History of Jefferson County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 49

Author: Durant, Samuel W; Peirce, H. B. (Henry B.)
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.H. Everts & Co.
Number of Pages: 862


USA > New York > Jefferson County > History of Jefferson County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 49


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He was a plain, unassuming man. Such as he was he became, al- most untaught and unassisted, in spite of circumstances that might have been pleaded as an excuse for failure by men of less brain and stern, uncompromising will. He died in a fit of apoplexy, May 13, 1834, aged sixty years.


PERLEY G. KEYES, his son, was born in Acworth, New Hampshire, September 6, 1798, and resided in Watertown from 1809 until his death, November 25, 1856. He carly espoused the cause of anti- slavery, and was among a half-dozen in the town to advocate its prin- ciples and vote for its measures. At the age of thirty-four he was admitted to practice in the courts of this State as a lawyer. He was a man of high personal integrity, rendering him scrupulously honest, warm in his affections, and social in his nature, which gave him many friends and an extensive acquaintance throughout the country. He connected himself with the Arsenal street church at the age of forty, and remained an active member of that body, and prominent in its councils, until his death.


Perley G. married Laura, daughter of Garret and Sally Becker, of Watertown, March 7, 1824. She died June 8, 1828, aged twenty-three years. He married for his second wife Lydia, daughter of Allen and Gertrude Pearce, of East Bloomfield, New York, September 22, 1829. By his first wife he had two children, Richard G. and Laura. The daughter died in infancy. The son, Rev. Richard G. Keyes, occupies the old homestead on Washington street, the house being erected by Judge Keyes, his grandfather, in 1831.


It may be added here that no picture of Judge Keyes was ever taken, but that he resembled very much his son, Perley G. Keyes, whose portrait is placed above this sketch.


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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.


183


Isaac Munson


The subject of this sketeh was born in the town of Salisbury, Herkimer county, New York, Mareh 4, 1812. His father was a well-to-do farmer. He remained at home, working upon the farm during his sehool vacations and sometimes most of the summer, until he was seventeen years of age, when he left home to attend the Fairfield academy, and in a few years en- tered the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Western New York, located at Fairfield, and at that time the most noted medical college north of Philadelphia. He remained at this place until January, 1834, when the college conferred upon him the degree of Doctor of Medieine. Soon after he left his native county and located in the Black river country, forming a copartnership with the late Dr. Ira A. Smith, of Evans' Mills, in this county. This business connection lasted for three years. Having in the mean time formed a more intimate partnership with Miss Cornelia Stebbins, of Rutland, which oceurred May 24, 1836, he was at the solicitations of relatives and friends indueed to locate in that town, where he remained following his profession for thirteen years and until the fall of 1849. Being eleeted elerk of the county, he removed to Water- town in December of that year, and entered upon the duties of that offiee January 1, 1850. During his term as county clerk a movement was started to organize an insurance com- pany, to be exelusively devoted to the insurance of farm prop- erty, and, as he had at this time quite a large farming interest, he was indueed to unite with others as corporators of the " Agricultural Insurance Company," of Watertown, New York, which organization was effected 1853, he being elected viee-president.


As a student, Dr. Munson pursued his studies with great perseverance, graduating at the age of twenty-one years among the first of his elass. As a physician, he enjoyed the respeet of his professional brethren, and by his kindness and striet attention to business, combined with a well-eultivated medieal ability, he endeared himself to the community in which he praetieed his profession. As county elerk, he discharged his duties satisfactorily to the public, and during this time taking up the study of the law, rather as a necessity in connection with the duties as elerk, was at about the time of the close of


his elerkship admitted to practice in all the courts of the State.


The most eventful aets of his life are connected with his almost unparalleled success as the executive officer in the man- agement of the Agricultural Company, which success has laid the foundation for the large insurance interests of the city of Watertown, the investments of which are now counted by millions, and, in our opinion, is destined to be one of the most important interests of the county and to figure largely in its future history. No city in this State (nor probably in the United States) of its size ean speak of so large investments in this business. And with the same energy and caution in the future there is no good reason why Watertown may not in the future be a second Hartford, and it is to Dr. Munson more than to any other one man that Watertown will be indebted for the sueeess of this enterprise. He was the moving spirit in February, 1855, that made the radieal changes in the com- pany that saved the farmers from being taxed upon their pre- mium notes to pay the losses of the company, which would have resulted in winding up its business and disbanding the eom- pany. In May of the same year he was elected secretary of the company, and for ten years, so to speak, carried the institution in his poeket ; and in that ten years the company aceumulated a surplus of over one hundred thousand dollars, on a business for the first eight of the years confined to only a few counties. In 1863 an effort was made to largely inerease the business of the company, and at this time the doetor gave evidence of the energy and executive ability he possessed. From one of the least companies of the State it became one of the nine of the one hundred and four doing the largest business, and but two outside the city of New York. This credit to Dr. Munson is not given in disparagement of the efforts of his eo-laborers, who have so essentially aided in the prosperity of the company ; but in its early history and until it was a success he had com- paratively little help in its exceutive management.


When the enterprise beeame so large as to require more executive force, his voice was potential in selecting the able men and advisers that now surround him, and who have con- tributed so largely to the success of the company.


184


HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.


Thomas Baker


The subject of this sketch was born in the town of Canaan, Litchfield county, Connecticut, September 8, 1796. He was third son and fifth child of a family of cight chil- dren of Erastus and Lois Baker, who were both natives of Windham county, Connecticut.


His father in the year 1802 removed to Litchfield, Herkimer county, New York, with his family ; remaining there only a short time, removed to Paris, Oneida county ; afterwards removed to Utica, and in the year 1807 came to Watertown, and settled on what is now Washington street.


In the year 1809, when Thomas was thirteen years of age, he was apprenticed to the late William Smith, a mer- chant of Watertown. He remained with him as salesman and book-keeper until he was of age, and for some two years thereafter. In the year 1820 he was appointed by the town authorities to take the census of the town, and at the same time having been elected constable, fulfilled the duties of that office. In 1822 he took charge of a store in Car- thage for Vincent Le Ray de Chaumont, which position he retained for some twelve years, and during that time held the office of supervisor of the town of Wilna for two years. Mr. Chaumont relinquished business in Carthage, giving Mr. Baker the highest recommendation for his in- tegrity while in his service, and he returned to Watertown in 1835. Held the office of county treasurer in 1837. In company with Jason Fairbanks, Joseph Kimball, Isaac H. Bronson, and John Sigourney, he purchased the old cotton-factory, which was carried on for twelve years, and proved quite a profitable investment. He then purchased the Phoenix flouring-mill, which he ran for some seven years, and was then for about two years in the employ of


the U. & B. R. R. R. Company in the construction of the road.


In the year 1859 he was elected justice of the peace for the town of Watertown, and from that time until the writing of this sketch (1877) he has held the office, with the exception of one term, either in the town or city. He has officiated as assessor of the village and city of Water- town for nine years, and two years as alderman of the city, in the third ward. He held the office of county treasurer from Nov. 1, 1837, to Nov. 1, 1838.


In politics, Mr. Baker was originally a Whig, but during the late Rebellion joined the Democratic party. He has never been very active in politics, but has regarded the right of suffrage a boon conferred upon every American citizen, and a duty for every one to use that right intelli- gently, casting his first vote in 1818.


Mr. Baker is now in his eighty-second year, and has lived to see the log cabin supplanted by the modern residence of grandeur and bespeaking the wealth and enterprise of the people, and many changes in all branches of industry and education coincident with a term of fourscore years.


For his first wife he married, in the year 1819, Miss Laura Nash, of Watertown, who bore him three children, two of whom are dead; the other, George, is living, and resides in Chicago. His wife died in May, 1863.


For his second wife he married Mrs. Hiram Davis, of Oswego, in 1864. They only lived together ten years, and she died in the year 1874.


Mr. Baker survives most of the men who were associated with him in middle life, and now looks to the end of life's journey_as only a little way.


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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.


185


Vorrei Devery


The subject of this sketeh was born in Warren county, New York, September 6, 1813. He was the son of David Dewey, who was of New England birth, and whose forefathers came to Ameriea from England about 1620. His mother, Polly, was a daughter of Benjamin Cole, of Rhode Island, who was a soldier in the battle of Lexington, and under General Washington when he defeated the Hessians at the battle of Trenton. Her forefathers were also of English birth. His father was in the battle of Plattsburg in the War of 1812, and when Hiram was only four years old removed to Washington county, and remained there until June, 1825, when he with his family, consisting of himself, wife, and eight children, re- moved to the town of Adams, Jefferson County, New York. The father died February, 1826. The mother lived until Oc- tober, 1859, and died at the age of seventy-two. Hiram was the fourth child and third son of his father's family, and upon his father's death he with his elder brothers worked the farm and worked out by the month, to support the mother and younger ehildren.


At the age of nineteen, and in the year 1832, he married Miss Sylva Marble, daughter of Nathan Marble, a resident of Jefferson County.


During the same year he purchased a saw-mill, and com- meneed lumbering, but was unfortunate, his mill being burned in a few days after his purchase. Not discouraged by reverses, although without money, he at once set about rebuild- ing, and in two months had erected another mill, which he ran for four years. He then removed to the town of Orleans, bought one hundred and eighteen aeres of timber-land, and after a year ereeted a log house and began clearing off the original forest. From time to time sinee he has made additions to his first purchase, until he had four hundred and sixty-four acres, oeeupied as two farms, with commodious buildings. For the first fifteen years after he came on to this farm he lived in the


rude log house, and cleared off some two hundred and fifty acres ; and during the same years he was numbered among not only the representative men of his town, but also of the county, being assessor for one year, justice of the peace eight years, supervisor five years, and county judge five years.


In the year 1853 the " Watertown Agricultural Fire In- surance Company" was chartered, Hiram Dewey being one of the charter members and stockholders of the company and one of its first directors, which office he holds at the present time. The increasing business of this company demanded the time of its best men, and Hiram Dewey, retaining most of his real estate in the town of Orleans, removed to Watertown city, 1865, and gave his attention to the interests of the company, officially aeting as general agent, which position he still fills. HIe is also a stockholder and director in the Watertown Fire Insurance company.


His wife died September 17, 1845, since which time he has been married three times, and now has nine children living. In the year 1860, Mr. Dewey was chosen an elector from his congressional distriet to represent it in the electoral college at Albany, easting his vote for Abraham Lincoln for president of the United States.


A Whig originally, upon the formation of the Republican party joined its ranks, and has since stood firm to its principles. At the age of twenty-one he united with the Baptist church, and retains his membership with that body, always contribu- ting liberally for the support of any enterprise looking to the religious and educational interests of society and the support of good society in his city. Hiram Dewey is elassed by those who know him among those men who form the bone and sinew of good society in his county. An engraving of his residence and surroundings, located on the corner of Washington and Paddock streets, will be found on the opposite page of this work.


186


HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.


A.LITTLE


Wand Hubbard.


The subject of this sketch was born in the town of Steuben, Oncida county, New York, September 26, 1797. He was the son of Noadiah Hubbard, of New England birth (Connecticut), who was a lineal descendant from George Hubbard, born 1616, emigrated from England 1630, settled in the New England States, married Miss Elizabeth Watts, daughter of Richard Watts, Connecticut, and died 1684. Of his father's family there were eleven children, of whom he was the third son. His father was a farmer by occupation in middle life, but earlier was also a merchant in partnership with his brother Stephen. His mother, Eunice Ward, was a daughter of Ward, of New England birth (Connecticut), and of English descent. His father about the year 1793 removed from Con- necticut, and settled in Oneida county, but remained only a short time, and in advance of his family in the year 1797 he with David Starr and others came and took up timber land in the town of Champion, this county, and is said to be the first man who chopped a tree in Jefferson County for the purpose of settlement, and consequently was its first settler. In 1799 he moved his family thither, and began a pioneer life in a trackless wilderness. Struggling with poverty and the hard- ships coincident with a new country, he carved out a fine property, raised a family of nine children, and gave them as much of an opportunity for an education as his means and the facilities for obtaining the same could afford.


His father died in June, 1859. His mother died in Novem- ber, 1849.


He lived at home and worked on the farm with his father, going to school winters until about the time he was of age, and still remained at home until he was thirty-three years of age, and in the year 1830 married Miss Clarissa S. Fish, daughter of Calvin B. Fish, originally of Connecticut, and of English descent, but at the time of his marriage of the town of Rutland, this county. He settled at first on a part of the old homestead, and by additions from time to time owned at


one time some three hundred and fifty acres of land, a large part of which he cleared and caused to be cleared and made tillable, and during the entire time he lived in that town made dairying and grain-raising his business. A life-long Demo- crat, never taking a very active part in politics, but held in high estimation by his fellow-townsmen, who elected him to several important offices in the gift of the people of his town.


In the year 1862, and at the age of sixty-five, he sold his farm and removed to the city of Watertown, where he now resides with his wife and two surviving daughters, having reached his eightieth year, and is the oldest living resident settler in this part of the county.


His wife was born in Lyme, Connecticut, January 21, 1808, and is now in her seventieth year. She carly united with the Episcopal church at Watertown, and was confirmed by Bishop De Lancey, and has since remained a steadfast member of that body, not only keeping her place and interest in church rela- tions, but instructing her children in all that makes true and pure manhood and womanhood. A model wife and mother, possessing more than ordinary intellectual ability, unassuming, respected and honored by all.


He united with the same church at the age of seventy years, and is living a righteous and honorable old age.


Among the pioneers of Jefferson County few are spared as is Ward Hubbard to relate the incidents of the early settle- ment of the county, and pass through so many years of use- fulness.


To Mr. and Mrs. Hubbard were born seven children, viz. : Mary H., Cornelia, Emma Fish and Ellen Sterling (twins), Mary, Augustus, and Clara E. Of these children only Mary and Clara E. live to comfort and make happy their parents in their old age. They desire to leave with their daughters and friends this short sketch upon the pages of history of the county in which they have lived so long.


HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.


187


J. W. Bolland


The subject of this sketch was born in the town of Brownville, Jefferson County, New York, August 7, 1812. He was son of James Ballard, of Lancaster, Massachusetts, and whose ancestors were natives of Holland. His father settled in Brownville during the early part of this century, and carried on the business of a cabinet manufacturer in partnership with James McKenzie; afterwards carried on farming, and subsequently to that became a contractor and builder, and removing west, died in his fifty-sixtlı year, in Maumee City, Ohio. Samuel was the oldest son of the family of seven children, learned the cabinet business of his father, and stayed with his father until he was of age.


At the age of twenty-two he married Miss Mary A. Warren, daughter of Mr. Warren, of Brownville, this county, and after about five years removed to Maumee City, Ohio, and engaged in painting. At the end of three years he returned to Brownville, and in the year of the great fire in Watertown removed to that village (now a city), and en-


gaged with the firm of Blood & Van Namee in the under- taking business, which business, in the year 1860, he estab- lished by himself and still retains. His opportunities for an education while young were very limited, but the careful training received from his parents while at home laid the foundation for judicious business operations in after-life. Taking the undertaking business when in a very low state, he has during his connection with it, in fact, raised it from small dimensions to its present very popular and great pro- portions, and his urbanity of manner, his adaptability to his business, his integrity of purpose in the accommodation of the afflicted, all, only bespeak the character and bearing of the servant of the people.


Connected with this interest for the past thirty years, Mr. Ballard stands in the front rank and at the head in the county ; and a man so closely identified with the interests of all classes of society, and so extensively known, should have a place in the history of this county.


188


HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.


LITTLE


The subject of this sketch was boru in the town of Otsego, Otsego county, New York, September 8, 1814. He was the son of Perez Bradford, a native of Providence, Rhode Island, and a lineal descen- dant of Governor William Bradford, who emigrated from Englaud in the ship Mayflower, 1620, and settled in the State of Rhode Island. His father was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and by occupation was a card-maker. Early in his history his father re- moved to Otsego county, New York, and carried on his business. During the War of 1812, the supply of wire being ent off by Great Britain, and none being manufactured in this country, his father huilt a wire-factory on the ontlet of Schuyler lake, on a stream called Oaks creek, near Cooperstown, and began the manufacture of wire; but at the close of the war this article became so cheap that he gave up its maunfacture, and afterwards removing to Onondaga county, returned to Otsego county, thence removed to Madison county, and died at Cazenovia, 1848, at the advanced age of ninety years. Gil- bert was third son and fifth child of a family of nine children, and while young learned the business of card-making of his father. At the age of eighteen he learned the blacksmithing business, and con- tinued at that trade for four years. He then took charge of the cot- ton manufactory at Butternuts for one year. In the year 1837 he came to Clayton, Jefferson County, and in the spring of 1838 settled in Watertown. During the few years past Mr. Bradford had formed a desire to connect himself with steam machinery, and came to Watertown on account of larger business in that direction. He at once connected himself with the woolen-factory then known as the " Hamilton woolen-factory," and superintended the erection aud repairs of the machinery. He next took charge of G. Goulding & Co.'s machine-shops on Sewall's islaud, and remained there until 1850. While with this firm he constructed a machine for doing labor, as churning, etc., which proved a success, but was impracticable; but conceiving the idea that a labor-saving machine could be made to be driven by steam, he set about it and constructed two portable steam- engines which proved a success in their work, and were the first manufactured in the United States. Entering into a partnership with Mr. Charles B. Hoard, the company began the manufacture of port- able steam-engines, which now are found driving printing-presses, grist-mills, saw-mills, cotton-gins, sugar-mills, threshing-powers, and every purpose where power is required. The late Horace Greeley, in the New York Tribune of July 13, 1850, alluded to this interest as follows : "The best thing I saw in Watertown was the turnout of two thonsaud people on a stormy night to hear a dry temperance lecture. The next best thing was a new portable steam-engine in- vented and manufactured by Hoard & Bradford. The time must come when every thrifty farmer with nearly every mechanic will have such an engine of his own, and chopping straw, turning grindstone,


cutting wood, etc., will have ceased to be a manual, and become a mechanical, operation." The success of the enterprise carried on by this firm is known iu every State of the Union. At the close of the war, 1865, the company known as the " Portable Steam-Engine and Manufacturing Company, of Watertown, New York," succeeded the sole owner, Mr. Hoard (Mr. Bradford having previously sold out his interest), and elected Mr. Bradford its superintendent and general


manager, and afterwards taking the name of the " Watertown Steam- Engine Company." The name of Gilbert Bradford is associated with the company as its president, which position he has held until 1876.


Really, Mr. Bradford was the originator of an enterprise that has reached every State in the Union, as well as neighboring countries, and awards have been given its propagators wherever this interest has been exhibited.


Mr. Bradford has been married twice, -- first, to Miss Adeline Thorn- ton, in the year 1841, she dying March 14, 1874; second, to Mrs. Myra Adams, widow of the late Ely S. Adams. He is now in his sixty-fourth year, respected and honored by his fellow-men. He has been a life-long Democrat, never taking an active part in politics, or neglecting business for office or political preferment. He is one of the charter members of the " Homestead Fire Tusurance Company" of Watertown, and has been a director and a member of the execu- tive committee since the organization of the company.


Mr. Bradford erected the suspension bridge over Black river, at Watertown; a substantial structure, which will be a monument to his energy and ambition years after its projector has passed away.


HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.


189


L. Ingalls


The subject of this sketch was born in the town of Rod- man, Jefferson County, January 12, 1820. He was son of James and Laura Ingalls. His father was a native of New Hampshire, and came to Rodman when only five years of age, and in the early years of this century, with his father. His mother was also a native of New Hamp- shire, and came to Jefferson County with his father about the same time. His father was of English descent, and his mother supposed to be of Scottish descent.




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