History of Jefferson County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 76

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 76


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).


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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.


305


The factory has manufactured at different periods in its history broadcloths, flannels, family blankets, and soldiers' blankets. During the late war, under the efficient manage- ment of F. J. Hall, Esq., it was run to great profit in the manufacture of blankets. The main building is of stone, 50 by 170 feet, and four stories higli, beside attie and basement.


A difficulty has been experienced in bringing heavy eraft into the port of Dexter, on aeeount of a troublesome sand- bar at the mouth of Black River bay. An extensive government appropriation was expended in 1836-37 in the construction of piers, and other appropriations have sinee been expended towards removing the difficulty, but with only partial relief.


There are a few eitizens now living in Dexter who have been residents there and identified with its interests during its entire period of growth. Among them may be named Jesse Babeoek, John T. Wood, Solomon Moyer, John P. Shelley, and F. W. Winn. Probably no one man has been more efficient in promoting the interests of Dexter than James A. Bell, who came to Dexter in 1836. He first took a small stock of goods into a room fitted up for the purpose, in a building then used for a warehouse, and now used by the factory company for a store-house; eonneeted with this was the principal doek of the place, and a very flourishing warehouse business was done by way of storing produee and butter and cheese for shipment, and receiving goods and merchandise from the regular lines of vessels then plying between Dexter and Oswego and other lake ports. Mr. Bell beeame associated with Major Edmund Kirby in this business, and from the building of the fae- tory, the construction of the Government works at the mouth of the river, the extensive lumber business of the mills, and a good surrounding country, an opportunity was afforded for establishing a large trade and selling a great many goods; so that the accommodations proving too limited for the business, a large briek store was built, on the site of the present store of O. M. & G. W. Wood, where for many years a very prosperous business was conducted.


The position oeeupied by Mr. Bell, with reference to Dexter, was summed up by an acquaintance, who said of him : "' As Paris is France,' so James A. Bell is Dexter." Mr. Bell represented his town as its supervisor, his distriet as State senator, and has also served as auditor of the canal department.


Dexter shared with Saeket's Harbor in the warehousing trade, more or less, until the completion of the Rome, Watertown and Cape Vineent railroad, when its business in that line was discontinued.


A large business is now done by Henry Binninger, and Binninger & Strainge, in the manufacture of sash, blinds, and doors, and shingles, and a general jobbing and contraet business for the construction of buildings. The business was established by Mr. Binninger in 1863.


A similar branch of business is carried on by E. Leonard, as sueeessor to Joseph Huntington.


There are also two grist-mills at Dexter, a plaster-mill, a shingle-mill, and the usual shops for the aeeommodation of five hundred inhabitants. There are four dry-goods stores, one drug-store, two hotels, and ehurehes of the Presby-


terian, Episcopal, Methodist, and Universalist orders, each having a eoinmodious church edifiee. The physicians are Doetors Charles Douglas and Arthur Benediet.


The village of Dexter was incorporated May 8, 1855, under general law, and amended by special aet April 15, 1857, and January 28, 1865.


TRUSTEES.


1855. Sylvester Reed, Franklin J. Hall, John T. Wood, William V. Morgan, James A. Bell.


1856. James A. Bell, William V. Morgan, Samuel Moyer, Delos Mc- Wayne, Joseph D. Beals.


1857. F. W. Winn, M. N. Potter, J. T. Wood, long term ; J. A. Bell, L. W. Gunn, G. H. Kimball, short term.


1858. E. Leonard, E. S. Clark, J. A. MeWayne.


1859. J. Babcock, F. W. Winn, L. W. Gunn, and J. P. Shelley, to fill vacancy.


1860. F. J. Hall, J. P. Shelley, M. II. Peck.


1861. Edgar Leonard, S. Moyer, O. M. Wood.


1862. G. H. Rounds, M. E. Casler, James Frost.


1863. E. H. Parker, J. P. Shelley, J. A. MeWayne, and G. H. Rounds, to fill vacancy.


1864. G. H. Rounds, M. E. Casler, James Frost.


1865. J. T. Wood, F. W. Winn, Jesse Babcock.


1866. J. H. Stokes, Edward Linder, HI. Binninger.


1867. Samuel Moyer, James H. Roseboom, J. D. MeWayne.


1868. John HI. Stokes, H. Binninger, E. H. Parker.


1869. Charles B. Bowers, Edwin S. Clark, James W. Plumb.


1870. Thomas J. Strainge, Farlin Ball, Samuel Moyer.


1871. J. H. Roseboom, Delos MeWayne, O. M. Wood.


1872. H. Binninger, E. H. Parker, Andrew S. Baker. 1873. M. H. Peck, M. E. Casler, E. S. Clark.


1874. Robert Thompson, Andrew S. Baker, Levi Nutting.


1875. Henry Binninger, George W. Wood, Samuel Francis.


1876. Samuel Moyer, Charles Foster, George Babcock.


1877. Joseph Underwood, John P. Shelley, C. C. Emerson.


LIMERICK.


On Pereh river, where the R., W. & O. railroad erosses the stream, one and a half miles from Dexter, and on the direet road from Brownville to Cape Vineent, is a small village, consisting of a store, taveru, depot, and about a dozen dwellings. Mills were built here at an early day. The dam was found to flow the flats above and render them siekly, when it was removed, and afterwards built be- low. This place has been selected for holding town-meet- ings for the last half-century.


The stream known as Perch river, as it passes through the town of Brownville, and all along from Perch lake to Limeriek, is a dull, sluggish stream. The lay of the land along its course is flat, and in many places marshy. At the time of the spring freshets it largely overflows its banks, and wide stretehes of country are inundated. A dam at Limeriek inereascd the trouble, and an aet was passed Mareh 30, 1827, authorizing John Baxter, Abner Smith, and Isaae Moffatt to remove obstructions for the purpose of improving the eurrent of the river. In March, 1828, the eireuit eourt deelared the dam a nuisance, and directed it to be removed.


The summer of 1828 was a siekly one. Fever and ague, and a more severe form of malarial fever, prevailed to sueh an extent that there were hardly well ones enough to take eare of the sick. On May 26, 1841, an aet was passed in pursuance of the same objeet, and to provide for reelaim- ing drowned lands, by which parties benefited along the


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306


HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.


river were to be taxed for defraying expenses incurred. Nicholas Lawyer, John Cole, Jr., Paul Anthony, Daniel Allen, and Jonathan Webb were appointed commissioners for carrying the act into effect. Several thousand acres were taxed, at first at fourteen and afterwards twenty cents an aere.


ยท PERCH RIVER POST-OFFICE


was at an early day called Moffattville. It is a hamlet of a dozen houses, a Union church, a store, and a few shops. It is pleasantly situated in the midst of a highly-cultivated agricultural district, and is peopled by an intelligent class of persons.


The names associated with Perch River are,-Uncle Isaae Moffatt, Deacon Vandebogart, Silas F. Spicer (who knew all about the underground railroad, and every other benevolent work, and who in face, form, and character so strikingly resembled our martyred President, Lincoln), Daniel Allen, Silas and Lewis Webb. Hon. Hugh Smith and Hon. Henry Spicer, long partners in business and not divided in sentiment, have each in his time been called to represent his district in the legislature.


Perch River has long been recognized as one of the best sections for farming purposes of any part of the town.


Old Uncle Isaac Moffatt, as he was called, one of its first settlers, had a vein of fun. His family physician, Dr. Bates, of pleasant memory, left his saddle-bags at his house on the occasion of a professional visit there, and Mr. Moffatt took charge of them overnight. On sending for them the next morning the doctor found his roguish patron friend had removed several vials and in their places deposited specimens of the finny tribe, carefully labeled " Bullo Trouti," ctc., etc.


PILLAR POINT


owes its name to the peculiar appearance presented by cer- tain rocks along the shore, as they are left standing but partly supported, owing to the action of the water of the lake. It includes a large and valuable farming district between Chaumont and Black River bays. There are extensive fisheries along the shore. A small village opposite Sacket's Harbor is the place of a post-office, a Methodist church, and a few dwellings and shops. This point has been some- what important for its ship-building. The postmaster at Pillar Point is Samuel Roat.


THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF BROWNVILLE.


A Presbyterian church was organized March 18, 1818, consisting of eight members. Elam Clark and William Vandebogart were chosen elders. It was admitted to pres- bytery February 10, 1819, and Noah M. Wells was installed pastor September 14, 1820. He is now living at the age of ninety-three in Erie, Michigan.


The large stone edifice in the village of Brownville, now the property of the Episcopal society, was immediately built as a Union church, the Presbyterians owning a large interest in it, and occupying it for several years, but a ma- jority of the stock was owned by Episcopalians, and a so- ciety of that order was legally formed October 13, 1826, under the name of St. Paul's church. To this society the Presbyterians sold their interest, and in 1832 built a church


edifice of wood, on the site of the present church. This building was burned in 1842, and the present church edi- fice was built in 1844. In 1852 a building for Sunday- school purposes and lecture-room was put up on the same lot and adjoining.


The ministers have been, Noah M. Wells, 1818-25 ; James R. Boyd, 1827-30; E. H. Snowden, 1834-39; Dexter Clary, 1839-42; Calvin Yale, 1842-44; O. P. Conklin, 1844-48; S. M. Wood, 1848-51 ; Sylvester Holmes, 1851-54 ; John Campbell, 1854-55 ; I. Burchard, 1855-57; R. G. Keyes, 1857-61 ; George D. Horton, 1862-64; Enos Wood, 1865-72; H. M. Dodd, 1873-77.


The Presbyterian churches of Brownville and Dexter have usually been supplied by the same pastor, preaching on Sabbath morning at Dexter, and afternoon at Brown- ville, since the organization of the Dexter church.


The present session consists of Rev. H. M. Dodd, mod- erator; Wm. P. Massey, George C. Plumb, Anson Potter, James H. Griswold, Ezra B. Pratt, Myron H. Pock, elders ; George C. Plumb, W. P. Massey, James Parker, trustees. There are sixty-eight members.


BAPTIST CHURCH-PERCH RIVER.


The first church organization in the town of Brownville, of which there is any record, is that of the Baptist church, Perch River, September 7, 1806. An ecclesiastical coun- cil was held at the house of John N. Collins, October 10, where this church was fellowshipped by delegates from Champion, Rutland, and Adams. It at first numbered ten members, viz. : Richardson Avcry, Truman Kilborn, Arad Farr, Oliver Bartholomew, Persis Towns, Isaac Cornwall, Jr., David Little, Peter Towns, Joseph Rhodes, Rhoda Rhodes. The members who sat in the council from Cham- pion church were Elder Timothy Pool, Dcacon Arnold Lewis, and David Pool; from the Rutland church, Benja- min Peck and Chandler Mattby ; from the Adams church, Timothy Heath and Matthew Wilkie.


The first minister presiding over this church was Elder Timothy Pool, in 1806. His successors were Elders Wilkic, Joshua Morgan, Sardis Little, Ford, Guiteau, D. D. Reed, Sawyer, John L Moore, Miller, Lorenzo Rice, Abner Webb, De Golier, D. Peck, Ira Cooley, Sydney L. Dyer, Calvin Filio. Held a protracted meeting in 1825-26, when between sixty and seventy were added to the church.


A society was legally organized April 25, 1825, at which Melvin Moffatt, Walter Cole, George Brown, Nathaniel Peck, and William Webb were chosen trustees. It was re- organized February 11, 1833. In 1827 they erected their present stone church, at a cost of $2800.


The record of the church is as follows : Ordained, 1,- Sardis Little, in 1816. Sent by this church as missiona- ries, 3,-Abner Webb, to Burmah, India ; John L. Moore, to Ohio; Sydney Dyer, to Mississippi. Died, 1,-Elder Ira A. Cooley.


BAPTIST CHURCH-PILLAR POINT.


This church and society was formed September 22, 1838, with L. Howard, G. C. Parsons, Hiram A. Reed, Solomon Ingalls, Elisha Harris, and Samuel R. Campbell, trustees. In 1839 they reported 30 members. No recent report.


307


HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.


ST. PAUL'S CHURCH (EPISCOPAL)


was formed legally October 13, 1826. Thomas Y. How and Thomas Loomis were chosen wardens, and Asa Whitney, Tracy S. Knap, Sylvester Reed, S. Brown, William S. Ely, Peleg Burchard, Edmund Kirby, and Hoel Lawrence, ves- trymen. The first rector of the church was William Linn Keese. His successors have been : Revs. Ezekiel G. Gear, February 13, 1831; A. C. Treadway ; Ferdinand Rogers, August, 1837 ; William H. Hill, November, 1846; Gec. B. Eastman, October, 1851-55 ; Andrew Oliver, 1855-58; Moses E. Willson, 1858-64; J. Winslow, 1864-65 ; Thos. P. Tyler, 1865-67; R. H. Barnes, 1867; J. Winslow, 1868-70; Thomas G. Ockford, 1870-72; D. Ellis Willes, 1872-74; F. P. Winnie, 1874-77, and is the present in- eumbent. The wardens are A. A. Gibbs and William Lord. Communieants, 31.


THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF DEXTER


was organized July 2, 1839, by Reverends Marcus Smith, Isaae Brayton, and Dexter Clary, and received by presby- tery. Eighteen original members.


The succession of ministers has been : Reverends Dex- ter Clary, O. P. Conklin, Sylvester Holmes, - Whit- ney, John Campbell, George D. Horton, Enos Wood, and Henry M. Dodd.


The Presbyterian churches of Dexter and Brownville have usually been supplied, the same pastor preaching on Sabbath morning at Dexter and afternoon at Brownville.


Elders : 1839, Josiah Hinman, John Bell, Joseph D. Bealls, Ahira Murrill; 1841, Joshua Eaton ; 1846, James A. Bell ; 1852, Abner Wicher; 1854, Anson Potter; 1865, William Gibbs ; 1874, Myron H. Peck; 1875, Melza E. Castler. Deaeons: 1839, Joseph Huntington, William A. Wood; 1852, William Adams ; 1874, William Bell.


A society was formed, September 24, 1842, with Joshua Eaton, Joseph Huntington, David H. Freeman, Harvey Crocker, and Levi Sinith, trustees. A briek church was built in 1843-46. A parsonage was presented to the society by James A. Bell in 1877. Church membership, 77.


ALL SAINTS' EPISCOPAL CHURCH-DEXTER,


was organized July 14, 1839, with John Bradley and Gillman Wood as wardens; and Edmund Kirby, Jesse Babcock, Ora Haskell, Solon Stone, James A. Bell, An- drew Wood, Israel J. Griffin, and Robert Anderson, vestry- mell.


They have a commodious church edifice, and are usually supplied by the same elergyman as the church at Brown- ville. The wardens are Samuel Francis and John Franeis.


METHODIST CHURCH-BROWNVILLE.


This society was formed August 3, 1829, withi Joshua Heminway, Henry W. Chapman, Samuel Knap, Isaae Mee- eham, William Lord, and Daniel Case, trustees.


The following names appear as pastors: 1829-31, A. Ball ; 1831, Benjamin Phillips; 1832, Elijah Smith ; 1833, E. B. Fuller ; 1834, L. K. Reddington ; 1835, B. Phillips ; 1836, H. Shepherd ; 1837, I. L. Hunt ; 1838, George C. Woodruff; 1839, M. D. Gillet ; 1840, James


Irvine; 1843, Philo T. Bennet; 1844, Reuben Reynolds ; 1845, Reuben Reynolds; 1846, O. C. Lathrop ; 1847, T. F. Fenton ; 1848, G. W. Barney; 1849, L. L. Adkins ; 1850, R. Redhead; 1851-52, I. B. Brown; 1853, Wm. Tripp; 1854, C. Phelps ; 1856-57, G. W. Elwood ; 1858, L. Clark ; 1859, G. M. Pearce; 1860, L. B. Ford ; 1861- 62, M. Lyon; 1863-64, C. H. Guile; 1865, M. Lyon ; 1866-67, J. Turnee; 1868, '69, '70, S. M. Warren ; 1871, '72, '73, M. M. Rice ; 1874-75, S. N. Danforth ; 1876-77, S. Dewey, the present ineumbent.


Present trustees: J. C. Knap, H. J. Harris, George Thompson, Ervin Walrath, H. Groat. Stewards: J. C. Knap, H. Groat, A. G. Taylor, George Thompson, N. H. Potter. Class-leaders : H. I. Harris, R. M. Spinney, A. G. Taylor. Membership, 131.


The society own a commodious house of worship valued at $3000, and free of debt. They also have a parsonage, a two-story brick dwelling, valued at $1000.


THE FIRST UNIVERSALIST SOCIETY OF DEXTER


was formed September 5, 1841, with the following per- sons as trustees : Thos. Broadbent, John Maynard, David Baker, Eleazer Parker, Solon Stone, and F. W. Winn. Their church edifice was built in 1842, and dedicated in December of that year. Dedication sermon by Rev. Pitt Morse.


Their pastors have been H. L. Haywood, Chas. A. Skin- ner, G. S. Abbott, Wm. MeNeil, Lyman Perry, Asa Sax, J. H. Stewart, Harvey Hersey, and E. B. Cooper, who died after a residence of only nine days.


The church property is valued at $2500. Present trus- tees : Thos. Broadbent, Samuel Moyer, Joseph Perry, E. S. Clark, Geo. W. Wood, and Geo. Moyer. The original membership was 25; the present membership is 79 com- municants.


METHODIST CHURCH-DEXTER.


The Methodist society at Dexter, in 1875, built a church edifice at a eost of $2500. This society has a separate church organization, but forms a part of the Brownville M. E. church, and is supplied by the same pastor.


The trustees are C. C. Emerson, A. T. Knox, A. H. Seeber, and Farlin Ball; Stewards, Paul Amon, Henry Denny, Chester Daniels, John Foster; Class-leader, A. H. Seeber.


METHODIST CHURCH-PILLAR POINT.


There is a Methodist church at Pillar Point with a membership of 181, a church property valued at $2000, and a parsonage valued at $1000. The present pastor is M. T. Hill. Trustees : Amos Otis, Henry MeAfee, Chas. D. Emerson, Wheeler Lowe; Class-leaders : I. R. Adams, Ira Barber, John W. Akerman, Wm. W. Harris; Stewards : Wm. Clemnant, William W. Ackerman, Amos Otis, Nelson Dingman, Cyrenus Woodworth, Wm. Fisk, Henry Aeker- man, Hubert Douglas.


UNION CHURCHI-PERCH RIVER.


In 1851 a Union church was built at Perch River, at a cost of $1500, with Silas F. Spicer, Archibald Sternberg,


308


HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.


John Cole, Lewis M. Webb, and Charles B. Avery, as trustces.


This church is occupied principally by the Methodist and Evangelical Lutheran denominations, and is usually supplied by a non-resident minister having another charge or preaching station.


FIRST UNIVERSALIST-BROWNVILLE VILLAGE.


This society was formed December 16, 1851. The church building was completed in 1854, and dedicated January 16, 1856, by Rev. Luther Rice. It has been unoccupied the greater part of the time since its com- pletion. Services have occasionally been held, and the following persons have officiated : Revs. Luther Rice, C. A. Skinner, Asa Sage, A. A. Thayer, E. W. Reynolds, J. H. Stewart, and H. Hersey. The trustees are A. E. Lord, Alfred Kilborn, Horace Skinner, and Lewis Maynard.


MASONIC LODGE.


Brownville Lodge of F. and A. M., No. 378, was in- stalled March 31, 1819, by Isaac Lee, acting G. M .; A. Trowbridge, D. G. M. Its Masters have been Sylvester Reed, Peleg Burchard, Joseph Mckenzie, Hoel Lawrence, Warren Skinner, S. Reed.


From 1827 till 1839 the meetings were discontinued,


when the charter was renewed as No. 53. The lodge was reorganized April 2 of the same year, with Alanson Skin- ner, Master; Richard Buckminster, S. W .; Arba Strong, J. W .; Joel Blood, Treasurer; John K. Adams, Sec- retary ; Henry W. Chapman, S. D .; Apollus Huntington, J. D .; Derrick Gibbons, Gideon Tillinghurst, Stewards ; Hugh Wiley, Tyler.


Masters : 1839, A. Skinner; 1840, R. Buckminster ; 1841, '42, Arba Strong; 1843, John N. Cole; 1844, A. Skinner ; 1845, '46, '47, '48, A. Skinner; 1849, R. Buck- minster; 1850, Chas. K. Loomis; 1851, Horace Skinner ; 1852, M. C. Loomis; 1853, D. C. Priest ; 1854, H. Skin- ner ; 1855, '56, '57, '58, '59, A. Skinner ; 1860, John T. Wood; 1861, Henry Barber; 1862, Henry Barber ; 1863, '64, Walter Zimmerman; 1865, '66, Wm. T. Skinner; 1867, Walter Zimmerman ; 1868, '69, '70, W. T. Skin- ner; 1871, Walter Zimmerman; 1872, Rufus Zimmer- man; 1873, Rufus Zimmerman ; 1874, Henry Barber ; 1875, Edson C. Steele; 1876, John B. Atwater.


The officers for 1877 are John B. Atwater, Master ; John W. Wilder, S. W .; Franklin Seeber, J. W .; Amos R. Wilcox, Treasurer; Horace Skinner, Secretary; Ed- mund H. Carpenter, S. D .; James Dier, J. D .; Chauncey W. Phippen, S. M. C .; James G. Gunn, J. M. C .; New- man H. Potter, Chaplain; Henry Barbour, Marshal; Chas. L. Witt, Tyler.


HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.


309


BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.


HON. HENRY SPICER.


The subject of this sketch was born Oct. 20, 1820, at Brownville, Jefferson County, N. Y. He was the son of Silas F. and Charlotte Spicer. In 1821 his father moved with his family to Perch River, where he was engaged during the remainder of his life in the business of farming and the manufacture of boots and shoes. The elder Spicer was a man of sound judgment and strict integrity, and for many years held the office of justice of the peace. During the famous Morgan excitement he was known as an " anti- Mason," and took decided ground in the controversy which then raged throughout the States. Subsequently, and until 1840, he acted with the Whig party, but in that year be- came identified morally and politically with the abolition movement, which was then beginning to develop, and under that banucr he steadily fought until the year 1864, when Lincoln's emancipation proclamation obviated the necessity of further warfare. He was the instigator of the first abo- lition organization in the town of Brownville. Both him- self and wife were deeply interested in the temperance cause, and prominent members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and their house was always a home for the regular and itinerant preachers of that denomination.


The family consisted of fourteen children,-five boys and nine girls,-of whom the subject of this sketch was the fourth. They were all afforded a good common-school education, and of the nine girls eight were teachers. Henry, from the age of fourteen to twenty-one, worked in summer by the month on a farm and attended district school in the winter. At the age of twenty-one he commeneed business for him- self, teaching district school in winter, and working at his trade-that of a carpenter and joiner-in summer, until the fall of 1846, when he formed a copartnership with his brother in-law, the Hon. Hugh Smith, member of Assembly in 1874. They engaged in the business of merchandising,


farming, and the manufacture of potash, and also dealt ex- tensively in cattle. The copartnership continued for cightecn years, Mr. Spicer retiring in the fall of 1864. Since that time he has been engaged iu farming, the breeding of horses, and various other enterprises, in all of which he has been eminently successful, and is widely known as a prudent, reliable, and sagacious business man. Mr. Spicer is now and was one of the original directors of the Black River Insurance Company, the name of which was subsequently changed to the Northern Insurance Company.


September, 1848, he married Miss Delia E., daughter of Capt. Beriah and Diana Allen, of Brownville. Capt. Allen was connected with the State militia, and served the town for several years as supervisor. A gentleman of irreproach- able character, and highly respected by all who knew him. Mr. Spicer had two brothers in the Union army during the Rebellion, viz., Edward and George ; the latter being killed at the battle of Antietam. Politically, Mr. Spicer was a thorough Whig until the formation of the Republican party in 1854, since which time he has been a consistent Repub- lican and an active member of that party. He has repre- sented the town of Brownville as its supervisor four terms, viz., 1858, 1859, 1860, and 1869. He was elected presi- dential elector in 1872, and cast his vote for U. S. Grant. In 1876 he was elected to the Assembly, on the Republican ticket, by a majority of 367 over his opponent, who was elected the previous term from the same district by a ma- jority of 386. Mr. Spiecr is a thorough temperance man, and believes that the cause can best be aided by proper legislation, and to that end rendered valuable service while a member of the legislature. Personally he is a modest, unobtrusive man, courteous and affable, and possessing in an eminent degree those qualities and virtues which win the respeet of all who know him.


310


HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.


ALANSON SKINNER.


MRS. ALANSON SKINNER.


HON. ALANSON SKINNER.


It has been very aptly said that " a truthful represen- tation of a worthy life is a legacy to humanity." Acting upon this assertion, we present an outline of the business, social, and official character of Alanson Skinner, a pioneer of Brownville, who was prominently identified with all its interests. He was born at Westmoreland, New Hampshire, May 21, 1794, and was the son of Timothy Skinner, and the third of a family of nine children,-eight sons and one daughter. In 1814 he came to Brownville from his native State, and after 1830 never changed the home of his adop- tion, where, in all that related to the growth, success, and prosperity of the village, he took an active part. He grew up with it through all its changes, ever remaining one of its most respected and worthy citizens. He took an active part in military matters soon after he came, and served under Gen. Jacob Brown in the troubles that then existed between the United States and Great Britain. Soon after he settled in Brownville he became actively interested in manufacturing, and for many years owned and conducted an extensive foundry and stove-works, carrying on a large business, which he always managed with carefulness and success. This industry was an important one in those days, and the firm of Skinner & Davis will long be remem- bered in this part of the State. He continued the business alone for many years, when his sons, William T., James, and Horace, succeeded him, the former still remaining in the business. Mr. Skinner was supervisor of the town during the years 1839-40 and 1846; and for nine years, between 1832 and 1849, was one of the village trustees, being chosen president of the village in 1836. In 1850 he represented this distriet in the State senate, and it can be truthfully said of him that in whatever position he was placed he was always actuated by a faithful desire to do his duty to his constituents and to maintain a reputation for personal honor. He was a careful and systematic business man, and his extensive investments were almost invariably attended with success. He was industrious and economical, and no man ever bore a name more worthy for honor and integrity. For several years he was the honored and re-




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