History of Clinton and Franklin Counties, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 51

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 51
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 51

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MOSS KENT PLATT

was for half a century probably more elosely identified with the varied interests of Clinton County than any man of his time, and was looked to for leadership in all the walks of life. In everything caleulated to improve the moral, in- tellectual, and material prosperity of this county he was ever willing and anxious to lend a helping hand.

In his earlier and middle life he was a merchant and manufacturer of iron on the Saranac River, but the suc- cessful prosecution of his business in that region was se- riously retarded by the roughness of the roads. This led him to enter zealously into a project for the plank-road leading up the river, the building of which has done so much to develop the rich lumber and iron resources of the upper Saranae region, and which, until within a year past, has been the only means of communication with the Clinton State-Prison. In 1851 the State appropriated ten thousand dollars for the improvement of the channel of the Saranac, and the fact that he was appointed one of three commissioners to expend the money is one of the best evidences of his conceded probity and practical ability.

In 1852 he engaged in an enterprise for the construction of a railroad from Plattsburgh to Montreal, being ehosen director in the company formed for carrying out the work, which he entered into with all the energy so characteristic of him, never relaxing his efforts until the road was com- pleted. Afterwards, when this road became embarrassed, he was appointed receiver, acting in that capacity until its sale and consolidation with other roads. During the strug- gle of business men of this section for better means of trans- portation East and South Mr. Platt was never appealed to in vain, and was always among the first to contribute of his money and time to bring about the desired result. His name appears as one of the original subscribers to the eap- ital stock of the New York and Canada Railroad, which he lived to see completed, thus realizing one of the objects for which he worked so assiduously. He was one of the pro- jectors of the Clinton County Savings Bank, and was its secretary and business manager until his death.

In 1866 he was elected State senator. During the first session in which he served he introduced the Plattsburgh and Whitehall Railroad bill, and to his efforts in its behalf may be attributed its sueeessful passage through both branches of the Legislature, and the following session he ably assisted in the passage of a similar bill through the Senate, supporting it in an effective spceel. In 1868, Mr. Platt was a presidential elector on the Republican tieket. In 1873 he was elected State-Prison inspector, being one of the only two persons on the Republican State ticket who were elected in that contest. This fact is men- tioned as showing the high esteem in which he was held

by his fellow-citizens throughout the State. We are war- ranted in saying here that in accepting the nomination for inspector Mr. Platt was actuated by higher motives than of honor or emolument.

For years prison management and prison reform were topies in which he had a deep interest. He was a member and officer of the Prison Reform Association of the State, and earnestly desired an opportunity to make a practical application of his ideas of prison reform. His nomination and eleetion were urged and sustained by that non-partisan association. Surrounded by many embarrassments, grow- ing out of the incoherent and unsystematic prison system of our State then, he found many things to obstruct a full application of his praetieal and business-like ideas of dis- cipline.

It was while in the midst of his official duties that he was stricken by disease. These duties had been extremely arduous during the two months previous, ealling him from home most of the time, and compelling constant eare and anxiety and much labor. He may be said to have died literally with the harness on, after a few days' confinement at his home in Plattsburgh.

That he closed his long publie career without a stain upon his character, and without a shadow of suspicion upon his probity, is a fact which is as elear and undoubted as the shining of the sun at midday. At an early age Mr. Platt united with the Presbyterian Chureh, in which he was for many years previous, and at the time of his death, an irre- proachable elder. In all philanthropic and charitable enter- prises-Bible Society, temperance reform, ete .- he took an active part. In his relations to society, his urbane manner, his warm-hearted hospitality, his disposition to avoid un- kind and unpleasant controversy, constantly exerted a soft- ening and refining influence on those around him. Whether in business or politics he maintained the old-time courtesy of a generation fast passing away.

Mr. Platt was a prominent member of the Board of Education, and took an aetive part in the formation of our present sehool system, and always showed himself a true friend of the eause of popular education.

Moss Kent Platt's grandfather, Judge Zephaniah Platt, was one of the original proprietors of a grant of land seven miles square, in which the town of Plattsburgh is situated, and from him the town received its name. "Mr. Platt (we quote from the History of Lake Champlain, by Judge Peter S. Palmer, of Plattsburgh) was possessed of a elear and dis- eriminating mind, and was elassed among the first men of the State. In 1776, at the age of forty-one, he was chosen a delegate to the first Provincial Congress, and occupied a prominent place in that body. He was a member of the Committee of Safety, and took part in the convention called for forming a constitution for the State." Judge Platt re- moved from Poughkeepsie to Plattsburgh in 1801, where he resided till his death in 1807. He left nine sons, five of whom made Plattsburgh their permanent abode. One of these, William Pitt, who died in 1835, was the father of Moss Kent Platt. William Pitt Platt was married to Hannah Kent, only sister of Chancellor Kent, of New York. Mrs. Platt was a woman of superior intellect and mental eulture. The home to which farmer Platt conducted his

TOWN OF PLATTSBURGH.

193

beautiful young bride was on a point of land ealled Cum- berland Head, in full view of the naval engagement of Sept. 11, 1814. On a bright Sabbath morning, aeeompa- nied by her husband and colored servant, she landed and was eondueted to the home prepared for her reception.

There was born her son, Moss Kent Platt, and there was his home for the first fourteen years of his life. He always retained a vivid recollection of the naval battle as distinetly seen. Moss Kent Platt died March 1, 1876, at the age of nearly sixty-seven.

LITTLE

Moutile

JOSEPH WILLARD TUTTLE.

The subject of this sketeh traees his lineage in this country to Samuel Tuttle, who was born in the year 1708, and died at Littleton, Mass., Dee. 11, 1780. His grand- father, Samuel Tuttle, Jr., son of Samuel Tuttle, was born at Littleton, Mass., June 16, 1732. He was educated at Harvard University, and graduated in the same elass with his brother Sampson, elass of 1757. He was twiee mar- ried. His first wife was Miss Mary Russell, of Littleton, by whom he had nine children. She died March 27, 1772, aged thirty-two years. His second wife was Miss Rebecca Robbins, of Westford, by whom he had fourteen children. He died Dee. 15, 1814.

Thomas Russell Tuttle, son of Samuel Tuttle, Jr., and grandson of Samuel Tuttle, was born at Littleton, Mass., Dee. 14, 1769. He was educated and took one course of leetures, with a view of entering the medical profession, but abandoned it for the more flattering prospeets of trade, which he pursued successfully for a time, first at Littleton and afterwards in Boston; but financial disaster finally overtook him, from which he never recovered. He re- moved to New Hampshire, and afterwards to Vermont. He married Juditlı, daughter of Samuel Pitts, of Rumney, N. H., Sept. 20, 1803, by whom he had nine children. He was a kind and indulgent father, a firm friend, and an honest man. He was not a professor of religion during 25

the main part of his life, but near its elose embraced the Christian faith, and died in the full assurance of a happy future. He died in Burlington, Vt., April 5, 1838. His remains were interred in Green Mount Cemetery, near the Ethan Allen monument, where a suitable stone has been placed to his memory.

Judith, wife of Thomas R. Tuttle, was born at Rumney, N. H., Dee. 11, 1778. Her father (Samuel Pitts) served through the war of the Revolution. She was a devoted and self-sacrificing mother, and her children now living re- member with the tenderest feelings of gratitude and affee- tion her many aets of kindness and devotion to them and theirs. Of a religious turn of mind, she never failed to impress divine precepts upon the minds of her children, and if they did not all profit by her teachings it was no fault of hers. She died at Cohoes, N. Y., at the residence of her daughter Mary Ann (Mrs. Sanders), April 15, 1851, and her remains were interred in the cemetery at Water- ford, N. Y. The remains of her daughter were laid beside her in the following autumn, and one stone marks both their graves. There were nine children in this family.

Joseph Willard Tuttle, son of Thomas R. Tuttle, grand- son of Samuel Tuttle, Jr., and great-grandson of Samuel Tuttle, was born at Orford, N. H., June 4, 1813, and re- moved to Vermont with his parents in 1816. He acquired the rudiments of his education at the common sehools, and

194

HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY, NEW YORK.

subsequently attended the academy at Burlington. At the age of seventeen he entered the printing-office of Chauncey Goodrich, where he served a regular apprenticeship at the printing business. Here he remained until he was twenty- one years of age, and then went to Albany, where he met John Van Buren and other political leaders of the day, who proposed to him to start a paper at West Troy in the interest of Gov. Marcy and Gerritt Y. Lansing, who was running for Congress in the Albany district. He accepted the proposition, and for six months issued the Watervliet Advocate. After election lie returned to Burlington and was made foreman in Goodrich's establishment, where he remained about two years, when he started the Franklin Republican, at Sheldon, Vt. The establishment of this paper was induced by a strong local interest in the place in regard to the location of the county-seat. Sheldon being in the centre of the county, and St. Albans on the extreme west border, it was claimed that the removal was not only just but expedient, and that a large majority of the people of the county were in favor of the change. A commis- sioner was appointed by the Governor to examine the sub- ject, and after visiting various portions of the county, re- ported adversely to a removal : the report was sustained by the Legislature, and the project frustrated. During this period the great Canada Rebellion took place. Located so closely to the border, the paper took an active part in favor of the patents. In the following election, Hon. John Smith, of St. Albans, who had favored this cause, was elected to Congress by seven hundred majority over his com- petitor, in a district which was ordinarily good for fifteen hundred against his party. Mr. Smith was so well satisfied with the result, that he called on the publisher and gave him a handsome donation in money, in recognition of his services during the campaign. Two years later the paper was discontinued, and he again returned to his position as foreman in Goodrich's office. In 1841 he went into the office of the Burlington Free Press, and remained there as editor one year, when he came to Plattsburgh-1842-and purchased the Clinton County Whig of Mr. Eastman, who was editor and proprietor at the time, with the intention of combining this enterprise with a job-office, having, however, his mind more particularly fixed upon the latter. The publishing office of the Whig, at that time, was in a build- ing which stood where Nusbaum's store now stands. The first year, however, the whole jobbing business of the con- cern amounted to less than five hundred dollars, and so far as the paper was concerned it was up-hill work. The Whig party, of which this was the county organ, was getting ex- ceedingly feeble ; Harrison had, it is true, been elected in 1840, but the wave of excitement, on which he had ridden into power, had subsided, and with its subsidence came the inevitable reaction ; the President had died, and John Tyler had stepped into his place,-a new king which knew not Joseph,-and the consequence was that the Whig party was decidedly " under the weather," and the Clinton County Whig found it hard work to weather the storm which was rising, while the fact that there was a strong corps of Democratic lawyers who stood ready to extend aid and comfort, as it might be needed, to the rival paper-the Republican-added not one whit to

the desirableness of the position of the Whig and its pro- prietor. The subscription list of the Whig at that time numbered only about five hundred, while that of the Re- publican was not over six hundred. All this time Mr. Tuttle worked faithfully at the job work, cutting several founts of wood type, and steadily increasing the business every year.

In 1847 he sold the Whig, and soon afterwards moved into the building now occupied by Geo. N. Webb & Son, going in with Oliver Hart, who at that time was publishing the Free Democrat, edited by P. S. Palmer, while he (Mr. Tuttle) continued the job business, to which he always gave the preference.

In 1850 the Rutland and Burlington Railroad was com- pleted, and Mr. Tuttle seeing, as he thought, a good open- ing in Burlington for an extensive job printing-office, moved across the lake, taking the press, type, etc., of the Free Democrat, which he had purchased, and started an office in Burlington, still making Plattsburgh his home, however, to which he came every Saturday night. During this period he also did job work in Burlington for customers on this side of the lake. But about three years later the Platts- burgh and Montreal Railroad was completed, and soon after- wards he returned, locating himself in the building which had just been erected at the corner of Margaret Street and Protection Avenue, then known as Church Alley, and pur- chased a Ruggles half-medium press, which was an improve- ment upon anything that had ever been seen in this region before. The first year after locating here he did $2000 worth of jobbing business, and from that time until the present it has steadily increased.

In January, 1855, a Know-Nothing paper was started in Plattsburgh called the American Sentinel, of which War- ren Dow was the editor, who also made a specialty of job work. Soon afterwards a partnership was formed between Dow and Tuttle for the publication of a paper, and also for doing job work, and a short time subsequently the Sentinel was sold out to a man by the name of Brady, Tuttle & Dow still continuing in the job-printing business. But Brady only kept the paper about six months, when it came back upon Tuttle & Dow's hands, and about 1857 Know-Nothingism was discarded, " American" was dropped from the title, and the paper was suddenly transformed into the Plattsburgh Sentinel, an organ of the new Republican party, with Mr. Tuttle as editor. This was a business which was far from being tasteful to him, but having thus by the force of cir- cumstances been driven into it, he buckled on his armor and maintained a creditable fight, as files of the paper cov- ering this period abundantly show.

But in 1860 a great misfortune overtook him. Night- work and day-work combined at the presses, the case, and in the editor's chair had for some time been telling upon his eyesight, which suddenly, in 1860, failed, and he was obliged to sell the paper out just as he was reaping a suc- cessful harvest of his own sowing. He sold the paper to Mr. A. G. Carver, and since that period has devoted him- self exclusively to the job-printing business.

At this point he was so fortunate as to secure the services of Mr. Robert E. Baldwin as foreman, who had for some time been working in the Republican office, who, during this dis-

Andrew Williams

195

TOWN OF PLATTSBURGH.

couraging period of Mr. Tuttle's business career-when he was eonfined to his darkened room for weeks, suffering untold agonies from inflammation of his eyes-took the whole busi- ness upon his shoulders, managing it with the same fidelity as if his employer's interests were identical with his own, exhibiting the business traits which those with whom he has before or since been connected know well how to appre- ciate

In the great fire of 1867 Mr. Tuttle lost everything con- nected with the printing establishment, with the exeeption of one old hand-press, which happened to be lent at the time. His loss was nearly $4000, while his insuranec amounted to only $1600. The prospect was a dark one for him. Nearly blind, past the middle age, and everything gone, to the last composing-stiek, this was the greatest trial of his life, and right here was where the pluck and enter- prise of the man asserted itself. He lost no time, but securing Eaton's marble-shop on the east side of the square, where the bowling-alley now stands, got his lent press home, borrowed type and got to work with little delay, and started immediately for New York, where he purchased a Gordon press, together with all the necessary materials, and in three weeks he was ready for business again.

From there he removed into Hagerty's building on Mar- garet Street, as soon as it was completed, in the summer of 1868. Up to 1874 the business had been done with hand- and foot-presses ; in that year steam was introduced, by which the presses have since been driven. The establish- ment is furnished with a Cottrell & Babcock cylinder-press, two Gordon presses, a Universal half-medium press, hand- presses, etc. ; in fact, this establishment is furnished with all the modern improvements pertaining to a first-class estab- lishment. In 1875, Mr. Tuttle associated with him his son, George F. Tuttle, and the business is conducted under the firm-name of J. W. Tuttle & Co. The Plattsburgh Re- publican, in speaking of this establishment, says, "The quality of work turned out at this establishment is not ex- celled by that usually produced in the largest cities, from the finest card work to the largest posters, while so far as prices are concerned, the proprietors have now the facilities, in the way of machinery, type, and stock, which enable them to compete successfully on any class of work with any establishment in the country or city."

Aug. 23, 1838, Mr. Tuttle united in marriage with Mar- garet Craig Reed, a native of Glasgow, Scotland, born Sept. 6, 1816. The following children were born to them : Margaret Agnes, born in Burlington, Vt., June 28, 1839; William Reed, born in Plattsburgh, N. Y., Dec. 16, 1843 ; Thurlow Weed, born in Plattsburgh, N. Y., Dec. 25, 1847, died March 17, 1851 ; George Fuller, born in Plattsburgh, N. Y., April 15, 1852 ; John Willard, born in Plattsburgh, N. Y., Dec. 13, 1856.

Politically, Mr. Tuttle is a Republican, and has been sinee the organization of that party. He never held but one office,-that of commissioner of United States Deposit Fund, -- the duties of which were discharged with fidelity and to the satisfaction of all interested. We cannot better elosc our tribute to this venerable and honored citizen than in the following words from Dr. Bixby, editor of the Platts- burgh Republican. He says, " As a business man and a

citizen there is no need for us to speak of Mr. Tuttle ; all who have had dealings with him know him to be honorable and upright in all his business transactions, and the best key to his eharacter, if any were needed, is afforded by the fact that during all his life he has never had a lawsuit. He has always aimed to keep a little in advance rather than a little behind the business demands of the place, and has consequently established a reputation for good work, which is the most valuable acquisition a business man can acquire. As we said before, his business has steadily increased year by year for the past twenty-five years, and we trust it inay continue to increase, affording, as it does, an important ele- ment in the business of the town."

ANDREW WILLIAMS

was born in Ormstown, Province of Quebec, Canada, Aug. 27, 1828. He was educated at the common schools, and commenced his business education at the age of fifteen years as clerk in a mercantile establishment in Montreal. Here he remained three years, and in the fall of 1848 went to Champlain, Clinton Co., N. Y., and entered the employ of the late Pliny Moore, where he stayed three years, and then came to Plattsburgh, in the employ of the late Amasa C. Moore. He remained with Mr. Moore about two years, and then, removing to Elsinore in 1855, began the manu- facture of bloom iron, in which business, it may be re- marked, he has continued with great success to the present time. He carried on the business at Elsinore ten years. In 1863 he entered into a contract with the State of New York for the services of two hundred convicts, to be em- ployed in the manufacture of iron and nails, and continued in that business over two years. He was a partner in the firm of Bowen & Williams, at Saranac and Clayburgh, in the manufacture of bloom-iron, from 1863 until 1871; was also partner in the firm of Hartwells, Williams & Co., flour- and-feed mills, at Plattsburgh, from 1865 to 1872. In 1872 he purchased of D. H. Parsons & Co. their forge at Sara nac, which he still operates; also operated the Tremblay forge at Redford from 1872 to 1877.

In 1873, Mr. Williams purchased an interest in the Chateaugay ore bed, and with others built the iron-works at Bellmont, Franklin Co., N. Y., at the outlet of Chateau- gay Lake, which he still operates as president of the Cha- teaugay Iron Company. This is at the present time the largest manufacturing establishment of bloom-iron in the United States. Mr. Williams is also president of thic Chateaugay Ore Company, and treasurer of the Chateaugay Railroad Company, a narrow-gauge railroad built from Plattsburgh to the ore mincs.

He is a Republican in polities, and has been prominently identified with that party sinee its organization ; was super- visor of the town of Dannemora for the years 1863 and 1864, and took an active part in filling the quota of the town in the various calls for troops during the late Rebel- lion. He was a candidate for member of Assembly in 1866; a candidate for member of Congress in 1870, but was not elected. He was again nominated for Congress in 1874, and elected by over three thousand majority, receiv-

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ing three thousand two hundred and thirty-seven majority in his own county,-the largest ever given a candidate in this county in a contested election. He was again nomi- nated and elected member of Congress, in 1876, by over three thousand majority. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and for several years has been trustee of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Plattsburgh.

Mr. Williams is a public-spirited and generous citizen, popular with the masses, and manifests a deep interest in all matters tending to advance the interests of Plattsburgh and Clinton County. He was for several years a stockholder and director in the First National and Vilas National Banks of Plattsburgh, and has been a director in the New York and Canada Railroad since its organization.

April 17, 1856, he united in marriage with Sarah A. Signor, daughter of the late Philip W. Signor. They have four children living, viz., Lizzie M., Irena S., Fred. A., and Mary E. Their oldest son, Leslie, died in 1862, aged three years and four months, and Robert, died aged fourteen months.

Mr. Williams' life has been one of steady and active de- votion to business, and his great success has been the natural result of his ability to examine and readily comprehend any subject presented to him, power to decide promptly, and courage to act with vigor and persistency in accordance with his convictions.

SAMUEL FLINT VILAS,

a man who from an humble position, and entirely by his own efforts, has risen to affluence and social position, and through all the changing events of an active business life has pre- served his integrity unimpeached, well deserves the pen of the historian. Such an one is Samuel Flint Vilas, the sub- ject of this memoir. Without the advantages of inherited aid, he worked the problem of his own fortune, and lives to enjoy the fruition of a successful business career.

He is a native of Sterling, Lamoille Co., Vt., born Jan. 9, 1807. He early developed business traits of character, and at the age of nineteen commenced, without means, and wholly upon credit, to wholesale Yankee notions throughout Northern New York. To this business, in this then sparsely settled country, where dwellings were miles apart, he devoted the first ten years of his business life, enlarging his trade with his steadily increasing means. These early years of patient labor and of close, calculating economy laid the foundation broad and firm for that remarkable success which has attended him in everything he has undertaken.

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History of Clinton and Franklin Counties, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 51

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

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