History of Jefferson County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 65

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 65


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The following have been elected since 1858 : Samuel Bond, Samuel Graves, Perley D. Stone, Albert G. Redway, Sylvester Bliss, Samuel N. Bond, Graham G. Grenell, Gil- bert S. Dodge, Julius K. Bartlett, Synus A. Merriam, Willet R. Willis, Azariah Dove; and the present board : Justus Eddy, Dalton A. Dwight, Joseph Withington, Austin H. Coughlan, A. Kent Hale, and John S. Redway.


A Sunday-school was organized in 1825, with Rev. John Sessions superintendent. Dr. A. Kent Hale at present fills that office. The membership of the school is 170, and there is a library of 300 volumes.


The foregoing history was compiled, to a large extent, from data furnished by the pastor, Rev. G. B. Barnes.


THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.


Members of this faith lived in the town at an early day, and classes were formed in different localities prior to 1828 ; but in that year they were formed into a circuit, and there- after supplied with a regular preacher. The members living principally at Adams village.


The First Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Adams was formed at that place October 24, 1828. The trustees elected were Laban Ross, Philip Younge, David Wright, Zephania Jacker, Chester McKee, Daniel Dike- man, and John Adams. This board was reorganized in 1838, when John C. Cooper, Timothy Lawrence, William E. Whitney, Andrew Blackstone, Stephen Kilbourne, Ly- man Wright, and Selah Hungerford were appointed trustees.


The old Presbyterian church was secured as a place of worship and used by the Methodists until its destruction by fire in 1852. In 1853 a very neat and imposing frame edifice, 44 by 84 feet, was erected at a cost of $6000. The same year a parsonage was built on the adjoining lot, cost- ing $2000. In 1875 several thousand dollars were ex- pended in renovating and beautifying the church, and it will now compare favorably with similar village churches. The estimated value of the property is $12,000, which is controlled by the following trustces : J. D. Burlingame, J. C. Schram, Lester Fish, E. F. Ransdell, Jacob Brim- mer, Austin Cisco, and I. L. Hunt, Jr. The growth of the church-work was steady and effective, and the member- ship now numbers 225. The contributions of the church in 1876 amounted to $1430.


The following reverend gentlemen have served as pastors, in the order named, since 1828: W. W. Ninde, David Kingsley, Schuyler Hoes, Harvey Chapin, Elijah Smith, Hiram Mattison, Arza J. Phelps, William Wyatt, Walter Hare, John Loveace, John F. Dayan, Isaac S. Bingham, C. W. Lcet, W. H. Hawkins, P. D. Gorrie, Hiram Matti- son, William X. Ninde, John W. Armstrong, William L. Tisdale, J. C. Vandercook, Frank F. Jewell, Lewis Mere- dith, Jolin T. Hewitt, Sidney O. Barnes, Henry W. Ben- nett, and Eli C. Bruce, the present incumbent.


A Sunday-school was organized soon after the church was formed, and has been conducted ever since. There are 150 members, and 418 volumes in the library. I. L. Hunt, Jr., is the superintendent.


In 1844, Adams circuit, with the adjoining ones of Rod- man, Lorraine, Smithville, and a portion of Watertown, were formed into The Adams District, with the elders resident


After a life of eminent usefulness, the Rev. Burchard ended his earthly carcer at Adams, uttering the words, "I am content," and calmly sank to his rest. His remains are interred in the rural eeme- tery.


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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.


at Adams. Revs. Lewis Whitcomb, N. Salisbury, I. Stone, George C. Woodruff, George Gary, J. Phelps, Gardner Baker, Freeman H. Stanton, Daniel W. Roney, Thomas Richey, Melvin D. Kinney, and Isaae Bingham, at present in office, have been elders of this district, and to their efforts the success of Methodism is due to a large extent.


THE BAPTIST CHURCH AND SOCIETY


at Adams village was organized March 30, 1837, with Jesse Wright, Hannibal Miller, and Spencer Woodward, trustees. Meetings were held in the school-house, and in the build- ing now used as an engine-house, until 1847, when a frame church was erected, costing $3500, which was dedicated in January, 1848. This was used until 1871, when it was re- moved to give place to the present edifice, and it has sinee been transformed into a furniture warehouse. The sanie year, A. J. Brown, H. O. Kenyon, and A. W. Ingraham were appointed a building committee, and under their su- pervision the magnificent structure on Church street was erected in 1871. It is built in Gothic style, of brick, with a handsomely variegated slate roof. The main building is 40 by 90 feet, 32 feet high, and is relieved by a well-propor- tioned tower. On its west side is a two-story wing, 40 by 45 feet, arranged into a Sabbath-school room, church par- lor, and pastor's study. The interior is embellished by neat frescoes and chaste furniture, and is heated by three fur- naces. The cost of the building was about $25,000, and it was dedicated Oct. 10, 1871, by Dr. Patton, of New York, and Dr. Bridgeman, of Albany. The present trus- tees are A. W. Ingraham, H. O. Kenyon, J. S. Brown, W. D. Arms, and B. F. Hawes.


Rev. Charles Clark was the first regular minister, and his faithful pastorate gave the church the character which became the corner-stone of its future prosperity. He was succeeded in 1850 by C. Hartson, and a year later by M. C. Manning. In 1857, H. O. Beals became pastor, and his connection was blessed with many baptismns and acces- sions. He was followed, in 1860, by Wm. Garnett, who was succeeded in June, 1861, by I. N. Hobart. His pas- torate was noted for the changes in the church membership, first of withdrawals, and then the large increase which fol- · lowed. He remained with the church until March, 1866, and was succeeded the following September by Thomas Cull. In 1868, S. P. Merrill was employed, and in 1874, William Ostler. The present pastor, W. H. Hawley, was settled January, 1875.


The current expenses of the church are $1800 per year, and $350 is raised annually for benevolent purposes. The present membership is 263.


A Sunday-school was organized February 12, 1847, with HI. Miller, superintendent ; A. J. Brown is the present in- cumbent. The school numbers 214, and has a library of 300 volumes.


THIE EMANUEL EPISCOPAL CHURCHI.


A proposition to organize an Episcopal church having been made to Bishop De Lancey, his consent was seenred Jan. 22, 1849, and on the 4th of February the notice to form a congregation was duly read by II. B. Whipple, lay reader. On the 18th of February, 1849, the church was


legally formed, the Rev. J. M. Bartlett being rector. Henry B. Whipple and William Morton Johnson were chosen wardens ; and John McCarty, David Gaylord, IFiram Salis- bury, Philip R. Ward, John Wright, Justus Eddy, Charles W. Rogers, and Thomas Dobson, vestrymen. Steps were at once taken to erect a chapel in the Gothie style, to cost not. more than $2000. This was so far accomplished, chiefly through the instrumentality of II. B. Whipple, afterwards and now a bishop of the church, that the corner-stone was laid Oct. 9, 1849. Justus Eddy, II. B. Whipple, and C. W. Rogers were appointed a building committee Jan. 8, 1850; a corporate seal was adopted, consisting of the words " Emanuel Church, 18th February, 1849," with a cross in the centre. The chapel was recorded complete, June 19, 1850, and Rev. William Heathcote and Bishop De Laneey requested to dedicate it. The building is a neat frame, surmounted by a spire, and was constructed within the limited cost.


The Rev. T. F. Wardwell succeeded the Rev. Bartlett as rector, and remained a year. The other rectors of the church have been the Revs. O. E. Herrick, Wm. Paret, Jedediah Winslow, Daniel E. Loveridge, and H. Ormsby, who resigned Sept. 2, 1876. At present there is no rector of the parish.


On the 28th of April, 1875, a reetory was purchased on Main street for $2300. The membership of the church is 60, and the members of the official board are Albert B. Watkins and S. A. Barney, wardens; M. D. Mannville, M. H. Fox, Henry Dodd, C. B. Gaylord, C. E. Segur, B. Ingraham, H. Haydn, and W. H. Little, vestrymen.


A Sunday-school was organized twenty-five years ago. A. B. Watkins is superintendent. It has 30 members, and 200 volumes in library.


The acknowledgments of the publishers are justly due to the many who have furnished information in connection with the history of Adans, its villages, and unmerous pub- lie and private institutions. To all we would say thanks.


BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.


GENERAL SOLON DEXTER HUNGERFORD.


General Hungerford, whose history is so intimately eon- nceted with that of Jefferson County, and especially of the town of Adams, belongs to a family whose genealogy can be traced for at least two centuries. Thomas Hungerford came from the parish of Shetford, England, thirty or forty miles from London, and went to Hartford, Connecticut, before the year 1639. Mention is made of a descendant of the same name in the Hartford State Records, and in looking over the American Archives we find that one Jolin P. Hungerford was an officer in the Revolution, and member of Congress from 1813 to 1817, and died at Tur- ford, Virginia, at the age of seventy-four.


At the head of the fifth generation we have Dexter Hungerford, who married Marietta Burr, to whom were


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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.


born five children. The history of the Burr branch of the family is a remarkable one, ineluding the famous Aaron Burr, and other men of genius.


The third of this family, the subject of our sketch, was born Mareh 12, 1808. IIis earliest home was on a farm in Watertown. He entered the dry goods store of Mr. Adriel Ely at the age of fifteen, which proved a business discipline of great service in shaping his sueeessful finan- eial career.


After remaining in this position for four years, he dc- cided to prepare for a collegiate course, but, upon the ad- vice of his kinsman, Hon. Orville Hungerford, he took the position of book-keeper in the Jefferson County bank for a year. At the expiration of that time he was promoted to the position of teller, which office he held for eight years, when he was elected cashier of Lewis County bank, at Martinsburg. At the end of two years he was urged by his friend, Mr. Ely, and his unele, Hon. Orville Hun- gerford, to go into banking on his own account, under the general banking law of 1838.


Through the influenee and at the urgent invitation of his friend, Robert B. Doxtater, and other leading eitizens, he was induced to found an institution at Adams, Jefferson County, ealled Hungerford's bank, with a capital of fifty thousand dollars, October 25, 1845, which he successfully condueted as an individual bank till September, 1853, when the capital was inereased to one hundred and twenty- five thousand dollars, with the same name, and under a board of directors of which General Hungerford was pres- ident. The Bankers' Magazine, after a notiee warmly eommending the management of the Hungerford National bank, as it beeame under the national banking law, men- tions a " remarkable faet connected with the history of Hungerford's bank. It has never suspended specie pay- ments during its existence of upwards of twenty years, having honored every and all demands in eoin, till the ad- vent of greenbaeks, in 1861."


Mr. Hungerford is probably the oldest banker in the State, although seareely beyond middle age, and has no superior in the sueeessful management of this eomplieated business. For clearness of judgment, pleasing address, and, beyond all, honest and reliable financial management, he is equally remarkable.


His love for agriculture has always been intense, both from the real pleasure it afforded and the beneficial influ- enee upon his health, while it was intimately eonneeted with his business operations.


He has for many years been elosely identified with the Jefferson County and New York State Agricultural so- cieties. For sixteen years he was on the executive board of the State society, and finally took the chair of president. His " Valley Park Farm" is one of the most beautiful in the State. On this he keeps one of the best herds of thoroughbred Ayrshire eattle in the United States, and has been largely engaged in importing and breeding these favorites ; also " short-horns," Leicester shcep, and York- shire swine; and is now devoting much attention to rearing horses, having a just appreciation of this prinee among animals. The Boston Cultivator, May, 1863, mentions a particularly fine group of eattle on the Hungerford estate.


Railroad interests claimed a share of Mr. Hungerford's time and attention. His general enterprise found seope in this direetion during the first attempts to connect the north- ern part of the State with the great thoroughfares and eom- mercial centres.


Both money, time, and influence were always at eom- mand. In 1855 he was elected a director of the Rome and Watertown railroad, at the earnest desire of such men as Philip Dater, of New York; and later of the Rome, Watertown and Ogdensburgh railroad. He was eompli- mented by the capitalists interested, for his substantial im- provements in the management of the road. The sound judgment and integrity seen here, as in all other financial eoneerns, received a significant testimonial in an ineident, one among many, gleaned from a private letter addressed to a personal friend by one for years previous bitterly preju- dieed against Mr. Hungerford.


In this the writer alludes to certain differences of opin- ion existing between Mr. Hungerford and himself, and states as his motive for voting for the former's re-election, his "fearless" discharge of duty in a position where so much "knavery and dishonesty" exists.


. But a higher object than business enterprise and suceess was at Mr. Hungerford's heart.


Since 1836, when engaged in banking, "the idea of establishing a first-class educational institution in my native country has been very much on my mind," says Mr. Hung- erford in reply to the question as to just when his attention was drawn to the greatest achievement of his life, the founding of Hungerford Collegiate Institute ; whose splen- did position among the literary establishments of the land is a joy to his own heart and an honor to his native State.


An attempt was made about the year 1855 to ercct the proper buildings and put the plan into operation, but owing to disagreement as to the site of the prospective edifiee, the whole thing fell through for the time being. But in 1864 a large building, erected for hotel purposes, fell into Mr. Hungerford's hands ; this he offered to donate to a board of trustees selected from the several neighboring ehurehes, consisting of twenty-four, provided the citizens would raise an endowment fund of ten thousand dollars, the interest to be devoted to the payment of insurance, repairs, etc. The offer was aeeepted, a charter seeured, and the institute put in sueeessful operation for three years, when the building was burned down.


Another site being obtained with the insurance money, avails of the old lot, and contributions to the amount of over eighty thousand dollars, the present structure was erected.


At the opening of the first institute referred to, the exercises were of an unusually interesting character. Special trains were run to the village from neighboring places, General " Joe" Hooker being among the guests. These were weleomed by Rev. Mr. Hobart, in behalf of the trus- tees, and escorted by the Watertown Cornet Band to Jaek- son Hall.


After music and congratulatory addresses, Dr. Fisher, President of Hamilton College, delivered the inaugural address.


The school opened with one hundred and sixty students ;


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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.


and the promise given by its dawn was fulfilled in the years that followed, when it shed the light of an enlightening and refining influence over the surrounding country.


A most interesting account of the dedication of the new and elegant buildings erected subsequent to the fire is given by the press. We quote a few extracts :


" On Wednesday, August 24, was consummated in Adams the great publie enterprise of the village and town. Its beginning and progress have been signalized by great liber- ality, clear foresight, excellent taste and judgment, and untiring energy.


" The old institute building having been burnt some time ago, it was resolved to build a new one, and part of the means was at hand for the purpose. A commanding site was selected, a plan drafted with careful deliberation, and the structure commenced. The design was purposely for something superior and costly,-something not easy to excel as an educational institute. It was rightly believed that a way would be found to complete it when the money in possession should be exhausted. The work at length had to be stopped. Estimates ealled for two thousand five hun- dred dollars more, and how should it be raised ?"


Finally, after efforts in other directions, General Hunger- ford offered to double whatever sum might be raised. Pledges were soon gained for fifteen thousand dollars, which, with the founder's generous offer, made thirty thousand dollars; this, combined with the amount in the treasury, gave funds for a one hundred thousand dollar building. The elegant stone and brick building of to-day, with its admirable conveniences and great beauty, is the result.


It is heated with steam and lighted by gas. Hot and cold water can be drawn in each story, and there are bath- rooms for both the gentlemen's and ladies' divisions. In the library and main hall, ete., is beautiful inlaid flooring of white and dark wood alternating.


At the dedication Rev. S. S. U. Greeley was the speaker of the day ; he was followed by citizens and invited guests. General Hungerford, owing to previous illness, took no part in the exercises, but, after loud and renewed applause, came out of the ante-room in response to a call from the audienee. He simply bowed and retired.


Mr. Hungerford's military career dates back to the year 1835 ; when quite a young man he was commissioned aide- de-camp to the brigadier-general of the Fifty-fifth brigade of infantry. He was subsequently inspector of the Twelfth division of infantry. In 1853 he became captain of in- fantry in the Thirty-sixth regiment, and brigadier-general of the Eighteenth brigade of the Fourth division of New York State militia in 1859. In 1861, when the Rebellion broke out, General Hungerford, commanding the Sixteenth brigade, and also commissioned to inspect volunteer com- panies, was loyal to his trust and untiring in his efforts to co-operate with the government. He won the grateful recognition of the State and of his fellow-citizens at home.


Mr. Hungerford's political career was made by himself,-a brief one, beyond his influence in connection with business and social relations, and his prompt action when it was needed as a citizen.


He was by nature and education of the conservative school in politics. This fact, along with his general popu-


larity, was the cause of his nomination to Congress by the Coalitionists of the Twentieth district in 1866, when an effort was made to defeat the ruling party by a combination of all those dissatisfied with its measures. Mr. Hungerford declined the nomination in a letter which was consistent with his principles, dignified and loyal, an honor to his head and heart.


But in no position has he been more honored and useful, although attracting less popular interest, than when presi- dent of the Jefferson County Bible Society, an office he held for several years.


In his domestic relations Mr. Hungerford has been most happy. He married Miss Ann Huntington, of Watertown, who is still the light of a home blessed with a son who gives promise of worthily bearing the ancestral name.


Mr. Hungerford has always liberally and wisely, we believe, sustained the cause of religion in the community, and freely aided the church and parish of which he is a member.


Neither he nor his friends claim for him exemption from human frailties and mistakes ; but his fellow-citizens of the town and county in which his life has been so far spent will give him a place among the greatest benefactors of both.


A. S. GREENE.


(CHIEF ENGINEER U. S. NAVY.)


The subject of this sketch was born in Adams, Aug. 3, 1838. He attended select school at Adams Seminary, autumns and winters, until 1855. In November, 1855, he entered the " Rensselaer Polytechnic College," of Troy, N. Y., in advance standing, graduating with the degree of Civil Engineer in June, 1859, number five in a class of twelve graduates, and which had numbered, from the time of his entrance, over one hundred individual members. Among the graduates in the same class were A. J. Cassatt, V .- P. Penna. R. R. Co .; Walter Crofts, Supt. Shelby Iron Works, Ala .; G. M. Greene, P. A. Engineer, U. S. Navy ; Jas. R. Percy, late Capt. U. S. Engineers; Russell Sage, Supt. Milwaukec & St. Paul R. R. ; Frank G. Smith, Maj. 4th U. S. Artillery ; L. J. de Vizcarrondo, Chief Engineer Cordova & Malaga R. R., Spain ; and N. A. Williams, formerly engineer on the Brooklyn and Croton water-works.


In December, 1859, he received permission to be ex- amined for admission into the engineer corps of the U. S. Navy ; passed the examination successfully, and was ad- mitted as number ten in a class of sixty-three who were examined. In the first competitive examination for pro- motion he was advanced to the head of his class, which position has been maintained through all the subsequent grades up to the present time.


His first eruise was made in the U. S. steamer "Susque- hanna," in 1860-61, on the coast of Mexico, the Mediter- ranean, and on the home station in the early part of the late war. In the latter part of 1861 he was detached from the "Susquehanna" and ordered to duty in the Navy De- partment, Washington, D. C., where he remained until the early part of 1868. He was then ordered on a cruise in the U. S. S. " Nyack" to the South Pacific station, which


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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.


continued until 1871. He was then detached, and after- wards served on board the iron-clad " Mahopac," U. S. S. " Nantasket," and U. S. S " Nipsic," on the home and West India stations. In 1873 he was ordered to duty on the board for the examination of naval officers for promotion, and later as a member of the U. S. commission to investi- gate the causes of steam-boiler explosions, at the same time superintending government work in process of construction at Newburgh, N. Y. On the completion of this duty, in July, 1874, he was ordered to the U. S. S. " Benicia," North Pacific station, and in 1875 transferred to the U. S. S. " Lackawanna," same station, from which he was de- tached in August last, and in October following was ordered as a member of the board to examine officers for promotion, which duty he is now engaged in.


SAMUEL FOX.


The subject of this brief sketch was a brother of Daniel Fox, the celebrated centenarian farmer. He was born at Groton, Conn., August 15, 1781, and spent the early years of his life at that place. His youth was attended by the usual privations of those times, and he was deprived of even the meagre educational facilities then existing. Upon attaining his manhood he removed to Oneida county, New York, where he was noted for his skill as a woodman and his great power of endurance, often spending six months at a time in the dense forests, plying his avocation. In 1800 he joined a party of immigrants going to Jefferson County, and located land that year in the town of Adams. Near the spot which became his future home he cleared the first acre of land, in the summer of 1800. In 1802 he married Lucy Williams, of Rome, by whom he had 11 children, 9 of whom attained mature age. Samuel Fox participated in the battle of Sacket's Harbor and other engagements of the War of 1812. He was a man of quiet ways, frugal, temperate habits, and passed the limited four- score years, closing this earthly life at Adams Centre in March, 1865.


DANIEL FOX (2d)


is the fourth of the eleven children belonging to the above family. He was born in the town of Adams May 16, 1808, and has been a resident in it all his life. His boy- hood was spent on his father's farm until he attained his sixteenth year, when he was apprentieed to the carpenter's trade. Having mastered this, he became an active work- man, and scores of buildings in the town are the result of his handicraft. When the Rome, Watertown and Ogdens- burgh R. R. was built through Adams Centre he received the appointment of station agent, in which capacity he has rendered such faithful service that he has held the position ever since, being the only one in the employ of the company who has held the office for such a continuous length of time. In 1832 he married Betsey Harrington, of Rodman, who died in 1850. Two years later he married his present wife, Miss N. C. Clark. By this union he has a son, George L., who is the assistant station agent at Adams Centre.




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