USA > New York > Lewis County > History of Lewis County, New York; with...biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 68
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528
HISTORY OF LEWIS COUNTY.
Winthrop Shepard, the father of Har- low, was waiter to General William Shepard, when he was in command of the arsenal, on Springfield Hill, Mass., at the time of Shay's Rebellion.
Another of the sons of Deacon John Shepard, was Charles, grandfather to Harlow, who was a Baptist minister.
Captain Winthrop Shepard, came to the town of Turin, Lewis county, in 1798, and bought a farm on the East road. He raised a family of eleven children, three daughters and eight sons. The sons were Winthrop, Jr., Noble, George, Joshua, Charles, Harlow, Eli, and Dewitt. Noble was an ordained minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church ; George, was Sheriff of Lewis County, three years.
Harlow Shepard, was born in Turin, December 12, 1809. He passed his early life attending the district schools of his native town, and in work on the farm, and has through life followed farming as a business.
He has had but little to do during his busy life with politics, and has held but the office of assessor eight years. He joined the Methodist Episcopal Church many years ago, and in that society, taking the various terms of service, has held the offices of class leader, steward, and trustee, over thirty years, and is now (1883) treasurer of the Third Meth- odist Episcopal Church.
He married October 2, 1836, Mary C. Gaylord, who was born in Norfolk, Conn., August 15, 1818. They had eleven children, six sons and five daugh- ters. The sons are : Joseph H., Edwin H., Charles L., Arthur W., George L.,
and Adelbert E. All of the sons and daughters are living, and the family circle as yet remains unbroken.
General William Shepard, son of Deacon John Shepard, enlisted as a soldier in the French war, at the age of seventeen. At twenty, he was a Lieu- tenant in the army of General Aber- crombie, and at twenty-two he was one of the captains of General Amherst. He entered the Revolutionary struggle as Lieutenant-Colonel, under the command of Washington. He held the commission of General in the army of LaFayette, and was in twenty-two battles, remain- ing in the army until the capture of Burgoyne. He died at the age of 80 years,
Captain Winthrop Shepard, father of Harlow Shepard, was captain in the War of 1812. He lived to be 82 years old. Edwin H. Shepard, son of Harlow Shep- ard, served nearly two years in the War of the Rebellion.
JOHN IVES.
John Ives was the father of Major John Ives, and grandfather of Selden Ives. He lived on a farm at Meriden, Conn. He married Mary Hall, daughter of Dr. Isaac Hall, the first physician of Meriden, Conn .; they had twelve children. He died in February, 1774, aged 88 years. She died October 9, 1791.
The homestead, at Meriden, Conn., is still in the possession of the Ives family.
529
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF WEST TURIN.
[MATHER S. IVES.]
MATHER S. IVES.
Mather S. Ives, oldest son of Selden Ives, was born at the homestead, March 30, 1833. He received his education at Clinton Liberal Institute and at Lowville Academy. On completing his education he passed four years of his life in the capacity of clerk in the mercantile busi- ness, at Rome, N. Y., and New Albany, Ind. From the latter place, in 1855, he went to Chicago, and entered into part- nership in the mercantile business with his uncle, George Ives. He continued business there until 1861, when he re- turned to Turin, where he has since been engaged in farming. He was Supervisor
of his town in 1882 and 1883, and is an influential citizen. He married in Chi- cago, Ill., September 15, 1859, Jennie M. Moshier, who was born in Lexington, Ky., July 8, 1843. His children are Cor- nelia Lucretia, born in Chicago, Ill., April 6, 1861, and Estella, born on the homestead, October 16, 1862.
SELDEN IVES.
The father of the subject of this sketch was Major John Ives, whose wite was Martha Merriam, of Meriden, Conn. They were the parents of fourteen chil- dren, all of whom are now dead. He
530
HISTORY OF LEWIS COUNTY.
was a pioneer settler in the Black River country, moving here in 1796, and locat- ing first on the present site of the village of Constableville, where he lived a few years, and then removed two miles north of Turin, the present home of M. S. Ives. Here he died March 13, 1828. His wife died February 12, 1841, at the residence
it amounted to one thousand dollars, and then to be devoted to the support of the gospel.
Of his children, he lost five of the old- est from scarlet fever in as many days. The oldest of those that lived was John, who died in California ; Samuel, died in Ohio; Eli, at Great Bend, Jefferson
[SELDEN IVES.]
of her son, George Ives, who then lived in Turin.
John Ives was a prominent man and possessed of unusual energy and force of character. He was appointed Sheriff of Lewis county in 1810, and was Supervisor of his town in 1801, 1809, and 1813. He left at his death a will in which he bequeathed to the Pres- byterian church of Turin, three hun- dred dollars, to be kept at interest until
county ; Isaac, at Ravenna, Ohio; George, at Chicago, Ill .; Selden, at Turin; Julia, who married Walter Martin, of Martinsburgh, died in Michigan; Lucre- tia, married Horace Clapp, of House- ville, and died in Martinsburgh; and Martha married Enoch Roberts, and died in Meriden, Conn. John Ives owned 1,800 acres of land in Turin, and gave each of his children a farm.
Selden Ives was the fourth son of
531
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF TURIN.
Major John Ives. He was born in Turin, September 18, 1806. In the common schools of this town he received his edu- cation, and here his life was passed, up to 1871, on the farm given to him by his father, and now owned by M. S. Ives, his son. He was for many years a prom- inent farmer and citizen of Turin. He
village of Turin, where he lived until his death, which occurred September 11, 1874. He married July 13, 1830, Lucre- tia Stephens, who was born in Martins- burgh, May 18, 1805. They had three children, one daughter and two sons: Cornelia L., born in Turin, April 3, 1831, married J. Harvey Smith, of Fort Plain,
[E. P. DEWEY.]
never held public office, being naturally averse to political life. He contributed largely to the building of the Presbyte- rian church of Turin, and gave liberally of his means to support the preaching of the gospel. He lived for years on his farm, two miles north of Turin, on which he had erected a fine residence and laid out beautiful grounds, and which was destroyed by fire November 30, 1871. He then purchased a residence in the
1
i
Montgomery county, August 27, 1851, and died in Turin, February 9, 1854; Marcellus H. Ives, was born at Turin, June 9, 1839, was educated at Lowville and Fort Plain Academies, died at Rome, N. Y., April 8, 1860, aged 20 years and Io months; and Mathew S.
E. P. DEWEY.
Edwin Pelton Dewey, was born in Westfield, Mass., September 26, 1830.
532
HISTORY OF LEWIS COUNTY.
His father was Abner Dewey, a native of the same place, who married Cynthia Shepard, and came to Lewis County when Edwin was about seven years of age. Here he passed his earlier years, receiving the education of the district schools, and the practical education derived from contact with the world. Men are made by their environments, and living in a region where subsistence in even those days was derived only from the soil, Edwin naturally adopted the occupation of farming, which he has followed through life with more than the average measure of success. In politics, Mr. Dewey is a Republican, but has taken no unusually active part in political matters. Religiously, he is liberal in his views, and a believer in the christianity of deeds rather than words.
He married March 23, 1852, Esther S. Shepard, who was born in Turin, Janu- ary 26, 1827. Their children were: George E., born July 10, 1856 ; Etta A., born June 1, 1864; Effie M., born March 7, 1867, died May 10, 1867; John M., born July 15, 1870.
HARRISON J. THAYER.
Harrison J. Thayer was born in the town of Turin, Lewis County, August 24, 1820. His ancestors came from Eng- land, about 1640, and settled in New Eng- land. His grandfather, Elisha Thayer, was born in New Hampshire, February 4, 1767, and was one of fourteen children. He married Sarah Harris, in 1787, and removed to the town of Leyden, Lewis County, in 1806. Enoch Thayer, father
to Harrison J., was born in Richmond, N. H., June 30, 1788, and came with his parents to Lewis county. Enoch married Hannah Jordan, March 4, 1816, by whom he had four children, the subject of this sketch being the third.
Harrison early in life began a clerk- ship in the store of A. A. White, in Turin village, where he remained six years. He then engaged his services to Orrin Woolworth, a merchant in the same village, in whose employ he continued five or six years, when he purchased Mr. Woolworth's interest, and engaged in mercantile business for himself. In this he continued several years, and then became engaged in the produce and commission trade, which he pursued until his death, October 30, 1882. During his business life, as well as that of his clerkship, he was known and valued for the honesty and uprightness of all his dealings and for his strict moral prin- ciples.
On the 19th of May, 1847, he married Rebecca A. Budd, daughter of Dr. David Budd, and sister to Dr. Charles D. Budd, of Turin. She died October 8, 1867, leaving but one child, Oscar B. Thayer, who was born February 8, 1850, and who is now (1883) living.
On the 19th of October, 1870, Mr. Thayer married for his second wife, Mrs. Aurelia Perry, widow of Jerome B. Perry, and daughter of John I. Dom- inick, of Turin, who was born March 24, 1826, and who still survives him. No children were born to this marriage.
Mr. Thayer was a public-spirited man, and was always ready to contribute to the advancement of the interests of the
533
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF TURIN.
village in which he lived. He was one of its first trustees, and rendered material aid in securing its incorporation, and was afterwards several times trustee and president. He manifested much interest in the cause of education, and assisted materially in the establishment of Turin Union Graded School, of which he was
party to become a candidate for Member of Assembly, but refused, having no ambition in that direction. He loved too well the quiet of home and home life to engage in the turmoil of politics, although he never missed, up to the time of his death, voting at Both town and general elections.
[HARRISON J. THAYER. ]
one of the first directors. He was a leading member of the Democratic party, and was always true to its prin- ciples. Although not a seeker for office he acceptably filled what official positions he was placed in. He served as Loan Commissioner in an entirely satisfactory manner, his commission bearing Gover- nor Robinson's signature, and was also for a number of years Justice of the Peace. He was often solicited by his
He never united with any church, but was a regular attendant on the Episcopal service, and an earnest believer in a just and upright life. A kind and affectionate husband, parent, friend, and a warm sympathizer with the distress of others, his hand was always open to the needy, and his heart responded to their call for sympathy. Quick in his discrimination between right and wrong, he was uni- versally consulted on matters of business
534
HISTORY OF LEWIS COUNTY.
and other subjects of moment, and his advice was always given with discretion and relied upon implicitly. He was one of those few men who do not need a eulogy of praise after death, for by his life he erected a monument to his memory which shall live in the hearts
the East road, on the farm now owned by Walter Miller. His wife died June 16, 1873. They were Methodists, and estimable members of the community in which they lived. John House, grand- father to Henry R., was a soldier of the Revolution. Henry was born in Turin,
[HENRY R. HOUSE.]
of people long after brief words of praise would be forgotten.
HENRY R. HOUSE.
Henry Risley House was a son of Cyprian House, a native of Connecticut, born April 5, 1797, who married Sophia Risley, born in the same State, June 25, 1798. Cyprian House came to Lewis County in 1819, and settled in Turin, on
December 10, 1821, and was educated in the district schools, and at Lowville Academy under the tuition of Professors D. P. Youmans and Mayhew, and chose for his life vocation the independent life of a farmer, in which he has been suc- cessful. A Republican in politics, he has held some town offices, but has been more content to adhere to his farm and its duties, than to seek political prefer- ment. He married, March 7, 1846, Mary Hills, who was born in Martinsburgh,
535
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF TURIN.
February 25, 1824. But two children were born to him, George, born March 24, 1848, and John, a merchant in Glen- dale, born September 20, 1860.
.In 1805, he went to Trenton, N. Y., where he became acquainted with, and afterward married, June 9, 1806, Roxy Flagg. She was born in Berlin, Conn., April 23, 1787, and with her parents removed to Trenton, N. Y., in 1804;
0
[LUTHER MORGAN.]
LUTHER MORGAN.
Luther Morgan was a grandson of Isaac Morgan, of West Springfield, Hampden county, Mass., who was born in the year 1737, and who died at House- ville, Lewis County, at the home of his son, Rollin Morgan, August 2, 1814. Of his wife, nothing is known. His son, Rollin Morgan, was born in West Springfield, Mass., December 24, 1779.
traveling with an ox team, and being some three weeks making the journey. Rollin lived in Trenton until about 1812, when he moved to Lewis county, settling in Houseville. He began life as a shoe- naker, which occupation, after a few years, he abandoned for farming.
He died at Houseville, February I, 1839. His wife died at the residence of her daughter, in Southampton, Mass., February 18, 1861. Their children were,
536
HISTORY OF LEWIS COUNTY.
Olive H., born July 16, 1808, died at Houseville, October 12, 1833 ; Cyrus B., born January 24, 1812, married Emeline Woodruff, of Watertown, N. Y., and died in Watertown, February 16, 1868; Harrison, born August 14, 1814, married Mary Chapman, of Greenwich, Mass., and is now a minister at Grand Rapids, Mich. ; Sally Maria, born November 2, 1816, married Sardis Chapman, of South- ampton, Mass., February 17, 1846, and died in that place, September 4, 1865; Luther; Lucy Ann, born December 5, 1820, died in Houseville, February 28, 1833 ; Ralph, born March 18, 1824, married Martha Ann Chase, of Chicopee, Mass., December 25, 1851, and died in Southampton, Mass., December 31; 1878; Clarissa, born January 4, 1826, died in Houseville, February 26, 1833; Mary, born July 4, 1831, married Ansel Searle, of Southampton, April 9, 1877, where she now (1883) resides.
Luther Morgan was born in Turin, November 19, 1818, where he passed nearly all of his life. He was educated at Wilbraham, Mass., and adopted the occupation of farming. To this he after- wards added manufacturing, and became quite extensively engaged in the manu- facture of lumber and cheese-boxes-a business which is now conducted by his son, G. G. Morgan. He was a man of considerable force of character and energy, and was highly esteemed by his townsmen. Politically, Mr. Morgan was a Republican, and an earnest advocate of the principles of that party. He was for several terms elected Justice of the Peace, the duties of which office he satis- factorily performed. For thirty years
he was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and died triumphant in its faith, July 9, 1869.
His wife was Lucy Fuller, who was born in Pamelia, Jefferson county, No- vember 27, 1821, to whom he was mar- ried August 4, 1845, and who still sur- vives him (1883). The children of this marriage were seven in number-Will- iam L., born November 24, 1848, died June 21, 1869 ; Emery R., born Decem- ber 22, 1850, died January 6, 1851 ; George Gary, born March 5, 1852, mar- ried Frances B. Sayles, of Albany ; Helen C., born April 15, 1855, died Feb- ruary 17, 1861 ; Carrie J., born Novem- ber 10, 1859, died March 20, 1861 ; Clara E., born February 11, 1862 ; Minnie L., born November 29, 1868.
CHARLES G. RIGGS.
Charles Giles Riggs, was born in the town of Lee, Oneida county, N. Y., November 17, 1814. His grandparents were James Riggs and Sarah Clark ; the former born November 9, 1757, died September 22, 1839; the latter born August 7, 1757, died December 26, 1825. His father, Clark Riggs, was born in Connecticut, April 12, 1791, and married Thankful Spinning, who was born April 3. 1788, and died April 3, 1831. He died February 26, 1866.
Charles G. Riggs passed his earlier life in Turin, to which town his parents had moved when he was four years old. At the age of fifteen his parents removed to Martinsburgh, where he lived four years, and then again took up their
537
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF TURIN.
home in Turin, in which town Mr. Riggs has since lived. Being of a mechanical rather than of an agricultural turn of mind, he learned the trade of tinsmith, and on the 12th of September, 1833, began business for himself in that trade
its development and prosperity. In 1870, he built the Riggs Block, which was a substantial addition to the business welfare of the village, and established some years ago, a carriage manufactory, an industry which has obtained some
A. LITTLE
Charles & Riggs
in the village of Turin. In the fall of 1838, his shop and store were destroyed by fire, but not discouraged by that mis- fortune, he re-established himself in trade, and added to his business a stock of stoves and hardware. This was the first hardware store established in Lewis county.
Mr. Riggs has been closely identified with all the business interests of the village, and has contributed largely to
importance in the county. He is also the owner of considerable real estate, and as a merchant and business man has made for himself a reputation for enter- prise and probity. Mr. Riggs has ac- ceptably filled various offices within the gift of his townsmen, was Justice of the Peace for some years, and held the office of Supervisor in the years 1856, 1873, and 1875. He has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church over
538
HISTORY OF LEWIS COUNTY.
fifty years, in which denomination he has been a steward for forty years, and a trustee for forty-five years.
He married, March 1, 1835, Julia A. Moulton, who was born in Floyd, Oneida county, May 5, 1818. Their children were as follows :- Helen Julia, born November 24, 1836; Charles William, born August 25, 1839, died January 28, 1876; Louise Maria, born October 25, 1841; Frances Rebecca, born January 26, 1844, died April 2, 1845 ; Horace M., born April 17, 1846; George Gary, born November 18, 1849; Sophia Wilcox, born November 2, 1852, died April 14, 1854.
J. LUCIUS SEYMOUR.
The family of Seymour in all proba- bility is descended from Sir Edward Sey .. mour, first Duke of Somerset, England, Lord Protector of the Realm. The ancestrial line of the subject of this biography is (1) Richard,* who settled in Hartford, Conn., about 1640 ; (2) John, of Hartford; (3) Zachariah, of Hartford; (4) Joseph, of Hartford and Colebrook ; (5) Bildad, of Colebrook and Turin ; (6) Alva, of Colebrook and Turin.
Bildad Seymour, son of Joseph, was born January 15, 1776, and married Jemima Hurd in 1794. He died Febru- ary 28, 1828. His wife died January 24,
1857. He was a carpenter and farmer, and a member of the Congregational Church, of Colebrook, Conn. His son, Alva Seymour, father of J. Lucius, was born in Colebrook, Litchfield county, Conn., November 13, 1795, and with his brother-in-law, Joseph Gaylord, bought of Squire Stickney and Dr. Royal Dewey, of Turin, the farm of two hundred acres, now in the possession of his son. In early life he was a teacher, and was a man of talent and ability. He married Sophronia C. Cowles, of Norfolk, Conn., March 16, 1825, and in the following May moved to the farm at Turin.
He united by letter with the Presby- terian church, of Turin, in 1825, services being then held by Ruel Kimball in the old Union church, now used as a school house. In this church he was soon after elected elder, and continued to hold the office of elder or deacon until his death. He assisted in 1825 to organize the first Sunday school held in the Union church of Turin, of which he was afterward superintendent and teacher. He took an active interest in religious work, was a consistent and faithful member of the church, an honest, conscientious and up- right man, and was held in high esteem by all who knew him. He held for a number of years the town offices of Assessor and Justice of the Peace.
He died suddenly of heart disease April, 19, 1868. His wife, who was the daughter of Capt. Amasa Cowles, of Norfolk, Conn., born February 19, 1803, is still living (1883). The names of their children were :- Celestia S., born De- cember 17, 1827, married Dr. O. Whee- lock, May. 7, 1856; Eliza Ann, born
* The Bible that once belonged to Richard Seymour is now in possession of one of his descendants, Charles J. Seymour, of Newport, and contains his Coat of Arms and the place of his residence in England, " Berry Pomeroy, Devonshire." This estate was given by the Protector Somerset to his eldest son whom he disin- herited to please his second wife, who wished her son to have his father's title and honors. This is a matter of history, and as Richard Seymour came from there, he no doubt belonged to the disinherited branch.
539
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF TURIN.
August 22, 1834; Chloe Amelia, born December 16, 1835, died November 8, 1845 ; Mary, born April 2, 1839, died April 16, 1841 ; Delia E., born June 13, 1845, died February 29, 1868.
J. Lucius Seymour, the only son, was born in Turin, March 31, 1831. His earlier years were passed on the farm
wounded soldiers. He afterward be- came engaged in farming, and has also been quite extensively interested in lum- bering and real estate transaction in Minnesota. Mr. Seymour since the age of fourteen has been an active worker in the religious field, following in this re- spect the footsteps of his worthy father.
A.LITTLE
[J. LUCIUS SEYMOUR.]
close by his present home. He was educated in the district schools of his town and at Lowville Academy, and followed for some years the occupation of teacher, going West in the spring of 1847 for that purpose, and teaching suc- cessfully in Iowa and Minnesota. In the spring of 1863 he returned home, and in the following winter went to Virginia, in the service of the Christian Commission to care for the sick and
He is an elder in the First Presbyterian church of Turin, in which, and in the community at large, he is regarded as a conscientious christian and an honor- able man. On the 5th of February, 1866, Mr. Seymour married Lydia Sackett, daughter of G. Sheldon and Elmina Sackett, of Turin, who was born January 1I, 1839. Their children are seven in number, as follows :- Arthur T., born December 17, 1866; Alva C.,
540
HISTORY OF LEWIS COUNTY.
born December 14, 1868; Edward Lucius, born August 16, 1871; Mary Estelle, born July 23, 1873 ; Dwight Sheldon, born March 27, 1876; Theodore Lyman, born December 30, 1877; Eugene How- ard, born July 4, 1880.
CHAPTER XXXVII.
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF WATSON.
HIS town was formed from Leyden, T March 30, 1821, embracing all of Lewis county east of Black river. The first town meeting was held at the house of John Beach,* at which Caleb Ly on was chosen Supervisor ; John Beach, Clerk ; Ozem Bush, Phineas Cole, and Joseph O. Mott, Assessors ; C. Lyon, Thomas Puffer, and O. Bush, Commissioners of Highways; Samuel Smith and P. Cole, Overseers of the Poor ; J. O. Mott and Daniel B. Baker, Constables; S. Smith, Collector ; C. Lyon, J. Beach, and P. Cole, Commissioners of Common Schools ; C. Lyon, John Bush, and P. Cole, In-
* John Beach from Litchfield, Ct .; settled in this town in 1814, and was the father of Nelson J. Beach, Esq. He died May 15, 1845, aged 75 years.
Nelson f. Beach came to this town when a lad with his father's family, and was many years a land surveyor in this region. In 1846 he represented the county in assembly, and in 1847 in the senate, but the constitu- tion of 1846 coming into operation, his term in the senate was cut short to one year. In 1847 he was elected a canal commissioner, being one of the first three elected to that office, and in the classification of terms he drew that of two years. On the 11th of January, 1850, he was appointed a canal appraiser, and held about three years. He was subsequently employed in the engineering department of the Hudson River rail road, and at a later period was appointed to the trust of closing up the business of the Rome railroad, pro- jected through this county. After several years resi- dence at Rome, he returned to his seat on the banks of the Black river in this town. He died February 22, 1876, aged 76 years. Mr. Beach was a man of ac- knowledged ability, zealous and energetic in whatever he undertook, and well informed upon all subjects relating to public affairs. In regard to the question of the Black river improvement, in which his influence and official position gave importance, he was the steady advocate of the construction of piers for narrowing and deepening the channel, and opposed to the plan of dams and locks.
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