History of Jefferson County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 53

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 53

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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.

bloody war. But shortly after the news came of the firing upon Fort Sumter, Mr. Winslow met John A. Haddock in the Paddock Arcade, who, with some asperity of tone, asked what the "Black River Corps intended to do in the emergency, remarked that the organization was in the way of other people going to the help of the government. Mr. Winslow felt keenly from that moment that a responsibility rested upon him, and within an hour afterwards sought Captain Potter, in command of the corps, and urgently appealed to him to call a meeting of the members and as- certain their feelings with reference to offering their services to the country. Captain Potter was averse to the war at first, but so far yielded as to sanction the calling a meeting of the corps. Such a meeting was soon held, with the result that the corps would not go as an organization, but a company was organized in which a large number of the members of the old corps enlisted. Captain Potter was elected captain, and Mr. Winslow first lieutenant. The company proceeded to Elmira, one of the depots for the assembling of State troops, where a regiment was or- ganized, mostly of Jefferson County troops. William C. Brown was elected and commissioned colonel, and Captain Potter was commissioned lieutenant-colonel. On the pro- motion of Captain Potter, Licutenant Winslow was clected and commissioned captain, and, holding this position, de- parted with the regiment early in July, 1861, for the seat of war, taking up the line of march through Baltimore, over the very ground hallowed only a short time previous with the blood of the sons of Massachusetts. Captain Winslow's company had the right of the regiment, and was first in the column of march. On the resignation of Lieu- tenant-Colonel Potter, in July or August, same year, Cap- tain Winslow was promoted lieutenant-colonel. In October following, while the Thirty-fifth Regiment was encamped near Falls Church, Virginia, Lieutenant-Colonel Winslow, in command of a scouting-party which had penetrated to the rear of the rebel outposts, surprised a reserve picket- post, and captured, up a tree, Lieutenant H. J. Segal, of Stuart's Cavalry. This incident was illustrated in Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, under date of October 26, 1861. A few weeks later, while in command of another scouting-party, he surprised another picket-post near the same place. A rebel horseman, disobeying the order to surrender, was wounded, and his horse killed. So near did the party penetrate to Fairfax that they distinctly heard the " long roll" beaten at that place, where a large force was stationed. These incidents of the soldier's life have been alluded to because in the breasts of the few battle-scarred veterans who still survive, and who onee in awhile meet in civil life to talk over the martial exploits in which they participated, they will revive pleasant memories of those heroic days.

Colonel Winslow was with his regiment in the march to the relief of General Banks at the battle of Cedar Moun- tain, arriving on the field in time to cover the retreat. Hc took part on that retreat in the skirmish at Rappahannock Statiou, and in the battle of second Bull Run. During that campaign Colonel Winslow contracted typhoid fever, which so impaired his health that he resigned from the service in December, 1862, and received an houorable discharge. His

health becoming restored, when the eall in 1864 for 500,000 men was issued, he assisted to raise the 186th Regiment N. Y. V., and in September of that year was commissioned and mustered into service again as colonel of the regiment. The regiment, soon after its organization, joined the army of General Meade, then making its last great campaign against the rebel army under General Lee, and was assigned to the Second Brigade, Second Division, Ninth Corps. During the remainder of the campaign the regiment was actively engaged in the trenches on picket duty in the lines before Petersburg ; took part in the affair of the 31st of October, in the attempt to force the Weldon railroad. On the morning of the 2d of April, Colonel Winslow's regi- ment led the attack upon the fortification known as Fort Mahone, in front of Petersburg, and, in a gallant charge, captured the work. In an attempt to get possession of still another fortification to the left, and in the same line with the one already taken, Colonel Winslow fell, shot through the body,-a minie-ball entering between the lower ribs on the right side, and coming out to the left of and near the spine. On the 13th of June following, General S. G. Griffin, who was the commander of the 2d Brigade, and who on the 2d of April succeeded Major-General Potter (the latter being wounded) to the command of the 2d Division, addressed General Winslow a letter, from which we have been per- mitted to make the following extract :

HEADQUARTERS SECOND DIVISION, NINTH ARMY CORPS, ALEXANDRIA, VA., June 13, 1865.

MY DEAR COLONEL,-It is with sincere pleasure that I inform you that I have recommended your promotion to the rank of Brigadier- General by brevet for bravery and gallant conduct on the field at the assault on the enemy's lines in front of Petersburg, April 2. 1865. . . .

. . . I am very happy, Colonel, to make this acknowledgment of your meritorious services as commander of your regiment, and of the gallant and judicious manner in which you handled your regiment in my presence during the engagement of the 2d of April,-an engage- ment that will be forever memorable in our nation's history.

With sincere esteem, I have the honor to be yours, etc.,

S. G. GRIFFIN, Brigadier-General Commanding. COL. BRADLEY WINSLOW, 186th N. Y. V .. Watertown.

These words of commendation are those of an able and experienced officer, who voluntarily penned them as a sincere expression of his esteem. His recommendation went for- ward with the indorsement of General Parke, the corps commander, and of General Meade. In due time the Presi- dent of the United States confirmed the appointment of Brig .- Gen. by brevet upon Col. Winslow, and it was con- firmed by the senate. The commission thereupon issued by the President recites that it was bestowed for gallant and meritorious conduct in the assault before Petersburg, Virginia.

We cannot take leave of this honorable military record without mentioning the further fact that after the close of the war General Winslow was appointed a lientenant in the regular army, and ordered to report for duty to the com- manding officer of the 22d Regiment of U. S. Infantry. This appointment was wholly unsolicited, and was declined. And there remains still to be added the further fact that. in 1868, Gov. R. E. Fenton commissioned General Winslow a brigadier-general in the National Guard, and appointed him to the command of the 16th Brigade,-a position which he has since held. In the preparation recently made by the

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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.

governor of the State to suppress riots, General Winslow was placed in command of the 4th Division by special order from the adjutant-general's office.

In November, 1865, before his wound was fairly healed, he was elected district attorney for the second time, and held the office for the term of three years. During his term several important criminal trials occurred, including one indictment for murder in the first degree and others for high crimes.

In his profession General Winslow has attained to the front rank of the bar of Jefferson County. He was ad- mitted to practice in the District Court of the United States for the Northern District of New York, August 3, 1867, and to practice in the Circuit Court of the United States for the Northern District of New York, December 10, 1869.

In politics General Winslow is a Republican. In 1856, in his early manhood, he espoused the cause of that party, and has since been a constant supporter of its principles. He has spoken in nearly all the towns of this county in behalf of its principles and candidates, and in 1872 ad- dressed meetings, with good acceptance, under the direction of the Republican State Central Committee, in different places in the counties of Cortland, Onondaga, Tioga, and Schuyler. In Dec., 1875, he was elected mayor of the city of Watertown. He left the mayor's chair at the close of his term with words of commendation from all parties for the excellence of his administration. In all the positions, civil and military, which General Winslow has held, he has discharged the duties appertaining to each with ability and fidelity.

Mr. Winslow's life from youth up has been one of con- stant activity. Though honors, military, political, and pro- fessional, are his as the result of his patriotism, ability, and energy, he is still in middle life, and turns to the practice of his chosen profession of the law with all the energy and honorable ambition which characterized his earlier years.

HON. ORVILLE HUNGERFORD

was born in Farmington, Oct. 29, 1790. . He removed with his father's family to Oneida county, and in the spring of 1804 to Watertown. He soon after commenced a clerk- ship in Judge Foster's store, at Burrville, and in 1807 or 1808 removed with him to Watertown, and afterwards became a partner under the firm of Foster & Hungerford. This firm was extensively engaged in supplying, upon con- tract, provisions to the United States army at Sacket's Har- bor, during the war. In 1815 he commenced mercantile business for himself, and continued in trade till 1842. In that year he was elected to Congress, and served the 19th district in our national legislature four years. At an early period in the history of the Jefferson County Bank he be- came a stockholder, and was concerned in its management for many years, as cashier and president. In 1847 he was nominated by the Democratic party for the office of Comp- troller, but was defeated, the vote being as follows :

Jefferson County.

For O. Hungerford. 4463

For Millard Fillmore. 3893

For Lewis Tappan ... 489

State.

For O. Hungerfield. ...... 136,027

For Millard Fillmore ... 174,756

For Lewis Tappan 10,408

In the promotion of the railroad from Rome to Cape Vincent, Mr. Hungerford engaged with great ardor, labor- ing with a zeal and energy that knew no weariness or dis- couragement, and the citizens of Jefferson County will ever have reason to be grateful to his memory for the efficiency of his efforts. He held the first office of president of the company at the time of his death, which occurred April 6, 1851, after a short but severe illness of twelve days.

His character has thus been summed up by the editor of the New York Reformer :

" As a man of business he was prompt, decided, active, and correct. His judgment was clear and sound, and he possessed the faculty of obtaining for his plans the entire confidence of his business associates. If in his private affairs he was exact, he was also rigidly honest. No deceit or guile ever found utterance, but manful uprightness char- acterized all his transactions. As a politician he was a conservative, shrewd and calculating; a man of but few words, but many thoughts. The Democratic party achieved many victories under his leadership, and were beaten but seldom. His plans were carefully laid and vigorously ex- ecuted, his influence was exercised without effort, and he con- trolled without being felt. * * In his private character he was exemplary, generous, and friendly. In his public bestowments, munificent. Institutions of learning received liberal indorsements from his generosity." While in Con- gress he was appointed, at the first session of his first term, on the committee of Revolutionary Pensions and on Ac- counts, and the business tact and ability which he displayed raised him high in the estimation of his associates; and at the next session he was placed on that most important of committees, that of Ways and Means, where he fully sustained the reputation he had acquired,-that of being a thorough business man. In all the domestic and social relations of his life his deportment was highly exemplary, and at his death meetings of the citizens of Watertown, of directors of the Jefferson County Bank, of the railroad company, and the associations of which he was a member, were held, to testify their sorrow for his death, and to ex- tend their sympathies to his bereaved family.

He was a warm friend of the Jefferson County Agricul- tural Society. He took great interest in the Jefferson County Bible Society, and was for several years its presi- dent.

From the funeral sermon preached by his pastor we quote :

" In the death of Mr. Hungerford our village and the whole community has sustained a great loss. He had grown up with our village. Here he launched his bark upon the ocean of life, and here his voyage was ended.

" On account of his influence, and the important trusts which had been confided to his hands, being in the full maturity of his strength, his judgment ripened by ex- perience and years and his natural force unabated, I know of no one in the whole community whose death would have been regarded as so great a calamity as his. The assembling of this great congregation, as a tribute of respect to his memory, shows how he was estimated. A prince has fallen in the midst of us. The death of such a man is a publie loss."

OHungufora

HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.

205

A houligo

Auf. Imobridge .

The subject of this sketch, Dr. Amasa Trowbridge, was born in Pomfret, Windham county, Connecticut, May 17, 1779. His parents were farmers by occupation, and whose ancestors were early settlers of the New England States, and supposed to be of English descent. He labored on the farm at home until he was fourteen years of age, availing himself of the common school in the winter seasons. After that period he received the superior advantages of an academical cdu- cation, when he made those attainments in classies and English which fitted him for a professional life. At the age of seventeen he com- menced a course of study with Dr. Avery Downer, of Preston City, New London county, a veteran surgeon of the Revolutionary War. At the age of twenty he was admitted to practice, and received a diploma from the State Medical Society. IIc afterwards spent a year with Dr. Thomas Hubbard, a man of high reputation as a surgeon and practitioner in medicine. He soon after removed to Lanesboro', Massachusetts, and practiced in company with Dr. Jarvis.

Dr. Trowbridge entored upon his new field under disadvantages, contending with older and able competitors, and yet he was success- ful in gaining for himself high social standing and a good reputation in his practice. At the age of twenty-six, and in the year 1805, he married Miss Gloriana H. Billings, of Lanesboro', Massachusetts. With his wife he removed to Trenton, Oneida county, New York, where he, in company with Dr. Luther Guitean, gained high rank in the practice of surgery, which in after-years became of so much ser- vice to wounded soldiers.

In 1809 he came with his family and made a permanent residence in Watertown, when he entered at once upon a large and extensive practice in company with Dr. Paul Hutchinson. The doetor was a Republican of the old Jeffersonian school, and took active part in the great political questions of the day, and became conspicuous in his party. Ile was the author of a series of political essays published by Thomas Walker, of Utica. The object of this series of essays was to sustain the administration by argument, relative to grievances so multiplied with our relations to Great Britain. It identified the author very strongly with the party with which he was connected.

A declaration of war passed both houses of Congress June 18, 1812. Brigadier-General Brown, of Brownsville, selceted Dr. Trow- bridge, and recommended to Governor Tompkins his appointment as surgeon in the militia of Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties. He was at once appointed, and, under General Brown's orders, organ- ized and arranged suitable hospital quarters at Saeket's Harbor, Capo Vincent, and Ogdensburgh. This was a period of no small moment in tho doctor's life, opening up a wide field for the practice of surgery, and affording an opportunity for reaching a position at the head of his profession. It would be impossible to portray his promi- nenee aud usefulness in the army without giving the marches, sieges, and battles of our armies during the entire war. Ilis headquarters were mostly at Sacket's Harbor during the winter of 1812-13. From the beginning until the close of the war he was so identified with the armny that his history involves the history of the war itself.

Ile was associated at this time with Surgeons Buchanan and Caton of the navy, and Prof. J. Watts, M.D., of MeComb's regiment of artillery. Immediately on his return to private practice he was appointed assistant justice on the bench of this county, and in 1818 he was appointed judge. In 1819 he was appointed sheriff of the county, which office he held for two years, continuing his medical practice. In 1834 he was appointed Professor of Surgery and Medical Jurisprudence in the Willoughby University, of Lake Erie, in Ohio, where he gavo annual lectures of eight weeks to his class in college. In 1838 he gave up his practice and ride in Jefferson County to his son, Amasu, Jr., and removed his family to Painesville, Ohio, tou miles from the medical college. In 1841 his hopes reposed in his talented son, with whom he had left his extensive practice, were sud- deuly blasted hy learning of his death, which occurred in Watertown city, by a collision with a pair of runaway horses, which resulted in throwing the doctor to the pavement with such force as to break his neck.

The doctor upon the death of his son resolved to resume his old practice in Jefferson County, and in the year 1841 again settled in Watertown, where he remained until his death, April 11, 1859, aged eighty years.

To Mr. und Mrs. Trowbridge were born nine children, viz. : Glo- riana B., Amasa, Catherine, Amasa, Jr., William R., Andrew B., Frances C., Helen M., and Cornelia E. Trowhridge. William R. Trowbridge was born in Watertown, August 22, 1816. He, during his minority, received the advantages afforded by the hest schools of Watertown for obtaining an education. At the age of twenty-one he went to Louisville, Kentucky, and engaged as elerk in a dry-goods house; afterwards he went into business for himself. Previous to going to that place he had been in Utica and New York. Upon the death of his brother, Amasa, Jr., he came back to his native town, and began the study of medicine with his father. Attended lectures in Willoughby University, Ohio, and received his diploma from that institution, and entered a partnership with his father at home in the practice of his profession. Since that time (1846) he has ranked among the most active and eminent physicians of the county.

In 1862 he was appointed surgeon of the eighteenth Dist. regiment N. Y. V. by Governor Morgan. In the same year he resigned that position and returned to his practice at home. Heis now in his sixty- second year, and is next to the oldest citizen living in this city that was born here.

In the year 1848 he married Miss Louisa M., daughter of Sylvester and Rose Smith, of Watertowu.

They have five children : Edward, Helen R., Sylvester S., Frederick G., aud William. All are living.

Dr. Trowbridge has always been fond of spending any leisure days and respite from his practice in prospecting among the works of nature, and has collected and has in his possession the largest private collection in the State of the various kinds of birds, animals, an.} minerals.

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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.

E. B. FOWLER.

The subject of this sketch was born in Steuben, Oneida county, New York, July 19, 1800. He was third son and fourth child of Silas and Betsey Fowler, who had seven chil- dren. His father was of New England birth (Massachusetts), and his ancestors of English descent. His mother, Betsey Hough, was also of Massachusetts and of English deseent.

His father was a farmer by occupation, but prominently identified with the interests of his town and county, and was known as Squire Fowler. Limited in means, his father, hav- ing a large family, was unable to give his children anything more than the principles of a business education, and, as in the case of the subject of this memoir, these principles were so deeply laid as to result in a successful business carcer. He labored on the farm of his father until he beeame of age, going to school winters. At about the age of twenty-seven he went to Turin, Lewis county, and engaged in the mereantile busi- ness with his brother, George J. Fowler, and soon after entered in partnership with Orrin Woolworth in the same business, and were the leading merchants of that section. In 1831, Febru- ary 13, he married Miss Jane Bush, daughter of Major Oliver Bush, of Turin, Lewis county, formerly of Westfield, Massa- chusetts, and supposed to be of Duteh descent, and her grand- father with a family of seven sons were among the pioneers of that eounty.

In 1833 he removed to Antwerp, and engaged in the mer- cantile business and the purchase of produce, doing a large business in butter and cheese. This business he followed for some twenty years, and finally abandoned it to organize the " Agricultural Mutual Insurance Company," and removed to the eity of Watertown in the year 1853.

When he abandoned his mereantile life, he devoted his indomitable energies to a single object,-that of developing his pet seheme of farm insurance disconnected from a general business ; and when others faltered he persevered, until his labor was erowned with success and his company duly or- ganized for the transaction of business. Mr. Fowler was then appointed general agent of the company, which office he held for many years. He lived to see the company, for the success

of which he labored so long, a sueeess, and to know that its formation was the forerunner or cause of the formation of other companies, which have resulted in establishing a much larger insurance interest in this eity than in any eity of its size in the State.

Wherever energy, perseverance, and indomitable will were requisites, Mr. Fowler was an invaluable co-worker and was sanguine in the result of his efforts.

To Mr. and Mrs. Fowler were born four children, viz. : Julia Frances, Carrie Jane, Florenee L., and Charles B. Of these, Florenee L. died in infancy. Julia F. resides at home with her mother. Carrie J. married H. P. Herring, and re- sides in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Charles B. resides in Water- town, and is very prominently identified with the company in the place made vacant by the death of his father, being one of its directors and an agent of the company.

E. B. Fowler died July 12, 1877, in his seventy-seventh year. His widow is now in her seventy-fourth year.

In politics Mr. Fowler was a Republican, originally belong- ing to the old Whig party and in his earlier life a very active member of the party. Upon his death the Agricultural Insur- ance company of Watertown adopted the following resolu- tions.

" Whereas, Earl B. Fowler, who was connected with this company as general agent and director from its organization until compelled by impaired health to sever such connection, departed this life at his residence in this eity Thursday, July 12, 1877 ; it is therefore

" Resolved, That in the death of Mr. Fowler, who was so long associated with us and to whose persevering efforts is due the organization of the old Agricultural Mutual Insurance Com- pany, which was the pioneer company out of which has grown the large insurance interests of this eity, we lose a companion and friend whose early efforts are duly appreciated and whose memory will be cherished by us.

" Resolved, That in the life of Mr. Fowler we have an ex- ample of energy, industry, and perseverance which it should be our pride to emulate."

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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.

So. @ Streeter

The subject of this sketch was born in Hampshire county, Massachusetts, January 10, 1804. He was eldest son of Elijah and Abigail Streeter. His father was a native of Vermont, and his mother of Massachusetts birth. In the year 1819 his father came with his family and settled in the town of Champion, Jefferson County, and carried on the shoemaking trade until a short time before his death, when he came to Watertown, and resided with his son Nelson. He died August 21, 1830, aged forty- nine years. The mother died before leaving Massachu- setts, and in the year 1806, May 20, aged twenty-three years.

Nelson, upon arriving at his new home, was soon after, in the year 1821, apprentiecd to Thomas Peck, of Water- town, to learn the tailoring business, and at the end of three years, having served his full time, be established himself as a tailor. Industry and economy were his early characteristics, and by a strict attention to his work he was enabled, in 1830, to open business as a merchant tailor, which he continued until 1844, at which time he was firmly established as a careful manager and had accu- mulated sufficient to enable him to open a ready-made clothing house, manufacturing most of his goods. This he continued until 1864, when he intrusted it to the hands of his son, John C. Streeter, who has conducted the

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History of Jefferson County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 53

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

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