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 50
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137 | Part 138 | Part 139 | Part 140 | Part 141 | Part 142 | Part 143 | Part 144 | Part 145 | Part 146 | Part 147 | Part 148 | Part 149 | Part 150 | Part 151 | Part 152 | Part 153 | Part 154 | Part 155 | Part 156 | Part 157 | Part 158 | Part 159
Until the age of twenty he worked on a farm, a part of the time receiving his education at common and select schools, and at the Black River religious and literary insti- tute at Watertown. Subsequently he entered the law-office of Lansing & Sherman, teaching school winters to defray his necessary expenses. For twenty-five years or more Mr. Ingalls has been engaged in journalism at Watertown. In 1850 he founded the Watertown Reformer, and ten years later the Daily Times of the same city. At present he is editor and proprietor of the Watertown Post. In 1869 he visited Colorado, and, in 1870, California.
Always a Republican since the organization of the party, and previous to that a Free-soil Democrat, Mr. Ingalls has wielded large influence in the politics of northern New York, and has filled numerous places of public trust. He was a member of the county convention at which the Whigs and Free-soilers coalesced to form the Republican party of Jefferson County. Previous to that, in 1845, he held the office of town superintendent of schools in Water- town, and when the union system was adopted in 1867 he was made commissioner of city schools, and re-elected on
the expiration of his first term. In 1864 he was delegated to procure the vote of the soldiers of Jefferson County, and in the performance of that duty visited the army of Vir- ginia both at City Point and in the Shenandoah valley, being in the latter locality two days after Sheridan's great victory there. In the campaign of 1872 he was chairman of the Republican county committee. He rendered im- portant service to the community where he resides by the active part which he took in promoting the construction of the Carthage and Watertown railroad, which has brought some of the most valuable sections of Jefferson County in communication with the centres of trade, and for four years he was director, secretary, and treasurer of the company. Through the newspapers and otherwise he has always been active in behalf of such projects of home improvements and public enterprise as have commended themselves to his judg- ment, being cither in full sympathy with, or a little ahead of, public sentiment in this regard. He possesses the entire confidence of the citizens of his county, both because of his ability and sound judgment and his incorruptible in- tegrity.
Mr. Ingalls was elected a member of the State legislature for 1876 by a majority of some five hundred and fifty-five over his Democratic opponent ; and, upon taking his seat in the capitol at Albany, did efficient service as chairman of the committee on public printing, and member of com- mittces on State prisons and engrossed bills. In his public life he has not been much given to oratory, but, when the occasion required, was able to make a sensible, argumenta- tive, and well-directed speech.
190
HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.
0
0
A.LITTLE
The subject of this sketch was born July 27, 1805, in the town of Manchester, county of Bennington, Vermont. He was sixth child and third son of Stephen and Sally Boon, natives of the same place. In 1819 he came to Watertown with Elnathan Mattison, and worked on his farm until he was twenty-one years of age; the consideration for services being one hundred dollars, two suits of clothes, one pair of shoes, three months' schooling in winter. He so improved his oppor- tunity during the school months as to be able in 1825 to teach school in the winter, and also for two successive winters. At the age of twenty he purchased one acre of land in Water- town, upon which was a house and tannery, and for the next ten years opened and carried on quite a large and profitable trade in Canada, taking there boots, shoes, and teas, and sell- ing ; and often, on account of scarcity of money, being obliged to take stock in payment, which he brought to this side the St. Lawrence for sale. This trade proved very lucrative to Mr. Boon, and placed him in circumstances to branch out and make additions to his real estate in Watertown. In 1834 he added thereto seventy-five acres of land, now in the city limits.
Four years after the organization of the Democratic party, 1828, he cast his first vote for president of the United States, voting for Andrew Jackson, and from the principles then adopted he has never swerved.
In 1837, Mr. Boon had, by his judicious management, suffi- cient means to control an interest in business circles. Erccted a large hotel, now called City Hotel.
In 1837 he visited Chicago, this being the year of the great erash in banks, corporations, and general business. The time taken then to make the trip by steamboat, stage, horseback, and on foot was eleven days; now the time is thirty hours. About this time he took charge of the Pamelia mills, and ran them for the creditors of E. G. Smith. He was connected as stockholder and director of the Watertown bank for eight years from 1840. In the same year he built his present resi- dence on corner of Stone and Benedict streets. In 1841, Mr. Boon gave his attention to building on his land, and altogether
erected over one hundred houses, laid out several streets, erected a school-house in their midst, and hired a teacher at his own expense ; started a Sunday-school which has been kept up for upwards of twenty-five years, and to which interest Messrs. J. C. Sterling, Fred. Farwell, George B. Massey, John Knowlton, and others, assisted by Mrs. F. R. Farwell, Misses H. Hagar, A. M. Massey, M. Farwell, S. K. Rice, have given much of their valuable time as instructors of the poor in gospel truth. By this enterprise the poorer classes of the village were enabled to secure a home cheap, and receive the advantages of both common-school and religious instruction. No one could have greater sympathy or appreciate the wants of the needy more than Mr. Boon, having passed through the same privations and endured similar hardships.
Held in high esteem by his fellow-townsmen, Mr. Boon has been elected to several important offices in connection with his village and county, and when superintendent of the poor, in 1846, was said to have managed the business greatly to the advantage of the county and for the benefit of the needy. In 1854 he received from the State the appointment of ap- praiser of bank mortgages, and still retains the office, and in many instances has been selected as administrator, executor, etc., of estates He was by necessity early schooled in the habits of economy, industry, and early rising, which to the present time he carefully retains.
Although in his seventy-third year of age, he is among the most active men of his city, and seems to possess all the activity common to men of one-third his age, and by his regu- lar and temperate habits retains the vigor of middle life. In the year 1832 he married Miss Mary Ann, daughter of Ros- well and Innocence Wilcox, of Malone, Franklin county, New York, who bore him four children, viz. : Maitland, Helen, Willard, and Walter. His wife was a member of the Episco- pal church of Watertown, and an active worker in the labors of the Sunday-school, and early impressed her children with lessons of morality and virtue and all that makes true man- hood and womanhood. She died February, 1871.
HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.
191
Armvak
The subject of this sketch was born in the town of Car- lisle, Schoharie county, New York, August 29, 1820. He was the eldest son of a family of ten children of Jacob Moak and Mary Graham.
His father was a native of New Scotland, Albany county, New York, and his great-grandfather was a native of Hol- land, and settled in Albany county in the latter part of the eighteenth century. His mother was of English ancestry, who first settled in the New England States.
His father was a farmer by occupation, and the subject of this memoir worked on the farm at home until he was twenty years of age, enjoying the advantages only of a com- mon-school education, and, upon leaving home to go out into the world for himself, John had no assistance pecu- niarily. Early having a desire for railroad enterprise, he began as a laborer in the construction of the Housatonic railroad, and remained at this work for six years, but during which time began the line of promotion as foreman of track repairs. He occupied various positions in relay- ing the Rensselaer and Saratoga railroad, and building the Saratoga and White Hall railroad. He became superin- tendent of the track-laying on the Harlem railroad, and upon its completion was retained by the company as road- master, which place he held for seven years. He was subsequently engaged on the Milwaukee and Watertown
railroad and the Chicago and Rock Island railroad until the year 1860, March, when he came to the then village of Watertown, Jefferson County, and engaged as road- master on what is now the Rome, Watertown and Oswego railroad, which position he held until January, 1869, when he was appointed superintendent of the same road, and still retains that office.
In the year 1849 he married Miss Emily Richards, daughter of James Richards, of Syracuse city, but formerly of the New England States, and of English descent.
Of this marriage was born one son, George W. Moak, who, after receiving the advantages of the schools of Water- town city, entered Bishops College, Lennoxville, Province of Quebec, and remained there for three years, and until the year 1870.
Returning to Watertown, George W. entered the law- office of Judge Merwin, and at the end of three years was admitted to practice in all the courts of this State. He is numbered among the representative young men members of the bar of Jefferson County.
John W. Moak is now in his fifty-eighth year, and classed among the active business men of his city, and his connection with the Rome, Watertown and Oswego rail- road as its superintendent secures to the public the ser- vices of one in whom all have implicit confidence.
192
HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.
ASAHEL READ.
MRS. ASAHEL READ.
ASAHEL READ.
The subject of this sketch was born in the town of Schuyler, Herkimer county, New York, May 26, 1795. He was the son of Roger Read, of Bennington, Vermont, and whose ancestors were of English descent and emigrated to America about the time of the landing of the Pilgrims. His mother, Lydia Perry, was born in Shaftsbury, Vermont, and whose father was a captain in the Revolutionary War, and was killed by a Tory.
His father, when he was only eleven years of age, with his family, consisting of his wife and six children, removed to Jefferson County, and settled in the town of Adams, in the year 1806. Asahel's part in moving from Herkimer to this county was to drive an ox-team the entire distance, loaded with household goods.
The family began really a pioneer life in this county in al- most a trackless wilderness. Limited in means, and, as in those days, surrounded with a large family, the services of those of his children able to do labor being required, the father was unable to do much for his children by way of book knowledge, and in consequence of which Asahel received little education from books ; but his successful business career has proved that all education does not come from books.
He lived at home and worked on the farm until he was twenty-seven years of age, and until his father had paid for his farm.
Soon after leaving home, and in the year 1822, he married Miss Mary Bartlett, born in Granby, Massachusetts, February 25, 1796, and daughter of Ebenezer Bartlett, of New England birth, and whose ancestors were of English descent.
At about the same time he purchased one hundred acres of land, which he began clearing and making tillable. He made additions to this from time to time until he had some two hun- dred and seventy-five acres, a large part of which he cleared of its original forest, and erccted fine and commodious build-
ings. Here he lived until 1863, when, having accumulated a fine property and arriving at an age which told him that his days of hard labor were about closed, he removed to Water- town, where he and his wife now reside, he in his eighty-third and his wife in her eighty-second year, enjoying so far as may be the results of a life of labor and toil.
In politics, Asahel Read is a Republican, originally belong- ing to the Whig party, but upon the formation of the Repub- lican party joined its ranks; never taking an active part in political matters, but regarding the right of suffrage a boon conferred upon every American citizen. At the age of forty he united with the Presbyterian church, and has since remained a member of that body, contributing always of his means for both the support of church and school.
His wife united with the same church at the age of seventeen, and has remained firm to the doctrines of that church until the present time, looking down to the end of life's journey as only a little way. Hospitable to all, charitable to those in need, she is numbered among the living pioneer women who have contributed so much to the early history of the county.
Mr. and Mrs. Read never were blessed with any children, but have always been in sympathy with any enterprise looking to the education of the rising generation, or the propagation of the principles of morality in society. ยท
Few arc spared through a life of so many years, and a life of usefulness. Mr. Read is a plain, unassuming man, and unaided and alone has overcome the obstacles coincident with a pioneer life; respected by all who know him as an honorable member of society; and to such men Jefferson County owes a debt of gratitude for its present thrift and prosperity. The portraits of himself and wife are placed above this sketch as a memorial to their relatives and friends, and especially for their niece, Mrs. Amelia M. Webster, who cares for them in their old age.
HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.
193
Lys anderit. Brown
was born December 20, 1808, at Brownville, in this eounty. His father, the late Henry Brown, eame into the Black River wilderness in May, 1799, at the age of fourteen years. His family and that of the late Major-General Jacob Brown emigrated together from near the eity of Philadel- phia, Bueks county, Pennsylvania. They journeyed prin- cipally by water, and landed on the banks of the Black river, at the locality of the present village of Brownville. Both families traced their origiu to the same English an- cestry. In religious faith and worship they were Quakers, evineing a lively interest in everything relating to the origi- nal Quaker State, and especially to William Penn, with whom their progenitors were contemporary.
The subject of this notice was the oldest of five children. As soon as he was of sufficient age he was subjeet to a pa- rental mandate, never disobeyed, that he should attend sehool punetually each year, during the winter term, and work ou the farm through the season of farm-labor. From the distriet school he went to the academy at Belleville, and attended there two years, the first under Charles Avery, now in a hale old age, professor in Hamilton College, and the second under George W. Eaton, deceased, who was a professor in Madison University. From Union Academy he entered Union College, and graduated in 1834 with the maximum grade of acquisition in standing and scholarship. Hon. Joseph Mullin, of this eity, was his room-mate, and Hon. George F. Comstoek, of Syracuse, his elass-mate in eollege. They also attended the academy with him; and Mr. Mullin was a elass-mate with him at the eomnon sehool in Brownville, when both were in their boyhood.
Immediately after graduating he took charge of an academy, or high school, in Champion, in this eounty, eon- 13
ducting it for four years with marked sueeess throughout, as well for himself as for the patrons of the school. The course of study embraced the higher mathematies and the languages, as well as the usual primary branches. Several young men were prepared for college exelusively at this sehool, among them the late John P. Brown, who, at the time of his deeease, was law-partner of Hon. Joseph Mul- lin ; Cyrus S. Brown, State senator of Missouri ; and Luther J. Dorwin, of this eity, a prominent member of the legal profession, maintaining an extensive and effective praetiee, especially in the argument of causes in the appellate courts of the State. Dr. Henry G. P. Speneer, a thoroughly-read and skillful physician and surgeon of large, luerative prae- tice, and Merritt Andrus, an extensive and sueeessful busi- ness operator, both of this city, were students at this school. Also Ambrose Spencer, of the Sandwich Islands ; Gustavus Speneer, residing south ; and George M. Brown and Alex- ander Brown, late of Carthage, both men of mental influ- enee and extended business relations throughout the county ; and also William E. Everett, of New York, an accomplished navy engineer, distinguished as a principal manager in the laying of the Atlantic eable, both in the first attempt and in the final suceess. These and many other young men, whose reputable achievements in their several eallings have honored themselves not only, but the teaeller of their young days, acquired the basis of future usefulness and creditable position at this institution, and they have hearty words of commendation for the old-time Champion sehool. Indeed, few schools of this region, in so brief a period, seeured better or larger results in training and edueating young men for practical work in the business and professions of active life.
194
HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.
In the spring of 1838, Mr. Brown relinquished his sehool in Champion, and took up his residence in the village, now city, of Watertown, where his first business was the study of the law, which he pursued principally in the office of Sterling and Bronson, then in charge of Joseph Mullin, Esq., just commeneing practice. After a due course of study he was admitted to practice in all the courts of the State, and soon afterwards in the United States courts. He entered into practice, but in the course of a few years circumstances directed his efforts into other channels. Mr. Brown has ever been an unswerving Democrat. As early as 1838 he " took the stump" for Isaac H. Bronson, then the Democratic candidate for Congress from the Jefferson County distriet. In every political campaign since that time he has, more or less, been ealled to the public forum in the discussion of the various and sometimes grave ques- tions that have divided political parties. He has not con- fined his public utterances to polities, but he has delivered lectures and addresses on most subjects of interest, general or special, and of late years particularly on the subject of temperanee. Few men in the county, except those whose professions make them public teachers, have been more ex- tensively or more acceptably engaged in addressing the people.
In November, 1842, he married Mary Ann Symonds, daughter of Israel Symonds, late of this city, with whom he lived happily till her decease, December 5, 1875. To- gether they reared to maturity a family of four children,- Mary L., now wife of Dudley C. Redpath, of the city of Boston ; Israel S. Brown, an intelligent and accomplished printer, of this city ; Helen E., wife of George Hall, of Ogdensburgh ; and Fannie E. Brown, residing with her sister, Mrs. Redpath.
About the time of his marriage he was appointed super- intendent of schools for the county, adjudging and certify- ing as to the qualifications of teachers, and having a general supervision of the schools. He held the office two years, and during that time made an elaborate and extended re- port to Hon. Samuel Young, State superintendent. It was considered one of the most valuable reports received at the department from the several counties.
In November, 1844, he was elected a representative of the county in the State assembly, being one of the first candidates who adopted the southern and western eustom of going personally before the people and addressing them throughout the canvass. In the legislature he took pro- nounced position as a ready debater and eloquent speaker. The late Sherman Croswell, then assembly reporter for the Albany Argus, esteemed him, to use his own words, as the " best speaker in the House." Hon. Horatio Seymour, at that time speaker of the House, in his distribution of con- mittees appointed him chairman of the committee on col- leges, academies, and common sehools, to whom was referred everything relating to the educational interests of the State. In that capacity he made a comprehensive report in writing, and, upon his reading the report in the assembly, that body directed a large number of extra copies to be printed for distribution.
In the congressional convention of 1846 he was a candi- date for Congress against Hon. Orville Hungerford, who
defeated him by a small majority, after a sharp, severely- contested eanvass. A short time previous to this Mr. Brown had commenced the publication of a weekly news- paper called the Democratic Union, which he conducted as editor and proprietor, with a single interval, till 1855. His editorials were very extensively copied throughout the State, especially by the leading papers. They embraced most sub- jects within the legitimate range of newspaper discussion.
In 1847 he was elected surrogate of the county,-the first under the constitution of 1846,-and held the office four and a half years, being the time appointed by the con- stitution as the duration of the first term. In 1849 he was a delegate to the famous State Conference Convention at Rome. That convention had two wings,-the " Hunker" and the " Barnburner." The wary New York statesman, William L. Marcy, was president of the former, to which Mr. Brown was a delegate. Hon. James F. Starbuck was a delegate from this county to the latter. They were two separate conventions; they were in session several days,-the object being to effect a union of the two fac- tions of the party. They were notably successful at the time; but the union did not last. In 1854 he was the candidate nominated by his party for representative in Con- gress from the district composed of Jefferson and Lewis counties. He managed his own canvass, addressing public meetings through the district. The " Hunkers" and " Barn- burners" had resumed the attitude of distinct organizations, and, there being three candidates, Mr. Brown was defeated, though running about 1500 in advance of his ticket. Fre- quently delegated by his party to various conventions, Mr. Brown was a delegate to the national convention at Cincin- nati in 1856. In 1858 he was elected justice of the peace of the town of Watertown. Since that time he has held the office and discharged its duties without interruption or vacation, first in the town, and then in the city after its organization, having been elected every four years,-some- times the only one elected on his party tieket, and once by only two majority. He has thus been in the public service as justice nearly twenty years, and he holds the office at this writing. During this period he has been much of the time justice of sessions, elected by the county, and being associate judge of the county sessions. In 1867 he was nominated by the Democratie party for clerk of the county. The Republican majority was about 2000, while the major- ity over him was 1005. In 1869 his party again nomi- nated him,-this time for State senator. He was again beaten, though running largely ahead of his ticket.
For forty years Mr. Brown has uniformly maintained the reputation of a terse and vigorous writer, and a ready, eloquent speaker, and not longer ago than the late Centennial celebration of the Fourth of July he delivered an oration which, in the estimation of good judges, is seldom surpassed.
About eleven years ago he became a member of a tem- peranee organization, and ever since he has sustained the eause of total abstinence,-often in stirring, earnest words, sometimes with his pen, and always by an undeviating practical example. A few years after, he united with the Protestant Episcopal communion, receiving the rite of con- firmation, and being admitted to membership in Grace ehureh of this eity, and continuing steadfastly in its fellowship.
HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.
195
@ Grawe
Dr. Crawe's superior professional attainments and high social position entitle him to a prominent place in the rec- ords of the county. Having been a quan of mark in his life, his sudden decease, while yet in his prime years, cre- ated a corresponding void, especially in the immediate com- munity where his worth and work were known and appre- ciated. Few men in pursuits not associated with official service, civil or military, leave a record more creditable in achievement or more unsullied in character. It was a record that awakened no regrets on the part of his living friends, nor detracted from their cherished memory of the dead. Such a man deserves the most gencrous of all trib- utes, the tributes of the heart.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.