History of Jefferson County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 97

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 97

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A. D. STANLEY

was born in the town of Rutland, this county (whither his father removed in 1810), July 5, 1818. In the year 1823 he removed with his father to the farm now occupied by O. M. Stanley, adjoining the one on which he now resides, and an illustration of which can be seen elsewhere in this work. Mr. Stanley married Miss Mary, daughter of Jonas Benjamin, Esq., an early and highly respected settler of the town of Hounsfield. Three children have been born to them, namely, De Forrest, Charles, and Homer ; all, ex- cept De Forrest, residing at home; and he is married, and lives in the next house to his father's. The father of Mr. Stanley was a minute-man in a cavalry regiment in the War of 1812, and was stationed at Sacket's Harbor during the trouble there. In politics the old gentleman was a Whig; and A. D. is a Republican. In religion he is liberal, but a regular attendant of the Universalist church. He owns 400 acres of land in one body ; is a straightfor- ward and honest business man, and a good citizen. (See portraits of himself and wife, with illustration.)

LEONARD SEATON.

Among the prominent pioneers of the towns of Ellis- burg and Henderson none were better known or more highly respected than was the subject of this sketch. For nearly sixty years he was closely identified with the busi- ness and material development of those towns, and by his integrity and general fair dealing won a reputation that will last through succeeding generations. Leonard Seaton was born in Granville, Washington Co., N. Y., Aug. 1, 1794. At the age of thirteen he was apprenticed to Rufus Barnes, of Rome, N. Y., to learn the tradcs of tanning, currying, and boot- and shoe-making, at which he served seven years. The only educational advantages he received were those afforded at the district school, which he attended during the winter months. In March, 1814, he volunteered as a private soldier in the war then going on with Great Britain, serving under General Dearborn. He marched to Saeket's Harbor, where he served until the cessation of hostilities, when he received an honorable discharge. In 1817 he came into Jefferson County, and purchased lands in the towns of Ellisburg and Henderson, upon which he continued to work, during the sumuier months, until 1820, when he effected a permanent settlement in the former town. He thus became a genuine pioneer, and assisted in the material development of those towns. In 1822 he united in marriage with Miss Polly Pennell, a native of Oneida county, by whom he had five children, namely, Andrew P., Boynton C., Leonard, Jr., Francis P., and Samuel G., of whom all except the daughter are living; she became the wife of S. M. Clark, of Iowa, and died in 1874. In July, 1834, Mrs. Seaton deecased, and shortly

thereafter Mr. Seaton married Sarah S. Chapman, which union resulted in eight children, namely, Mary M., Ar- minda D., Cornelia, Chauncey E., Ambrose B., George L., Louisa, and Herbert J., of whom all but Cornelia survive. She died young.

In 1837 Mr. Seaton removed into the town of Hender- son, where he continued to reside until his death, which occurred August 15, 1872, when seventy-eight years and fifteen days old. By his death the community lost an honorable and upright citizen, his family a kind and loving husband and father. He was a man whose character re- mained unblemished to the last, and perhaps the death of no citizen of the town was more deeply lamented. He took a deep and lasting interest in everything pertaining to the welfare of his town, and, although he never sought office, he was made assessor and commissioner of Ellisburg for twenty years. In polities he was a Democrat of the Jeffersonian school. By industry and close attention to business he accumulated a fair competence, and thus left his widow, who still survives him, and is now hale and hearty, though in her sixty-seventh year, comfortably situ- ated in this world's goods.

LEONARD SEATON, JR., third son of the above, was born July 18, 1827, and was brought up to and learned tlie same business as his father had learned before him. Young Leonard received his education at the district school, with one or two terms at Belleville Academy. In 1862 he closed out his business at a sacrifice and enlisted in the army, and was promoted to first lieutenant in the Tenth New York Heavy Artillery. In 1865 he was mus- tered out, and eame home with his health considerably im- paired. He thus sustained the patriotism which his father evinced almost half a century before. Mr. Seaton enjoys an extensive popularity, as is shown from the fact that lie served four years in the board of supervisors, having been elected from a Republican town, he being a Democrat, and he came within 186 votes of seeuring an election to the office of sheriff in 1875. For a number of years he carried on the business of tanning, currying, and boot and shoe business, and afterwards went into that of ship-building. He built three of the largest lake-boats that go through the eanal, the aggregate tonnage of which was 1700 tons. Their names were the " L. Seaton," " James Wade," and " Jennie White." He was also for some years in the mer- cantile business, together with attending to his farms, which foot up a total of 550 acres. In 1850 he married Harriet A. Bates, by whom he had one daughter, Florence C., born March 11, 1857. His wife died in 1859; and in 1866 he married Mrs. Stephen W. Chapman, who sur- vives. (See illustration and portraits elsewhere in this work.)

ABEL BICKFORD,

son of Levi and Esther Bickford, was born at Lowville, Lewis Co., N. Y., Sept. 30, 1811. His father, a native of New Hampshire, was born in 1774, and emigrated to Low- ville, Lewis Co., in 1801. His mother was a native of Rhode Island, and was an early pioneer of Lewis county. They were married about 1803, and became the parents of

390

HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.

eight children, all of whom grew to maturity. Levi was a farmer by occupation, and reared his family to the same pursuit. In politics, he was a Whig. He died Dee. 1, 1830. Mrs. L. Bickford lived to be seventy-eight years of age.

The subject of our sketch was the fourth child, and was reared to industry and economy. At the age of sixteen he commenecd working out by the month, which he fol- lowed some ten years. He was married to Miss Betsey Lewis, of Harrisburg, Lewis Co., N. Y., June 6, 1838. She was born Mareh 26, 1817. Mr. Bickford commeneed life a poor boy on a farm, and to-day he is one of the sub- stantial and wealthy men of Henderson. In May, 1871, he settled in Henderson, where he is living to-day. In polities, Mr. Biekford is a Republican, and in his native county held various positions of trust and honor. His wife was a worthy member of the Baptist church, a faithful wife, and an affectionate mother. She died Sept. 10, 1875.

REUBEN WOOD LEFFINGWELL

was born near Woodville, in the town of Ellisburg, Jefferson Co., N. Y., Dce. 7, 1805. His father, Hezekiah Leffing- well, Jr., was born in Connectieut, March 6, 1777, and was one of the carly settlers of Ellisburg, coming there about 1800, from Middleton, Vt., with his wife, Miriam Wood, to whom he was married Nov. 18, 1800. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, a pioneer in the settlement of Jefferson County, a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and, later in life, a believer in the doctrines of Swedenborg. He died in 1866, surviving his wife about thirty years, and leaving deseendants. His father, Heze- kiah, Sr., was a native of Connecticut, and a soldier in the Revolutionary War. He married Lydia Wetherell, July 26, 1761, and died leaving numerous deseendants.

SARAH LEFFINGWELL, formerly Carpenter, was born at Guilford, Vt., May 29, 1808. Her father, Cyrus Carpen- ter, was a resident of Vermont for many years. His father, Benjamin Carpenter, was born in Rehoboth, Mass., in the year 1726; was a magistrate in 1764; removed to Vermont in 1770; was a field offieer in the Revolution; a founder of the first constitution and government . of the State of Vermont; a member of the Executive Council ; and lieu- tenant-governor of the State in 1778. He was of English deseent.

The subject proper of this sketch, R. W. LEFFINGWELL, was married to Sarah Carpenter, at Guilford, Vt., June 5, 1831. He brought his wife to Ellisburg, and subsequently on to the farm where they now reside. Mr. Leffingwell is a good practical farmer, having devoted his time and energies exclusively to agricultural and dairying pursuits. About 1860 he was elected president of the Ellisburg, Adams, and Henderson Agricultural Society. He reecived the first premium on dairy products from the Jefferson County Agricultural Society, about 1860. In fine, he has been eminently successful in his operations, his dealings always being characterized by honest and upright motives. He is universally respected and esteemed as a good citizen and a useful member of society.

A. M. LEFFINGWELL, son of the above, was born in the town of Henderson, Sept. 26, 1842. He received his education at the district school and Union Academy, from which he was honorably graduated in 1866. The following year he entered the Michigan University, at Ann Arbor, where he spent two years in the literary, and the same length of time in the law, departments, graduating from the latter in 1871. Was admitted to practice at the Michigan bar, and subsequently to the bars of New York, at Brook- lyn. In 1874 he embarked in the milling business at Hen- derson, which he still earries on in connection with his profession. In 1870 he married Miss Hattie Cook, which union has been blessed with two children, namely: Kittie M., born July 26, 1871 ; and Sarah, born Oet. 2, 1875. In 1877 he received the Demoeratie nomination for special surrogate.

GEORGE BUNNEL.

The subject of this sketch was the son of Moses A. Bunnel and Lola Hiteheock. The former was born in Wal- lingford, Conn., Nov. 18, 1774, and dicd Feb. 14, 1852; the latter was born in New Haven, Conn., Feb. 11, 1776, and deceased Oct. 12, 1867. They were married Feb. 5, 1804, and about the year 1809 they removed from Blan- ford, Mass, to the town of Russell, St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., being engaged in keeping a hotel during their residenee there, which extended through some ten or' eleven years ; then removed, with his family, to Canandaigua, Ontario Co., N. Y. He now assumed the occupation of a farmer. His family at this time numbered eight children,-three sons and five daughters,-viz., Moses, Reuben, Alfred, Jane, Naney, Cornelia, Franecs, and Sarah. While located here, another son, George, the youngest of the family, and the subjeet of this sketeh, was born, May 10, 1823.

After a residence of about ten years at Canandaigua, the family removed to the town of Henderson, Jefferson Co., N. Y., and took up a farın, on which the parents lived and died, the father at the age of seventy-eight, and the mother at the venerable age of ninety-two, at the dates given above.

George Bunnel was married, Oet. 14, 1857, to Miss Lorentin Gilman. She was born Feb. 12, 1835.

JOEL DODGE.

The subject of this sketeh was born in Herkimer Co., N. Y., Feb. 12, 1817. His father was a native of New York, his mother of Connecticut, and were among the early pioneers to Herkimer county. Mr. Dodge is one in a family of ten children, all of whom lived to be of age, five of whom are still living. He was reared on a farm, and has followed it ever since. He worked by the month for some time after becoming of age. On the 3d of March, 1842, he married Miss Sarah Adams, of Otsego Co., N. Y. She was born Sept. 8, 1822. As a result of this happy union four children were born to them, namely, Sarah Jane, died at the age of six ; Janc M., died at the age of fourteen ; Chas. H. and Aliee M. On the 1st of May, 1843, Mr. Dodge eame to Henderson, and settled on the farm now owned by Jas. Dodge. In the spring of 1870

AUSTIN ROBBINS.

MRS. AUSTIN ROBBINS.

D. M. HALL,

son of Daniel and Anna Hall, was born in Houns- field, July 11, 1824. His parents were of New Eng- land origin, and were among the early pioneers of this county. He was reared a farmer, and followed it through life with success. October 10, 1851, he married Miss E. J. Robbins, daughter of Austin and Eunice Robbins, natives of Massachusetts. Mrs. Hall was born in Adams, June 1, 1825. As a result of this happy union, three children were born, namely, Arthur M., Willis D., and Eliza E. Mr. Hall commenced farming for himself in Hounsfield, and, after two years, removed to the town of Adams, where he lived for fifteen years, and then settled on the farm where his family now reside. He was a man of more than ordinary ability, and was esteemed most by those who knew him best. He was a Repub- lican in politics, and held various offices of trust

and honor in his town and county, such as loan com- missioner, assessor, etc. He died September 25, 1872.

AUSTIN ROBBINS.

The subject of this sketch was born at Marl- borough, Massachusetts, September 23, 1786. While young, he learned the wagon-maker's trade, and this, together with farming, was his business through life. He was among the early pioneers of Jefferson County, and settled in Hounsfield. He married Miss Eunice Morton, of Cortland county, New York. She was born November 3, 1788. Nine children were born to them, one of whom is Mrs. E. J. Hall, donor of this sketch, etc. Mr. Robbins was a member of the Baptist church. In politics, was first a Democrat, and then Republican. He died October 27, 1867, and his wife died July 6, 1863.

CAPTAIN H.R.WARNER.

SEMBIND

RESIDENCE of H. R. WARNER

1,7

MRS. H. R. WARNER

I, HENDERSON, JEFFERSON CO., N. Y.

JOEL DODGE.

MRS. SARAH DODGE.

RESIDENCE OF JOEL DODGE, HENDERSON, JEFFERSON CO., N. Y.

391

HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.

he settled on the farm he now owns. It contains 120 acres.

In the spring of 1875, Mrs. Dodge was taken sick, and for two years was a great sufferer. She died Feb. 25, 1877. Mr. Dodge and wife have been worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal church for the past thirty-five years. Mrs. Dodge was a true wife and an affectionate mother, and a faithful worker in her Master's vineyard.

SIMEON MATHER.

Among the substantial farmers and business men of Henderson none bears a better record for honesty and ceonomy than the subject of this sketch. He is the son of Wm. and Polly Mather and grandson of Timothy Mather. He was born in Adams, Jefferson Co., N. Y., June 10, 1822. His father was a native of Vermont, and emigrated to this county in 1816, settling in the town of Adams. He was a soldier in the War of 1812. He was an industrious farmer and good citizen ; he reared his family to industry and economy, and his four living sons are fol- lowing in his footsteps. He lived respected and died re- gretted, leaving a good fortune to his family, which was divided among them satisfactorily and without any COST. He died June 6, 1859, and his wife died Aug. 25, 1861. A beautiful marble monument marks their resting-place at Roberts' Corners,-a tribute of respect and affection by the children to the memory of their parents.

Simeon, who is the generous donor of this brief sketeh, and a representation of whose beautiful home may be seen elsewhere in this work, was reared to industry on the farm, which occupation he has made his life study, and that with success. Hc has been president of the Agricultural Society of his town and county. He was married to Miss Mary E. Green, daughter of Col. Henry and Hannah Green, of Ellisburg, June 3, 1847. She was born Nov. 18, 1827. As a result of this union three children were born to them, namely : Adelbert G., born May 25, 1848 ; Foster D., born July 25, 1854; and Lida E., born April 15, 1860. In politics Mr. Mather has always affiliated with the Demo- eratie party.

CAPTAIN H. R. WARNER.

This gentleman commenced life by going to live with and work for one Franklin, who resided on Grenadier Island, and whose principal business consisted in smuggling, and other nefarious methods of making money. Young Warner received from his master a summer suit of elothing and a tolerably good winter outfit, and was allowed to attend the district school part of the winter months. When twelve years of age he worked for a man by the name of Johnson, a farmer, for four dollars per month, out of which he as- sisted his mother to provide for the younger children. In April, 1820, he shipped on board the schooner "Richard M.," of Henderson, for six dollars per month. The next spring he shipped with Captain Hawkins as cook. He had to stand watch two hours at night, for which he received an extra glass of grog. Next year he shipped before the

mast, with the same captain, and got twelve dollars a month. Subsequently he was promoted to master of the " Richard M.," and on the first voyage rescued the eook from a watery grave.

In February, 1828, he married a daughter of Allen Kilby, a well-to-do farmer, also carrying on the tanning and eurrying business. In the spring of 1828 he hired out to sail the " Rob Roy." In November of the same year his wife presented him with a fine boy, which presented a new inducement to increased exertion. In the spring of 1831 he shipped as second mate on board the steamer " Ontario." After the boat was laid up for the winter, he and his brother-in-law purchased a small schooner, called " Lady I. Robbins," and ran her as a packet from Henderson and Sacket's Harbor to Kingston. He afterwards sold out to good advantage. In May, 1837, he, in company with nine others, purchased the schooner " L. I. Robbins," and started for Thunder Bay Island, having heard wonderful stories about fortunes being made by fishing in. Lake Huron. They caught between 300 and 400 barrels of fish, which they shipped to conmission merchants, two of whom failed, owing the little company $1200; so that when they figured up the proceeds of their season's labors, they had cleared only $100. Mr. Warner spent a great many years on the lakes and river, and was quite an experienced navigator. He furnished the notes for the above sketch, notwithstand- ing he is now in his seventy-first year. He is endowed with a remarkable memory, and can " spin a yarn," as the sailors say, in first-elass style. He is now retired from aetive life, and enjoys the fruits of his industrious and reasonably successful life. (See illustration elsewhere in this work.)

HARVEY SMITH,

son of Asa and Elizabeth Smith, was born at Galway, Saratoga Co., N. Y., May 24, 1797. His father was a native of New England and his mother of New Jersey. Mr. Smith is the oldest of a family of ten children, and was reared to industry on a farm. He came to Henderson in company with his parents in February, 1805. His father and mother were therefore among the early pioneers of Jefferson County, and lived to be sixty-one and seventy years of age respectively. He was married to Miss Sarah Bell, of Albany Co., N. Y., Feb. 2, 1824. She was born June 14, 1803. They had nine children who grew to maturity. Mr. Smith has followed farming as his occupa- tion, and has made it a success. For more than forty years he has been an acceptable member of the M. E. church, and has been a liberal supporter of the same. In politics he is a Republican. Mrs. Smith was a faithful wife and an affectionate mother, and after enduring a vast amount of pain she passed away June 13, 1868. Mr. Smith married for his second wife the sister of his first wife, a Mrs. Nancy Clark, of Wisconsin; they were married Oct. 5, 1871. She is the mother of twelve children by her first husband, eight of whom are dead. A view of Mr. Smith's "old home" and portraits of himself and wives are elsewhere in this work.

HOUNSFIELD.

THE town of Hounsfield comprises town number one of the Black River tract, and was formed from a part of Watertown, February 17, 1806. It is a part of the origi- nal Boylston Tract, and in common with ten other towns in Jefferson and Lewis counties, comprising an area of nearly 300,000 acres, became the property, July 15, 1795, of Nicholas Low, William Henderson, Richard Harrison, and Josiah Ogden Hoffman. These eleven towns form what has since been known as the Black River Tract .*

On the division of the tract this town fell to the share of Hoffman and Harrison, " and the north part was conveyed June 13, 1797, for $58,333.33, to Champion and Storrs, amounting to 11,1343 acres, with the town of Champion (25,708 acres). On the 14th of November, 1708, Cham -. pion and Storrs sold a portion of the above to Loomis and Tillinghast, receiving two notes of $6000 each, which, with a mortgage upon the premises, not being paid, the traet was sold by a decree of Chancery, at the Tontine Coffee-House in New York, June 20, 1801, and bid off by Augustus Sacket, of that city, who received a conveyance from Champion and the assignees of Loomis and Tillinghast. While the sale was pending, Mr. Sacket having heard of the location, and inclining to engage in its purchase, made a journey early in 1801 to the place, and was so struck with the great natural advantages for a port which the place presented that he hastened back, and having secured the purchase, returned with a few men to commence im- provements. In the second and third years he erected an ample and convenient dwelling, and the little colony received the accession of mechanics and others."f-

" This town derives its name from Ezra Hounsfield, a native of Sheffield, in England, who, about 1800, came to New York as agent for his brothers, John and Bartholomew, manufacturers and merchants of Sheffield. He engaged in the hardware trade, and, in company with Peter Kimball, purchased in common the south half of township No. 1, or the present town of Hounsfield. This purchase was made of Harrison and Hoffman, March 10, 1801, and subse- quently other and smaller purchases were made. Mr. Hounsfield was a bachelor, and died in New York, about 1817. By his will, dated April 7, 1812, he appointed David A. Ogden, Edward Lynde, John Day, and Thomas L. Ogden his executors, who advertised a sale at auction of the remaining interest of the estate in town at Sacket's Harbor, August 1, 1817. The executors bought in the property and afterwards conveyed it to Bartholomew, the father of George Hounsfield, the present heir of the family, living in Sheffield.

" The town is said to have been named through the in- fluence of Mr. Augustus Sacket, who was an acquaintance of Mr. Hounsfield.

" From an early period of the purchase the waters of Black River bay were regarded as an eligible place for a commercial point, and in a work published in Paris in 1801} the following description of it is given, under the name of Niahoure :

"' At the bottom of this gulf Black river empties, forming a har- bor sheltered from the winds and surges of the lake, which, during the prevalence of the southwest winds, roll like those of the ocean. The land on the right or south of this bay is extremely fertile, and is a grove more fresh than can elsewhere be seen. That on the left, i.e., the country that extends to the north as far as the St. Lawrence, and east to the Oswe gatchie, is not less fertile, and the colonists begin to vie in settling it.'

" This bay is elsewhere in the work described as compris- ing all the waters within Six-Town Point and Point Penin- sula, which on ancient maps was named La Famine, by the French, and Hungry Bay, by the English. On some maps this term is applied to what is now known as Hender- son bay, and in others to Chaumont bay. The origin of the name is unknown, unless, perhaps, it may have been derived from the misfortunes of De La Barre in 1684."§

The town of Hounsfield was the outgrowth of proposi- tions previously made for the erection of a new town from portions of Watertown and Adams, the original design being to take three ranges of lots from the north side of town number seven and annex them to number one, and give the new town the name of Newport. November 10, 1803, a special meeting was called in Adams, at which the matter was taken under consideration, and by a vote the division was rejected, although a petition was framed ask- ing for the erection of number eight into a separate town ; and it was accordingly set off at the next session of the legislature and organized under the name of Harrison, since changed to Rodman.

THE SURFACE

of Hounsfield is somewhat diversificd, though in the main it is level. Nearly through the centre flow the waters of Mill creek, one branch of which rises in a long strip of low land, originally a swamp, filled with tamarack, black ash, somne cedar, elm, and other varieties of timber peculiar to such a locality. It has been drained to a considerable ex- tent, and much of it clearcd up. As a consequence, the creek becomes nearly dry during the summer season, and

# See General History of the County.

+ Dr. Hough's History of Jefferson County, p. 173.

į Voyage dans la Haute Pensylvanie, et dans l'Etat de New York, par un membre adoptif de la Nation Oneida, vol. iii. p. 408. ¿ Jeff. Co. Hist.

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History of Jefferson County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 97

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