USA > New York > Lewis County > History of Lewis County, New York; with...biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 51
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He was popular with his associates in the Senate, and possessed their confi- dence and regard to a marked degree.
He has always manifested a warm inter- est in educational matters and in 1867, was elected a Trustee of Lowville Acad- emy, and in 1881, president of its Board of Trustees. In February of the same year, he was elected by the Legislature a Regent of the University of the State in place of Charles E. Smith of Albany, who had resigned. This position he now holds, it being for life unless the incumbent moves from the State.
During all these years, Judge Turner has done much service in political cam- paigns as a speaker, advocating Repub- lican principles in Lewis and other counties, always evincing candor and fairness in his treatment of political questions and differences. His marked ability in the argument of cases before a jury, his knowledge of law as exhibited before judicial tribunals, his masterly eloquence and tact in the management of important cases, especially those dur- ing his last term as District Attorney, have in later years made him prominent in his profession, and marked the high character and traits of the man, and placed him high in the esteem and favor of the people. His colleagues in the Sen- ate were noted and able men from all parts of the State, and by them he was counselled and listened to with attention, showing the confidence they reposed in his experience, judgment and ability. The nomination and election of Mr. Vroman for Clerk of the Senate in 1878- '79, was made possible only by the ac- tion and firmness of Judge Turner in his behalf.
In 1858, he enlisted as a private in a company of the National Guard then ex-
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HISTORY OF LEWIS COUNTY.
isting in Lowville, commanded by Cap- tain M. M. Smith, and was soon promot- ed to First Sergeant, and in 1860, to its command. In May 1861, on the first call for troops to serve two years, he raised a company, but the number of such organizations tendered being great- ly in excess of the force authorized by law, he could not procure its acceptance by the Adjutant-General. In August, 1861, Governor Morgan authorized the raising of the Ist Regiment New York Light Artillery. First Lieutenant G. D. Bailey, 2d United States Artillery, a native of Lewis county, was appointed its Colonel and Judge Turner its Lieu- tenant-Colonel, the two being of the same age, and close friends. Mr. Turner took an active part in the raising of the regiment, joining it in September, 1861, as its Lieutenant-Colonel. He accom- panied the regiment to Washington, and during the autumn was active and zeal- ous in the equipment and instruction of its Batteries. Through the ensuing winter he did important duty in Mary- land, Virginia, and the Shenandoah Val- ley, serving with credit and ability, and participated in the movements and en- gagements in that portion of Virginia near and around the Shenandoah Val- ley.
In March 1862, he was placed in com- mand of the Reserve and Light Artillery Depot for the army of the Potomac, near Washington, and received the spe- cial commendation of Brigadier-General Barry, Chief of Artillery, Army of the Potomac, for the efficient manner in which he discharged its important du- ties. Prior to entering the military
services in September, 1861, he sent his resignation as County Judge to Govern- or Morgan, to take effect December Ist following, as it was necessary for him to complete certain business in the Court then pending before him. Late in No- vember 1861, the Adjutant-General at Washington, issued an order to disband all volunteer regiments of Light Artil- lery, and to muster out their field offi- cers, retaining their companies as sepa- rate Batteries. This coming to Gov- ernor Morgan's knowledge, he declined to accept Mr. Turner's resignation as County Judge, until it should be definite- ly settled whether or not the regimental organization of the Ist New York Light Artillery should be retained, and the order be rescinded, so far as that regi- ment was concerned. In May, 1862, finding that the matter of the retention of the regimental organization was still an unsettled question, and in doubt, and his applications to the President and the Secretary of War in person, and by let- ters to the Chief of Artillery, to be re- lieved of his command and to be sent to the army on the Peninsula, or to any other point he might be ordered, having been refused, and Brigadier-General James S. Wadsworth, his immediate commander having informed him that he was retained in his command because the Chief of Artillery had recommended him as an officer peculiarly qualified for the position, and that in all probability he would be retained in that place until mustered out, as the President and Sec- retary of State were of the opinion that in ninety days a hundred thousand troops would be discharged, Colonel
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LOWVILLE.
Turner at once tendered his resignation, stating that he did not enter the service for the mere rank and pay, but to aid in suppressing the Rebellion, and if he was to be of no further use elsewhere, he had* important duties to attend to at home. His resignation was accepted, accompa- nied with commendatory words for his services, ability and character as an officer.
In December, 1864, on the recommen_ dation of Major-General Dix, he was ap- pointed and assigned to the command of a cavalry force, and ordered in February following, to Madison Barracks, New York, with his command, to protect the frontier against raids from Canada by bodies of armed Rebels and their sympa- thizers, who had already made several incursions of that character. The last of April, 1865, he was ordered by De- partment Headquarters to hold his com- mand in readiness to proceed to Texas, with other forces under General Sheri- dan, but the surrender of the Confeder- ate forces in that State, caused the order to be countermanded, and his command remained at the same post until mustered out of service in July, 1865. In 1867, Mr. Turner was appointed Division In- spector of the 4th Division National Guard, with the rank of Lieutenant- Colonel, and in 1869, Assistant Adjutant- General of the 4th Division National Guard, with the rank of Colonel, which position he held until 1877, when he re- signed.
He has taken an active part in the Grand Army of the Republic and is at present commander of G. D. Bailey Post No. 200, G. A. R. at Lowville.
Since his residence in Lewis county, Judge Turner has devoted considerable time to literary labors, having a genuine love for such pursuits, and has written and delivered many poems and addresses before different societies and meetings, and has used his pen in journalism on many occasions, with success and credit.
As a public speaker, he has been and is in demand on public occasions at home and in other counties : and as such he takes high rank having received at the places where he has responded, the most flattering ovations and liberal press no- tices, always receiving pressing invita- tions for future engagements.
Able, earnest and eloquent, with a high reputation for integrity and candor, he is at once pleasing and persuasive. He has received much support for the office of Supreme Court Judge, but ow- ing to an unfortunate geographical situ- ation, the nominations have gone to oth- ers. He is now engaged in the practice of his profession, receiving such support as only a leading lawyer can command.
In 1857, he was united in marriage with Amanda L. Hill, a daughter of the late W. W. Hill, one of the most up- right and highly esteemed residents of Lowville, and who was the son of the late Ebenezer Hill, one of the first set- tlers of that town. Mrs. Turner is an amiable and gifted lady, and their mar- ried life has been singularly congenial and happy. She has attained a high position as an artist, her pictures show- ing her true conception of nature, and a hand competent to truly portray them upon canvass as they live in nature and the poet's brain.
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HISTORY OF LEWIS COUNTY.
[ANSEL FOSTER,]
ANSEL FOSTER.
The family of Fosters are of English and Huguenot descent.
The first to settle in America was the great-grandfather Foster, who came in the reign of Queen Anne and located in what was afterward the town of Meri- den, Conn.
He married a lady of the name of Dubarre, or, as it is sometimes spelled, Dubarry. Their son Thomas inherited the estate, which was an original pur- chase of the Indians. His son Aaron, father to Ansel, was born in Meriden, Conn., January 4, 1771, and came to Lewis county in 1802, locating in the town of Turin, and following through life the occupation of farming. He was
married Dec. 23, 1795, to Abigail Bald- win, of Branford, Conn., who was born July 19, 1772.
Aaron died April 3, 1858, and his wife died Sept. 7, 1872. Their children were : -Anna, born March 7, 1799, died in July, 1822; Alburn, who died in infancy ; Al- burn, born Feb. 17, 1804, died March 14, 1882 ; Abigail, born Dec. 18, 1807, died in February, 1823 ; and Ansel, the sub- ject of the appended portrait.
Ansel Foster was born in Turin, Lewis county, Sept. 3, 1810. He received his education at the Lowville Academy, but of far greater importance than the learn- ing he obtained there were the principles of manhood, truth and sobriety which were instilled by his earlier educators- his parents.
yours Truly
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LOWVILLE.
It is unquestionable that from them he derived something of the keen insight of human nature that has characterized his life. They taught him a lesson too often unheeded-the necessity of secur- ing a knowledge of men and things, as well as to become deeply versed in the lore of books.
The result of this training was that he studied mankind as some men study books, until there were revealed to him, in a somewhat remarkable degree, the motive springs of the human mind.
In his younger days he studied law, but never entered upon its practice. He has enjoyed the confidence of the elec- tors of his town, county and state, and now, in his older years, is content to round out his life in forming the connect- ing link between this world and the next. On the 16th of July, 1833, he was united in marriage to Christina Hoffnagle, who died May 30, 1875. Two children were the result of this marriage :- Clinton, born July 2, 1835, died Feb. 3, 1874: and Amanda, born July 4, 1837, died Sept. 13, 1868.
HON. ALEXANDER H. CROSBY, M. D.
The various families of this name in the United States are of English or rath- er Scotch origin, and most of them we believe, trace their descent from New England ancestors of the colonial period. The great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch was Captain Prince Crosby, who sailed a merchant vessel between an Eastern port and the West Indies. He
married in Cuba, a Spanish lady of great beauty. He died at sea on a voyage out, but so near the end of his voyage that he was buried on the Island of Cuba. A son of this person, Jeremiah Crosby, emigrated from New Hampshire to this county, about the year 1800, and located in the eastern part of the town of Mar- tinsburgh. About the year 1805, he with several others, attracted by the liberal offers made by John Brown, then owner of a large tract of land in the wilderness on the east side of the Black river, and known to the present day as " John Brown's Tract," moved with their families into this barren region. After living here two years they were starved out and returned to Martins- burgh.
While living on "Brown's Tract" ·Hopkins Crosby was born in 1806, who in time became a farmer and married Mary Porter, whose family had emi- grated from one of the Eastern States. Their first child, Alexander H., was born in the town of Martinsburgh, Oc- tober 18, 1836. He passed his earlier years in that town, but when nine years of age, his father with a family of four small children, removed to Tioga coun- ty, Pennsylvania, on account of failing health. From this cause he had not prospered, but the change proved bene- ficial; he regained his health and soon found himself in comfortable circumstan- ces, and continued to live here until the time of his death, which occurred in December, 1876. His wife died in Oc- tober, 1877, while on a visit to her daugh- ter, Mrs. Henry Gaudy, in Brookfield, Missouri, where the daughter still re-
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HISTORY OF LEWIS COUNTY.
sides. Two other children of Hopkins Crosby are living-Jeremiah H., in Kansas and the youngest, Monroe, in Franklin county, Pa.
Alexander grew up on the farm, re- ceiving his education at home and in the district school. He afterward attended the academy at Wellsboro, Pennsylvania, for one year and the seminary at Mans- field, Pennsylvania, for two years, and one term at the Lowville Academy in 1857. Having chosen the medical pro- fession, he began the study of medicine with his uncle, Dr. Lyman Buckley, of Oswego county, New York, and after- ward returned to Martinsburgh and entered the office of Dr. James T. Feden, with whom he completed his studies. During the time he was thus engaged, he taught school several terms. He subsequently attended one course of lectures at the Albany Medi- cal College, and was licensed to practice medicine by the Lewis County Medical Society.
He began the practice of his profes- sion in the village of Martinsburgh, in January, 1862. On the 29th of February, 1863, he married Addie M. Macoy, daughter of Nathan Macoy of Martins- burgh. In March, 1867, he removed to the village of Lowville, where he has since resided. He has been a member of the County Medical Society, since he entered the profession, and has held suc- cessively the offices of Secretary, Treas- urer, Censor, and President. He repre- sented the society several years in the State Medical Society, in which he is eligible as a permanent member, and was chosen by that organization as del- 1
egate to the Pennsylvania State Medi- cal Society in 1875.
In politics, Doctor Crosby is a Demo- crat, and cast his first vote for Stephen A. Douglass in 1860. In 1875, he was elected to the Assembly of the State, against Henry J. Botchford. He was appointed upon the standing committees of Canals and Public Health, and dis- charged the duties of his position with marked ability. In 1877 and 1878, he represented the 22d Congressional Dis- trict on the State Central and Executive committees, and has been chairma the County Executive committee eral times. In 1879, the Democratic County Convention, after spending some time, were unable to find a candidate who would take the nomination for Member of Assembly, and Doctor Crosby finally allowed them to use his name, but with no expectation of being elected ; for the reason that some of the leaders of the the party were following the fortunes of John Kelly, and had determined to de- feat all who had the courage to accept a nomination at the hands of any conven- tion not controlled by them. Owing to this, the elections in general went Re- publican that year. Upon several oc- casions, Dr. Crosby has been a prominent witness in criminal trials, and the clear and logical manner in which his testimo- ny was given, reflected great credit upon his reputation as a thoroughly informed physician and a careful observer. He has proved himself an excellent surgeon, and there are few physicians in Northern New York who have been more success- ful in the treatment of disease. He has a large and lucrative practice, and is, we
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William H. alany
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LOWVILLE.
believe, gaining every year in the confi- dence of the people, and most among those who are best qualified to judge of his ability. He is a member of the Epis- copal church, and has been for several years a vestryman in Trinity church, of Lowville.
WILLIAM ROOT ADAMS, A. M.
William Root Adams was born in the town of Lowville October 25, 1823. His father, Dr. Ira Adams, was the son of Timothy Adams, of Cavendish, Windsor county, Vermont. Doctor Adams came from Cavendish to this State when about twenty-twoyears of age. After graduating at the medical school in Albany, N. Y ., he enlisted in the army, and was stationed during the War of 1812 as military sur- geon at Port Erie. After his discharge from the army, Dr. Adams began the practice of medicine in the town of Den- mark, and in 1821 married Arzelin A. Root, of the same town. A short time after his marriage he took up his resi- dence at Stow's Square, in the town of Lowville, where he continued the prac- tice of medicine until the time of his death in 1857.
William Root Adams, the subject of this sketch, passed his boyhood upon his father's farm, attending the district schools during the winter, and work- ing on the farm during the summer, until the autumn of 1841, when he entered the Lowville Academy as a student. He attended the Academy during the fall and winter terms, spending the summer upon the farm, until the winter of 1845-
46, when he taught his first district school in the town of Harrisburgh.
During the two succeeding winters he taught district schools in Lowville.
In September, 1848, Mr. Adams en- tered the Junior class in Union College, at Schenectady, and after remaining in college one year he taught three terms in a boarding school in the town of Nas- sau, Rensselaer county, in this State. Returning to college, he graduated with the class of 1851, ranking in scholarship among the first of his class. After teach- ing two terms as assistant principal in Rome Academy, he returned to Low- ville and engaged as assistant in the Lowville Academy. In June, 1852, Prof. David P. Mayhew, who had held the po- sition of principal of Lowville Academy for thirteen years, resigned his position, and Mr. Adams was called by the trustees to take his place, and entered upon his duties during the summer term of 1852.
On the 17th of August, 1852, he was married to Melissa Mills, daughter of Timothy Mills, of Lowville. Mr. Adams held his position as principal of the acad- emy until November, 1860, when failing health compelled him to resign.
During the winters of 1860 and 1861, he attended a course of medical lectures in the city of New York. His health being restored, in December, 1861, he again assumed charge of the academy as principal, and retained his position until the close of the academic year, in 1866, when he resigned for the purpose of engaging in mercantile pursuits.
He engaged in the book and stationery trade, in which he continued until the beginning of the academic year in Sep-
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HISTORY OF LEWIS COUNTY.
tember, 1874, when he was for the third time elected principal of the academy. He conducted the school in connection with his trade until May, 1878, when he disposed of his store and subsequently gave his entire attention to his duties at the academy.
Mr. Adams still remains in charge of the institution with which he has been connected during nearly the whole of the last forty-one years, as student, prin- cipal, or trustee. In March, 1866, he was elected one of the trustees of the academy, and continues to hold that po- sition. At a subsequent meeting of the Board, held on the 18th of the same month, he was elected secretary of the Board of Trustees of the academy, which office he still retains. In December, 1861, Mr. and Mrs. Adams lost their second son, Edward, when in his fifth year. Their third son, Everett, died in Febru- ary, 1865, in his second year. In No- vember, 1871, their oldest and only re- maining son, George Tyler Adams, died when nearly nineteen years of age. This son, by his noble qualities of heart and mind, had endeared himself to a very large circle of friends. Possessing supe- rior mental abilities, and exhibiting an unusual aptitude for business, his par- ents were fondly hoping for him a suc- cessful and honorable future. His death came upon them with sudden and crush- ing force.
Two daughters still survive of their family of five children. The pride of Professor Adams' life has been the suc- cess and prosperity of Lowville Acad- emy. During the entire time that the school has been under his charge, he has
taken the responsibility of employing his assistant teachers, and paying the cur- rent expenses of the school from year to year. The academy has been successful financially, and, when considered from a literary standpoint, it ranks among the first institutions of the State. The at- tendance during the last few years has been larger than ever before since its or- ganization in 1808, and it bids fair to continue for years in its career of use- fulness.
ROYAL P. WILBUR.
The first of this family on the father's side of whom anything definite is known, was David Wilbur, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, who was born in 1771. He was a resident of Worthing- ton, Mass., from which place he removed with his family to Lowville in the spring of 1801, and took up a farm of one hun- dred and twenty acres, in the northern part of the town, known as Stow's Square. His wife was Betsey Phillips. He was a deacon in the Congregational church at the Square, and died Decem- ber 27, 1829, aged sixty years.
Gordyce Wilbur, his son, and the father of Royal P., was born in Worth- ington, Mass., August 9, 1799. He was married on the 4th of September, 1829, to Mary S. Phelps, daughter of the late Rev. Royal Phelps, and grand-daughter of Colonel John Spafford of Revolution- ary fame. She is a descendant of George Phelps, who came to America on the vessel " Mary and John," ten years after the arrival of the Mayflower, landing at
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ROYAL P. WILBUR.
FarnumJourn
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LOWVILLE.
Nantucket, Mass., May 30, 1630. He came from Exeter, Devonshire, England. His first settlement in America was in Dorchester, Mass., from whence he re- moved in 1636, and was one of the first settlers in Windsor, Conn. He died May 8, 1687.
Gordyce Wilbur, still living (1883) was ordained an Elder in the Presbyte- rian church of Lowville, April 20, 1834, and has served continuously since that time. On the 16th of August, 1836, he was licensed to preach the gospel by the Black River Association, but was unable to carry out his wishes in this respect. His life has been devoted to religious work and he has held numerous offices of responsibility in the religious societies of the town and county. Of a family of ten children, but three sons now survive, all residents of the State of New York.
Royal Phelps Wilbur was born in Low- ville, September 12, 1836. A portion of his early life was passed in the town, where he was educated in the Lowville Academy. In the spring of 1851, at the age of fifteen, he went to New York City and entered the employ of Maitland, Phelps & Co., foreign commission and banking-house, Hon. Royal Phelps, his uncle, being then and now, the senior member of the firm. He began his life there as a messenger boy. In the spring of 1857, for the ben- efit of his health, and on business for the firm, he went to the West India islands and Spanish Main, visiting the islands of St. Thomas and St. Croix. In Decem- ber of that year, he returned to New York, and until January, 1870, remained connected with the firm as general clerk.
In that year he returned to Lowville, his uncle, Royal Phelps, having settled upon him a farm and a suitable income, where he has since resided.
Mr. Wilbur is of that genial and even temperament that easily wins friends. In politics a conservative Republican, he has taken no personally active interest in political issues, except to cast his vote and influence for what he has deemed the public good. He is one of the trustees of Lowville Academy, and has for ten years been Secretary of the Lewis Coun- ty Bible Society. He is an honored member of the Presbyterian church, in which organization he has also been Sec- retary for ten years. His wife is Caro- line Putnam Northrop, to whom he was married June 29, 1870.
LEVI AND FARNAM J. BOWEN.
Levi Bowen was born in Lanesboro, Mass., May 6, 1799. At an early age he was " bound out " until the age of twen- ty-one to Truman Terrill, a farmer, and in that occupation faithfully served until he attained his majority.
In this family, who were people of the honorable, straightforward pattern, he acquired the habits of honesty, persever- ance and frugality which characterized his life.
His education was of the limited kind of the bound boy of those days-a month or two in the district schools during the earlier winters of his stay with the Ter- rill family. The education obtained was supplemented by a sturdy common sense which enabled him to succeed in life where others failed.
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HISTORY OF LEWIS COUNTY.
In the fall of 1822, in his twenty-fourth year, he came to Lowville, Lewis county, and hired out by the month to Daniel T. Buck, a farmer, on what is known as the West road. He remained in this town until the succeeding fall, 1823, when he returned to Lanesboro, and on the 23d day of December of that year was mar-
In 1833, he moved on a small farm of seventy-five acres, for which he had pre- viously contracted, just off the West road, and early identified himself with the dairy interests of the county. He began his career as a dairyman under discouraging circumstances. His stock was limited to fifteen cows, and his only
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