutton, Elos Winslow, George H. Wood, D. D. Gorham, D. D. Crittenden, John I. Gilbert, G. L. Manley, Wm. S. Aumock, and M. Eugene McClary.


Present faculty, M. Eugene MeClary, Principal ; Miss Charlotte M. Klohe, Preceptress.


By an act of the Legislature, passed April 19, 1858, school districts Nos. 1, 14, 15, and 21 were consolidated into one distriet, called " The Village School District of the Town of Malone," with five trustees, one to be elected each year. The first board elected under this act was as follows: John Hutton, Joseph R. Flanders, Sidney P. Bates, How- ard E. King, and William B. Earl. By an act passed Jan. 24, 1867, Franklin Academy, together with all the other schools of the district, were placed under the " care, man- agement, and control" of a board of education, consisting of ten members, five of whom are elected by the district as provided by the act of 1858, and five are elected by the board of trustees of the academy. The first board elected under this act consisted of Samuel C. Wead, President ; William P. Cantwell, Clerk ; Samuel C. F. Thorndike, Ashbel B. Parmelee, William W. King, Charles C. Whittelsey, Sidney P. Bates, Francis D. Flanders, Baker Stevens, and Horace A. Taylor. The present board (November, 1879) is as follows : Francis D. Flanders, President ; William W. Pad- doek, Clerk ; Horace A. Taylor, Darius W. Lawrence, Joel J. Seaver, Leslie C. Wead, Henry A. Paddock, George Hawkins, Baker Stevens, and John I. Gilbert.


The academic or central school building accommodates the academic department and six schools of the common school department. A new building large enough for four schools, and costing $7000, has been erected the present year in the east part of the village. There are also six other buildings in different parts of the village used for primary schools.


The whole number of scholars taught during the last school year was 1000. Average daily attendance, 600. The whole number of teachers now in the employ of the board is 20, of whom one is a method teacher or superin- tendent of graded schools, and one is teacher of vocal music.


The academy has a classical, scientific, and English-Latin course, each occupying three years. The common schools are divided into nine grades, each requiring one year for completion. The first, second, and third grades are taught together in the primary schools. Each of the other grades employs one or more teachers.


The academy has a fund of $3000 bequeathed to it by HIiram Taylor, Esq., late of the town of Bangor, the in- terest of which is applied to the education and maintenance of indigent pupils.


The board has also the sum of $200 given by Hon. W. A. Wheeler, to be expended during the present school year in prizes in the several schools in the care of said board.


CHAPTER LXXVII.


MALONE-(Continued).


The Fire Department-The Water-Works-The Conflagration of 1879 -The Bank of Malone-The National Bank of Malone-Farmers' National Bank of Malone-The Cemetery-The Fenian Movements.


THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.


Malone Engine Company, No. 1, was organized Nov. 6, 1852, with the following members : A. H. Miller, D. N. Huntington, William G. Dickinson, S. W. Rich, Enoch Miller, Faber C. Meigs, B. S. W. Clark, David F. Field, Benjamin W. Clark, Charles J. Clark, N. Morse, I. S. Amsden, G. P. Flack, J. J. Seaver, D. Grange, Edw. Fitch, F. T. Heath, F. W. Weaver, A. F. Moore, C. A. Powell, W. W. King, William Robb, William Keeler, W. J. Pow- ers, Theodore Rogers, C. C. Whittlesey, G. W. Beardsley, A. Heath, G. D. Lathrop, Wing Merritt, H. S. Brewster, P. B. Miller, W. A. Wheeler, Oliver Milton, Charles Fury, Harvey Brown, R. R. Stephens, S. W. Lincoln, B. B. Bell, H. C. Powell.


The first officers were Philip B. Miller, Captain ; William G. Dickinson, Secretary ; Enoch Miller, First Assistant ; Benjamin W. Clark, Second Assistant.


The present (1879) officers arc John McCoy, Captain ; Moses Veon, First Assistant ; A. Fadden, Second Assistant; J. K. Seaver, Clerk and Treasurer; and Genoir Vcon, Steward.


Hope Hose* was organized Dec. 2, 1870, with the fol- lowing members : Charles W. Allen, Charles W. Breed, M. H. Barry, Henry Furness, A. R. Fuller, J. E. K. Green, J. B. Hamilton, J. N. Hunt, Robert D. Huntington, E. R. Hoit, W. H. King, R. S. Keeler, J. L. Keency, Henry A. Miller, S. A. Plumley, N. P. Sceley, F. J. Seaver, J. F. Wright, M. W. Hutchins.


Active Hose Company was organized April 15, 1873, The following were the first members : Thomas Cantwell, G. M. Clark, F. J. Curran, Henry H. Gray, Harry H. Hawley, L. W. Hubbard, Fred. M. Heath, Harry S. IIouse, William R. Flanagan, Harry B. Fields, J. S. Mc- Vicker, E. W. Lawrence, Warren L. Manning, Jr., A. II. McIntosh, William Olney, E. B. Pitman, Charles B. Whit- tlesey.+


Rescue Hose Company, No. 3 .- This company was formed June 19, 1879, with the following members : Julius Bailey, B. C. Bowen, A. H. Barnum, A. E. Clark, A. H. Fay, S. E. Gregg, J. E. K. Green, M. F. Hinman, R. D. Huntington, J. P. Kellas, C. R. Lane, E. W. Labormbarde, J. W. Massey, M. E. MeClary, R. McMiller, E. A. Pratt, S. C. Paddoek, Henry Rennie, C. P. Simonds, F. II. Tur- ner, C. B. Williamson, and J. H. Wead.


The present foreman is R. D. Huntington.


Empire Hook-and- Ladder Company was organized April 5, 1872, with the following members : Thomas Adams, E. Bussford, Mandell Boomhower, Duncan M. Cameron, Ed- ward Cassin, Henry H. Davis, J. W. Fallows, Charles Fury, Robert R. Fell, William Henry Gray, Nelson P. Gravell, Frank Hall, George D. Ilastings, Thomas Jones, John Ma-


Disbanded, and reorganized as Rescue No. 3.


1 The present foreman is R. C. Thompson.


412


HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY, NEW YORK.


loney, Robert Martin, David Pritchard, Ncwell Rexford, Levi P. Rodgers, Andrew Ross, John P. Spear, Charles Stevens, Warren H. Smith, J. P. Toland, P. B. Wolff, R. J. Wentworth, and Henry A. Wolff. The present foreman is R. C. Wentworth.


There is also a wheel Babcock fire-extinguisher which was purchased in July, 1878, at a cost of $1500. It is owned by the firemen, and is a neat and effective machinc. It is operated by a detail of 15 men from the several con- panics. The present (1879) foreman is George A. Mayne.


The fire department of Malone is a well-disciplined and effective organization.


The first board of engineers consisted of B. S. W. Clark, Chief; Henry A. Miller, First Assistant; P. B. Wolff, Sceond Assistant.


The present (1879) officers are as follows :* Chief En- gineer, Charles W. Brecd; First Assistant, Henry A. Miller ; Second Assistant, M. S. Parmclec.


WATER-WORKS.


The movement which resulted in the construction of the water-works was eommenecd in the winter of 1856-57. The first board of commissioners was composed of S. C. Wead, H. H. Thompson, W. W. King, O. Y. Hosford, and Calvin Skinner.


The first board of dircetors, elected May 6, 1857, was constituted as follows : Hiram H. Thompson, Benjamin Raymond, Samuel C. Wead, Ebenezer Man, W. W. King, William A. Wheeler, Sidney W. Gillett, William King, Obadiah T. Hosford. The reservoirs are two in number.


THE CONFLAGRATION OF 1879.


The largest and most disastrous fire that ever occurred in this village, when the Fire King scemed to hold a com- plete saturnalia in the streets, broke out on the morning of Monday, Oct. 20, 1879.


The following description of this conflagration and the losses is taken from the Franklin Gazette. " The cause of the fire is unknown. It was first discovered in Webster Bros.' tannery on Mill Strect, between one and two o'clock in the morning, by the watchinan. Before he could give the alarm and the fire department get upon the ground, the flames had gained such headway that neither the buildings nor the stock could be saved. The heat was so intense that the buildings standing on either side of the tannery not only caught, but the tannery of Lincoln & Miller on the opposite side of the river was burned to the ground in spite of the efforts of the firemen and the crowd assembled ; and it was only by the utmost exertions that Ladd, Smallman & Wentworth's planing-mill, standing near by, was saved. The stone building standing on the south side of the tan- nery, owned and occupied by D. W. C. Erwin as a marble- shop, soon took fire, and but very little of the stock was saved. The two brick buildings adjoining on the opposite side, owned by P. Clark and Joe Cogland, and occupied by G. F. Dickey as a flour and feed store, and by J. Cogland as


a saloon, were also soon destroyed. The flames on reach- ing the northwest part of the tannery building communi- cated to the Horton Block on Main Street, which was entirely consumed, together with the brick stores owned by Mrs. W. W. King and E. Cherrier, and the two frame buildings on the bridge, which were occupied as follows : D. F. Mannix, merchant tailor; A. B. Cooley, groceries ; N. Morse & Son, books, stationery, and faney goods ; John Moore, fruit ; Greeno & Mastin and G. W. Fisher, meat- markets; and on second floors by D. N. Huntington, jus- tice ; John Moore, living rooms ; C. R. Lane, insurance; W. W. Paddock, surveyor and conveyancer; Frank Knight, barber.


" The loss, as estimated by the losers, and the insurance are as follows : Webster Bros., loss about $50,000, insurance $23,000 ; Lincoln & Miller, loss between $5000 and $6000, insurance $2800; D. W. C. Erwin, loss $6000, insurance $800 on building and nothing on stoek or machinery ; P. Clark, loss $4000, insurance $1500 ; J. Cogland, loss $3000 on building and $1000 on stock, insurance $1500 on building and $500 on stock ; Geo. F. Dickey, loss about $200, fully covered by insurance ; G. W. Fisher, loss on building $500, stock $500, fully insured ; M. W. Lynch, loss $400, fully insured ; Greeno & Mastin, loss slight and fully covered by insurance ; the Horton Block, loss $6000, insurance $4000; John Moore, loss on stock and furniture contained in rooms over store $1500, insurance $800 on stoek and $200 on furniture ; D. N. Huntington, loss on office furniture $50, no insurance; N. Morse & Son, loss $2500, insurance $2500; Mrs. W. W. King, loss on store building $3000, insurance $2500; E. Cherrier, loss on store building $3000, insur- ance $2000; A. B. Cooley, loss on stock and fixtures $600, insurance $1000; D. F. Mannix, loss between $400 and $500, fully insured; C. R. Lane, loss on office furniture about $30, no insurance ; W. W. Paddock lost, besides most of his furniture, his compass and other surveying imple- ments, upon which there was no insurance.


" In the next block the damnages were slight ; that on the buildings from smoke and heat was fully covered by insur- ance. The damage to the stocks was greater, and was occa- sioned by moving them, and is estimated as follows : Small- man & Sccley, loss $2000; R. McC. Miller, $2500 ; Ste- vens & Symonds, $1500 ; all fully insured.


" The front of C. C. Whittelsey's factory building opposite on Main Street was considerably scorched, and 26 large lights of glass were broken out by the heat. The fronts of N. P. Gravell's meat-market and T. W. Miller's restaurant were also pretty well heated and considerable glass in the fronts broken.


" The total loss at the above estimate would be something over $100,000, upon which there is about $50,000 insur- ance."


BANKS.


THE BANK OF MALONE


was incorporated Aug. 6, 1851. The first meeting of those interested in the organization of this institution was held July 24, 1851, the following persons being present : Henry B. Smith, L. Fish, W. King, W. Andrus, S. C. Wead, and O. A. Burton. H. B. Smith was chairman of the mecting, and O. A. Burton secretary.


# Sinee the above was written the village of Malone has voted to purchase a steam fire-engine.


Photos, by Fay & Ferris, Malone.


GARDNER A. CHILDS.


MRS. GARDNER A. CHILDS.


GARDNER A. CHILDS


was born May 14, 1808, in Pomfret, Vt. His grandparents, Abijah and Sarah Childs, were among the earliest settlers in Connecticut.


His parents, Sanford and Mary (Conant) Childs, moved to Franklin Co., N. Y., when he was. but eleven years of age, and engaged in farming and the manufacture of potaslı in or near Malone village.


Gardner was the eldest of nine children, three of whom are still living. The names of the children were: Gardner A., Leonard C., Lucy (deceased), Justin, Mary (deceased), Benjamin F. (deceased), Charles (deceased), Thomas J. (deceased), and Kate E. (deceased).


Gardner A. Childs remained with his father until his twenty-second year, when he left home, and spent the following six years working on the farm by the month for the neighboring farmers. What education lie received was at the district school, when he could be spared from the duties of the farm, devolving npon him as the eldest of a large family, his father's time being almost entirely occupied in the manu- facture of potash.


At the age of twenty-eight he purchased a farm of seventy-five acres, paying for the betterments three hundred dollars. He was married, Dec. 28, 1836, to Delia M., daughter of Ebenezer Berry, one of the first settlers in Malone. She was born May 24, 1818. Their children were Sanford A., Hiram G. (deceased), and Freddie C. (deceased). Mrs. Childs died in January, 1858.


Mr. Childs married his present wife Feb. 1, 1859. She was born April 27, 1827, and is the daughter of Isaac and Sarah Parker, of Malone. She was the youngest in a family of seven. Of this latter mar- riage two children have been born,-Delia Adelaide and Fred. P.,-living at home.


Mr. Childs lived on the farm of his first purchase until 1860, when he moved into his present home in Malone. To-day he is the owner of four hundred acres of land, and one of the prominent farmers of Malone. In politics Mr. Childs is Republican. He is a member of the Baptist Church of Malone, to the support of which he liberally contributes. His wife and children are also members of the same church.


413


TOWN OF MALONE.


"On motion it was resolved that the directors now procced to tho election of a president, whoreupon the ballots were east, and Samuel C. Wead was cleeted.


" It was resolved that Wm. Andrus, Win. King, and Samuel C. Wead be directed to purchase the Andrus lot of B. Raymond, and eause a bank building to be ereeted according to the plan this day drawn, with such slight alterations, etc., as they may deem advisa- ble, but to be a neat, safe building.


"Gustavus A. Austin, Oscar A. Burton, and S. C. Wead were ap- pointed a committee to go to New York and purehase stoeks, furni- ture, books, etc., and do such other business, in order to commence a general banking business, as they may find necessary.


" On motion it was resolved that we proceed to the election of a cashier, whereupon Wm. A. Wheeler received the unanimous vote.


" It was also resolved that the cashier bo paid at the rate of $700 per annum for the first six months, and thereafter at the rate of $1000 per annum, provided said cashier takes the entire management of the bank after the said first six months.


"HENRY B. SMITH, Chairman.


"O. A. BURTON, Secretary."


The board of directors for 1852 was constituted as fol- lows : Henry B. Smith, Leonard Fish, Wm. King, Gus- tavus A. Austin, Wm. Andrus, Samuel C. Wead, Osear A. Burton, David P. Noyes, Hiram Horton.


THE NATIONAL BANK OF MALONE


is a successor of the Bank of Malone, and was organized in 1865.


Mr. Wead continued as president of the bank until his death, which oeeurred May 11, 1876. He was sueeeeded, June 27, 1876, by Hon. Sidney Lawrence, of Moira, the present ineumbent. Mr. Wheeler remained eashier until 1865. The present eashier is George Hawkins, eleeted Jan. 2, 1865.


The present (1879) directors are as follows : L. C. Wead, Wm. Andrus, Eli B. Smith, H. E. King, H. H. Thompson.


THE FARMERS' NATIONAL BANK OF MALONE


was organized Nov. 23, 1864. The following constituted the first board of directors: A. W. Ferguson, Nathan Knapp, Warren L. Manning, S. S. Clark, Jr., D. W. Law- renee, D. F. Soper, E. L. Meigs, L. Whitney, and W. G. Diekinson. The first president was Edwin L. Meigs, who officiated until his death. He was sueeeeded by Nathan Knapp, who was elected Jan. 9, 1866. He resigned in May, 1866, and was sueeeeded by Wm. G. Diekinson. Mr. Diek- inson served until July 17, 1866, when D. W. Lawrence was elected. In January, 1867, Mr. Lawrence was sue- eeeded by A. W. Ferguson, who officiated until January, 1874, when D. W. Lawrenee was re-elected, and is the present ineumbent.


The first eashier was H. S. House, who served until 1867, when he was sueeeeded by D. W. Lawrence. Mr. Lawrenee remained eashier until January, 1869, when B. S. W. Clark, now (1879) Superintendent of Public Works of this State, was chosen to the position, and served until January, 1877, when Win. F. Creed, the present eashier, was elected. Upon organization the capital was placed at $100,000 ; September, 1865, it was inereased to $150,000, the present capital.


THE CEMETERY.


The Malone Cemetery Association was organized Aug. 1, 1862, with the following members : Benjamin Raymond, William G. Dickinson, William Andrus, Albert Hobbs, S.


C. F. Thorndike, Philip B. Miller, A. B. Parmelee, Wil- liam P. Cantwell, Uriah D. Meeker, and Aaron Beman. The ordinanees were adopted May 1, 1863, and May 30th of the same year the cemetery was dedieated. It is beau- tifully located in the eastern part of the village, and eon- tains about twenty-five aeres of land.


The present trustees are as follows : William P. Cantwell, H. A. Taylor, D. W. Lawrence, William A. Wheeler, A. B. Parmelee, C. L. Hubbard, F. T. Heath, William Andrus, and Albert Hobbs.


The present offieers are A. B. Parmelee, President ; H. A. Taylor, Vice-President; Albert Hobbs, Treasurer ; C. L. Hubbard, Secretary ; and William Andrus, Superintendent.


THE FENIAN MOVEMENTS.


Malone, situated on the frontier, has twiee been the headquarters of the Fenian raiders in their contemplated invasions of Canada. The first of these movements oe- eurred in June, 1866, when a foree of about 1000 eongre- gated at this point, but seemed to be under no particular leadership. The government took aetive measures to dis- perse the erowd, and June 8th, Gen. Meade reached Malone, and on the following day issued an order, in compliance with the President's proclamation, for the " Fenians" to disperse, or foree would be employed to enforce the order. At this time there were 1000 regular soldiers in the village. A number of the Fenian officers were arrested. The last "raid" oeeurred in 1870, the invaders, as in the abortive attempt in 1866, having their headquarters here. This fiaseo ended by the seizure of their arms, which had been collected here in considerable quantities, and the arrest of the men.


CHAPTER LXXVIII.


MALONE-(Continued).


Societies-Business Interests.


Northern Constellation Lodge, No. 291, F. A. M .- The following interesting historieal sketeh eoneerning Northern Constellation Lodge is an extraet from an address delivered by the Rev. J. B. Pitman, at the dedieation of the Masonie HIall, May 10, 1877 :


" Nearly three-quarters of a century has passed sinee Northern Constellation Lodge, No. 291, was organized in the wilderness of Northern New York. Among its first members and officers were men who were the pioneers of this wild region, who helped to lay the foundations of our beautiful village, establish its business enterprises, form its society, and build up its churches and schools. The old members present on this occasion will be able to recall the names of many of those early eraftsmen who, under many discouragements and trials, first laid the foundations of our order in Malone. How different their surroundings from ours to day ! To draw the contrast would oblige me to un- fold the successive steps by which our county, town, and village grew from a state of primitive border life until they attained the proud eminence they occupy to-day. It is, however, a pleasing satisfaction to know that many who


414


HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY, NEW YORK.


helped to give stability and character to our town and vil- lage considered it an honor to wear the Masonic apron.


" Among these early members of our lodge we find the names of Dr. Man, of wide reputation throughout the county ; Zachariah Heath, the father of our genial and staunch fellow-citizen, Frank T. Heath ; Deacon Barncs, one of the early pillars in the Presbyterian Church ; Enos Wood, whose family has filled an important place in our community ; Dr. Powell, one of the oldest and most highly esteemed physicians of Franklin County ; Smith Clark, whose descendants are now with us occupying honorable positions in society ; Dr. Thorndike, the father of our brother, Gen. S. C. F. Thorndike, who has for many years been identified with the growth of Malone; Jacob Wead, the honored father of Samuel Clark Wead, Esq., lately de- ceased, whose name is associated with all the commercial, educational, and religious enterprises of the town; Cone Andrus, the father of William Andrus, who has grown up to fill a large place in the estimation of many of his fellow- citizens ; Dr. Waterhouse, one of the most eminent physi- cians of this county, the announcement of whose name cannot fail to remind many here of past afflictions and sick- ness removed or alleviated by his kindly skill ; Judge Camp- bell, the first sheriff of the county ; Leonard Conant, one of the oldest deacons of the Presbyterian Church ; H. L. House, who, though not a deacon, was the father of our deaeon,-Harry S. House; Rev. Ashbel Parmelec, the pioneer missionary and founder of the Presbyterian Church in the St. Lawrence Valley, who, if he had held to his Masonic principles with one-half the strength with which hc held the doctrines of Calvin and the tenets of his faith, must have been a powerful Mason ; and last, though not least, we find the name of Almon Wheeler, the father of our honored fellow-citizen, Hon. William A. Wheeler, Vice- President of the United States.


" These are a few of the names from among the many who, by work faithfully performed and duty conscientiously met, earned for themselves a good degrec as men and Masons.


"They now rest from their labors; sprigs of evergreen thrown by fraternal hands cover their coffins, and sprigs of acacia stand at the head of their graves, reminding us that they are immortal, and waiting only for the resurrection.


" In turning from this portion of our history we eome to a darker period, when with our whole order we passed under a cloud. The good fame of the order became tar- nished, and its name made a rallying cry for the benefit of one political faction, while against it was arrayed another faction, determined on its destruction. An order utterly opposed in its principles and teachings to all political or religious strife was thus forced into a false position, and received a reputation which it indignantly repudiated.




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