USA > New York > Oswego County > History of Oswego County, New York, with illustrations and Biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 102
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Of this marriage were born two children, viz., Laura Crocker Wells and Edmund Meigs Wells. The daughter now resides at home. The son graduated at a Philadelphia dental college in the class of 1872.
John C. Wells has been identified with the Episcopal society, and contributed to support religious interests around him, and encouraged all enterprises looking to the education of the rising generation.
His wife united with the church when only sixteen years old, and has remained a member of the Episcopal church until the present time, engaging actively in Sunday- school work.
In politics, he was first a Whig, and upon the formation of the Republican party joined its ranks, remaining firm in its principles, receiving various local offices from the suf- frages of his townsmen, and was supervisor and assessor of his town, and loan commissioner for the county.
He is now in his fifty-sixth year, and still engaged in the active duties of life as a farmer.
ISAAC BOGARDUS
was born in Greene county, New York, July 23, 1817. He was the son of Peter Bogardus, whose great-grandfather came from Holland.
He came to Lysander, Onondaga county, with his father, at the age of fourteen ycars, and in the year 1831, and fol- lowed the occupation of farmer ; and about the year 1850 removed with his father to the town of Granby, Oswego County, and settled on one hundred acres of land, where his widow now resides, he having died September 24, 1873. At the age of forty-four he was married to Miss Harriet Morris, daughter of Reuben and Harriet Morris, who emi- grated from Sussex county, England, and settled first in Lysander, Onondaga county, and afterwards in Granby, Oswego County. Of this marriage were born two children, -Helen and Alice Bogardus. Helen died in infancy ; Alice lived to the age of twelve years, and died January 31, 1877, leaving the mother and widow alone and bereft of her whole family.
Isaac Bogardus was a moderate man and temperate in his habits ; a model of integrity and uprightness of char- acter; respected by all who knew him; and at his death left a devoted wife to mourn his loss and care for the results of their industry and toil. He had accumulated a fine property during his life, surrounded with all that makes life pleasant ; and although for the few years before his death his health was giving way as the result of extra exertion and activity to make his surroundings com- fortable for his last years, he was still active and persever- ing. Mrs. Bogardus carries on the farm ; her sisters-Amy and Eliza-reside with her; her brothers-Charles, Reu- ben, and William-are residents of the same town, living near her.
MRS. JOHN C. WELLS.
JOHN C.WELLS
RESIDENCE OF JOHN C. WELLS, GRANBY, OSWEGO COUNTY, N. Y.
THE WALRADT PLACE, RESIDENCE of MRS. M. HOWELL, OSWEGO FALLS , N. Y.
JOHN I. WALRADT,
the subject of this sketch, was born August 26, 1782, in Cana- joharie, New York, his forefathers being of German descent. He learned early in life the trade of tanning and currying and harness-making from his father, and followed this until he came to Oswego County. He settled at Oswego Falls in the year 1807, bought a timber lot and began clearing off the forest, and on the site of the first building erected for a dwelling during his pioneer days, he, in 1851, erected a dwelling, a lithograph of which is placed above this sketch, and is now occupied by his two sur- viving daughters. At the time of his death he had lived here longer than any other citizen, and his decease, November 18, 1858, recalls several incidents of general interest in connection with its settlement and growth, many of which will be found in the his- tory of the early days of the town.
Coming into the county before the breaking out of the war of 1812, he served as lieutenant-captain in defending the frontier of the State against the attacks of the British.
In the year 1801, before coming to this county, he married Miss Lucretia Hugunin, daughter of Daniel Hugunin, of New York, who was partly of French and partly of German extraction.
Of this marriage were born Gertrude, Mary, and Ellen Eliza Walradt. The eldest died in the year 1875.
Before the mother was twelve years of age she was seriously interested in religious instruction, and after her marriage, having removed to Oswego city for a few months, she joined the church in that place, but moving back to Fulton again, she afterwards connected herself with the Presbyterian church of that place.
Her eldest daughter was one of the first three members of that church upon its organization, 1828.
On account of her religious character and active benevolence, the first Sabbath meetings were held at her house, and the first Sabbath-school was organized in Mr. Walradt's barn. In the religious instruction of her children she early impressed the need of preparation for future happiness ; living over sixty years a professsed Christian, she died at the age of seventy-one, in 1857.
Mr. Walradt followed the occupation of a farmer, and selected as a site for his residence the most sightly and conspicuous of any upon the banks of the river, overlooking the beautiful scenery along its banks, and a large part of the now beautiful village of Fulton. His farm, since his death, has been sold in lots, and is now the north part of the village of Oswego Falls.
Belonging to the old Whig party, he joined the Republican party at its formation, but took very little interest in politics further than to cast his vote for the man who, in his estimation, represented honesty and integrity.
He was a church-going man ; received hospitably all who had a mission work to do, and contributed liberally for the support of church and school. Taking a deep interest in the establishment of the Fulton Female Seminary, he contributed for its building and support, and gave his youngest daughter, Miss Ellen Eliza, the benefit of its advantages, who now, with her sister, Mrs. Howell, desire to place upon the pages of history a lasting tribute to his memory, with the above engraving of his late residence and this short sketch of his life.
HISTORY OF OSWEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.
397
BENJAMIN WELLS.
AEA
MRS. BENJAMIN WELLS.
BENJAMIN WELLS.
The subject of this sketch was born in the town of Northfield, Massachusetts, November 17, 1802. He was the son of Solomon Wells, of New England parentage and of English descent, and the fifth child of a family of seven children. His father was a carpenter and joiner by trade, and of limited means, and gave his children little opportu- nity for an education. The father died when Benjamin was only fifteen years old, and in the year 1817. The mother died in 1814. The family removed from Massa- chusetts, and, settling in Norwich, Chenango county, in 1807, bought fifty acres of land. Carrying on his farm and working at his trade, the father kept his family together until he died. The children being left orphans, Benjamin learned the clothing business in Norwich ; afterwards went to Monroe county, and remained for three years in that business, and returned to Chenango county.
In the year 1827 he came and settled in the town of Granby, on lot No. 1, buying twenty acres, remaining there until 1846, and removed to lot No. 2, where he now re- sides, having cleared off the original forest of fifty acres, and made tillable the most of it. At the age of twenty- five he married Miss Harriet Shattuck, daughter of Ephraim Shattuck, of Massachusetts, and of English de- scent. There were born to Mr. and Mrs. Wells seven children, viz., Oscar, Adeline, Marion, Ambrosia, Kizzie,
Fanny, and Chester. Of these, Oscar died 1829; Marion died 1837 ; Fanny died 1870.
Adeline married Chauncey B. Hancock in 1853, having one child,-Nellie,-who, after spending four years in Falley seminary, graduated in music at the Maplewood seminary, Connecticut.
Ambrosia married T. B. Reynolds, and resides in Oswego city ; they have two children,-Addie and Adell.
Kizzie married Rev. John S. George, a Methodist Epis- copal clergyman, who died at Seriba Corners in 1875. Mrs. George resides at Fulton, and has two children,- Ernest and Daisy.
Chester married Miss Ettie Mattison, daughter of Wel- lington Mattison, of Ilannibal, Oswego County, in 1874, and carries on his father's farm.
Benjamin Wells was formerly a Democrat, but is now a Republican, never taking a very active part in politics. Ile united with the Methodist Episcopal church in 1832, his wife uniting with the same church in 1830,-both remain- ing members of that body until the present time.
Mr. and Mrs. Wells joined the first temperance society organized in the town of Granby, and have instructed their children in the principles of morality and religion, and now are numbered among the representative pioneer fami- lies of Granby township .;
398
HISTORY OF OSWEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.
BENJAMIN B. PIERCE.
MRS. BENJAMIN B. PIERCE.
BENJAMIN B. PIERCE.
The subject of this sketch was born in Orange county, New York, August 13, 1785. His father was a native of the New England States, and his ancestors came to America at an early day, from England, and settled in the State of Connecticut. In his father's family there were six chil- dren, of whom he was the third son. He was left an orphan by the death of his father when only seven years old, and was bound out to a cruel master, by whom he re- ceived very severe treatment. At the age of fourteen he left his master, and thereafter worked his way through the world as best an orphan boy could. At the age of twenty- three, and in the year 1808, March 10, he married Miss Polly French, daughter of Asher and Joanna French, of Connecticut, of English parentage.
He left his native county and settled in Chenango county, in the town of Norwich, just before he was married, and became one of the pioneers of that county. He bought and cleared a farm for himself, besides doing much for others. In the year 1820 he, with his wife and two children, Philander and Lucy, removed to Oswego County, and settled in the town of Granby, on lot 73, where he chopped and cleared off another farm, of seventy acres, being a part of his original purchase of two hundred acres, an engraving of which will be seen on the opposite page of this work, under the portrait of his son, Isaac F. Pierce, Esq., showing the rude log cabin of his pioneer life supplanted by a commodious residence of modern times, and, instead of the original forest, fruit-bearing trees of a half-century's growth, from seeds planted by his own hands. Alone and unaided he carved out for himself a fine property, being always ready to assist those in need, hos- pitable, and generous.
To him and wife were born, after coming to the town of Granby, three more children,-Jonathan, Isaac F., and Sylvester. Philander married Miss Belinda Stanton, lived near his father, in the same town, and died at the age of sixty-eight, in the year 1877. They had three children,- Emily C., Memory A., and Duane L.
Lucy married Nicholas Mosher, lived in the State of Illinois, and had eight children, four of whom are living. Jonathan married Miss Celistia Burnham, of Cortland county; live in Michigan; have five children. Isaac F. Pierce was never married, lives on the farm formerly owned by his father, has added to it some seventy-nine acres, and now is classed among the representative farmers of the county, and has been identified with the interests of his town publiely as supervisor one term, and justice of the peace two terms, or eight years. His opportunities in early life for an education were limited, but he, self-reliant, gave his leisure time to study, and, with the exception of a few terms at Falley seminary, has acquired his education without the aid of teachers, having the experience of some twenty-eight terms as an instructor.
The youngest child, Sylvester, married Miss Charlotte Cary, but lived only about three years, and died in 1854.
Benjamin B. Pierce was denied the advantages of a com- mon-school education while young, but was liberal in his views of education, and gave for the support of both church and school.
He was a member of the old Whig party, and upon the formation of other parties taking its place, joined them, casting his vote for the candidates of the Republican party during its day.
The mother of these children, and wife of Benjamin B. Pierce, as early as 1810 joined the Methodist Episcopal church, and it is said of her that she loved the gates of Zion and the courts of the Lord's house. She was the oldest member of the class first formed at Granby Centre when she died. Her instruction to her children was of the highest type of morality and Christianity, and her pure ex- ample and unspotted life leave their imprint on the minds and character of her offspring. She died March 11, 1869. Mr. Pierce lived to see four generations in his own family ; he was a man of hardy constitution at first, and active as a business man, but after a life of care and toil he died in his ninetieth year, in the year 1875, January 10.
ISAAC F. PIERCE .
RESIDENCE OF I.F. PIERCE, GRANBY, NEAR GRANBY CENTER, OSWEGO CO, N. Y.
.
WM.B.GAYLORD.
MRS. WM. B. GAYLORD.
N
RES. OF W. B. GAYLORD, TOWN OF GRANBY, OSWEGO CO, N. Y.
399
IIISTORY OF OSWEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.
WILLIAM B. GAYLORD,
the subject of this sketeh, was born in New Lisbon, Otsego county, New York, in the year 1814, being the son of Minor Gaylord, who was of New England parentage, born in Connecticut, and of English deseent from William Gay- lord, who emigrated from England at an early day, and obtained his land from the Indians. The grandfather of William B. Gaylord was captain of a company in the French and English war. His father removed from Connecticut, and settled in Otsego county as early as 1810, and after- wards returned to his native place, and married Miss West, of which marriage were born two children. The mother dying, he afterwards married Miss Elizabeth Burr, of New England parentage. Coming back to New York State, where he had previously purchased a farm, commenced elearing off the forest, and began farming. Of this mar- riage were born five children, of which the subject of this sketch was the eldest son. The family resided in Otsego county some twenty years, and then removed to Lafayette, Onondaga county, 1830, and again engaged in farming. Remaining there only six years, the family then came to the town of Granby, Oswego County, and settled on lot No. 21, a part of which is now occupied and owned by William B. Gaylord, an engraving of which will be seen in another part of this work, showing the improvement in agriculture during his day, and the result of his ambition and labor.
At the age of twenty-five years he married Miss Harriet Tator, daughter of Frederick I. Tator, whose parents were natives of Dutchess county, New York, and of German descent.
Of this marriage were born seven children, viz., Jehial A., Mary Frances, James M., Edwin P., Lydia Ann, Willis C., William F. Gaylord, all of whom are now living, and the four eldest married and settled as farmers. The other three live at home with their parents.
Among the most enterprising farmers of Granby town- ship is found William B. Gaylord, engaging largely in raising hops and tobacco as specialties, but keeping a small dairy on the farm, most of which he cleared of its original forest, and now has in a high state of cultivation.
Taking an active part in politics, he has been identified with the Democratic party since he first had a vote, but always weighing the man by the platform upon which he stands, or the principles he represents. He has received on several occasions the suffrages of his townsmen, and held the offices of supervisor, commissioner of schools, and as- sessor.
Receiving sufficient education to become a teacher in his younger days, he has always been favorable to the advance- ment of education in the country.
Now, in the sixty-fourth year of his age, William B. Gaylord is classified with the representative families of the town of Granby, and has contributed largely to the interests of good society wherever his duty has called him, and now past the meridian of life, he and his wife live to enjoy the result of many years of toil and labor, surrounded with duti- ful children, who appreciate the remembrance of a loving mother and a kind father upon the pages of history, which they have assisted with others to make.
JACKSON REYNOLDS.
The subject of this sketeh was born in Westchester county, New York, April 10, 1816. He was the son of Eli Reynolds, of Connecticut, and whose forefathers were of English birth on the father's side, but of Dutch deseent on the mother's. His father having been married twice, he was the only child by the second marriage, his mother's name being Hester Lent, daughter of Borden Lent, who was a guide in General Washington's army during the Revolutionary war. By the first marriage of his father to Miss Vermiliar, daughter of Isaac Vermiliar, a soldier of the Revolutionary war, were born three children, viz., Isaac, John, and Julia; the first two being dead. Julia resides at Glenham, Dutchess county, and is the widow of Henry Atwood.
Jackson Reynolds, during his early days, had little oppor- tunity for an edneation, and as soon as he was old enough, after being in the employ of Brouson & Crocker, boating on the Oswego and Erie canal, purchased a boat for him- self and commenced transporting wood to Syracuse and salt back to Oswego. When he was nineteen years old, in the year 1835, he came with his father to Oswego County, and settled in the town of Granby, on lot No. 45, where he now resides. His father bought one hundred aeres, a tim- ber lot, and with his son began clearing off the original forest. After nine years the father died (1844), leaving the son and mother to take care of the property. The son bought the shares of the heirs of his father's estate, and has since cleared and made tillable a large part of the farm, building a fine farm residence, and surrounding it with fruit-growing and ornamental trees, an engraving of which may be seen on another page of this work, as the result of his ambition and toil, together with the portraits of himself and wife. At the age of twenty-five he married Miss Charlotte Hewitt, daughter of Christopher Hewitt, a native of Connecticut, of English descent, her mother being of Welsh birth. Miss Charlotte Hewitt was born in Saratoga county, February 17, 1813, in the second frame house erected in that county, and built by her grandfather, who was a major under General Washington in the Revolutionary war. To Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds were born two children, both of whom died in infancy. By a life of industry and economy they have acquired a fine property, and now having passed the meridian of life, live to enjoy the result and fruits of their labors.
Jackson Reynolds united with the Presbyterian church of Fulton, New York, some twenty years ago, and still remains a member of that body.
Ilis father belonged to the Democratie party, and he, on arriving at the proper age to use the right of suffrage, although opposed to slavery, adopted the balance of the Democratie platform, and has since been connected with that party.
He is classed among the pioneer representative families of Oswego County, and has always been identified with every interest in his town and neighborhood that had for its object the enlightenment of the people and the further- ance of principles of right.
He has been connected with the publie interests of his town as commissioner of highways and auditor, and is known
400
HISTORY OF OSWEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.
by his fellow-men as an example of integrity and stability. His mother died January, 1864.
Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds are among those families of the town of Granby who are its bone and sinew, without which society would lose all its highest interests, and the town be a blank in the county.
MORGAN BLAKEMAN.
The subject of this sketch was born in the town of Berne, Albany county, March 26, in the year 1813. He was the twelfth child of a family of fourteen children of Simeon Blakeman, a native of Connecticut, and of English descent, from three brothers who came from England and settled in the east about the time of the landing of the Pilgrimis at Plymouth. The father came from Connecticut to Albany county, and afterwards married Miss Lydia Fuller, daughter of William Fuller, of Dutch descent. Morgan Blakeman was hired out by his mother when only thirteen years old (his father having died).
At the age of twenty-five he married Miss Lydia Baker, daughter of John and Susan Baker, of New England descent.
After two years, and in the year 1837, he, his wife, and one child, came by canal and settled in the town of Granby, on lot No. 30, buying ninety-six acres of timber- land. Remained on his farm for about fifteen years, and cleared off nearly all the timber and erected buildings.
In the year 1852 he moved again and settled on the same lot, buying seventy acres, and made considerable improve- ments; remained some fifteen years, and removed again, and settled on lot No. 29, in same town, where he now resides. An engraving of his residence and surroundings, together with portraits of himself and wife, will be seen in another part of this work.
To Mr. and Mrs. Blakeman were born ten children, viz .: John, Sarah, Cynthia, Elizabeth, Aaron, Susan, George, Lydia, Lydia E., and Lois. All of these children are now living except Lydia, who died in infancy. The mother of these children early in life united with the Baptist church, remained firm to its doctrines, careful in the moral training and religious instruction of her children, an ex- ample of true womanhood, and died October 11, 1855. He married for his second wife Mrs. Coffin, daughter of John H. Lamson, of Lysander, Onondaga county, and widow of the late Enoch Coffin, of the same place, in the year 1864.
Morgan Blakeman is now in his sixty-fifth year, having led a life of activity as a farmer, and now, having passed the meridian of life, is surrounded by the result of his labor, and has accumulated a fine property.
He has taken an active part in the political matters of his town, but never desired any office, and is a member of the Democratic party.
His father dying when he was only eleven years of age, his opportunities for an education from books were very limited ; but his success in acquiring property, his repre- sentative character as a man, by all who know him, have gained for him the reputation of an honorable man.
ASA PHILLIPS.
Identified with the pioneer history of Oswego County far more than in name was the late Asa Phillips. He was the principal germ of the village of Phillipsville, located on the west side of the Oswego river, now called Oswego Falls, in the town of Granby, and may justly be called the patron and founder of that prosperous village. Thus prominently identified with the early history of that part of the county where he spent most of his life, a biography of him demands a place in this history.
ASA PHILLIPS.
Asa Phillips was great-grandson of Michael and Freelove Phillips, grandson of Elijah and Rhoda Phillips, and second son of Rev. Asa Phillips, of English descent, who married Miss Anna Works, daughter of Inglesby Works.
He was born in Ashford, Windham county, Connecticut, January 12, 1794. About this time his father removed to Marcellus Hills, Onondaga county, New York, purchased a farm, and settled down with his family. By economy and energy he not only provided a comfortable living, but gave his children a liberal education, sending his eldest son to college. The father died in 1813, at the age of forty-four years. After a few years Asa Phillips bought the other children's shares of their father's estate. In 1816 he came to Geddes, Onondaga county, bought a large interest in the salt-works, shipping and transporting his own salt to Albany and other places. He soon conceived the idea that the great water-power at Oswego falls would give greater scope for his operations, and removed there in 1824, then only a wilderness with one log house. He at once built a shingle- factory, several saw-mills, blacksmith-shop, and dwelling- houses for his men, and soon after built a very large hotel (1828), which remained until 1868, and was burned.
The canal being completed in the year 1830, he put packet- boats on it, and carried on trade for several years. He at first bought a mile square tract of land,-a soldier's right,-but
MORGAN BLAKEMAN.
MRS. MORGAN BLAKEMAN.
MRS. MORGAN BLAKEMAN, (DECEASED )
RES. of MORGAN BLAKEMAN, GRANBY, OSWEGO Co., N. Y.
OLD HOMESTEAD.
LEWIS H. HUTCHINS .
MRS. LEWIS H. HUTCHINS.
00
n
RESIDENCE of LEWIS H. HUTCHINS, GRANBY, OSWECO CO., N. Y.
401
HISTORY OF OSWEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.
afterwards disposed of it by sale in New York. Afterwards purchased another large tract of land on the opposite side of the river, divided it into lots and sold, where a large part of the village of Fulton is now located. His ambition for enterprise and speculation increasing, he went to New York, engaged in banking and speculation, which proved unprofit- able. Returning to Fulton, New York, in the year 1844, he began again at the bottom of business, not weighed down with reverses, and by undaunted ambition and energy soon began to control operations in business circles, and was again in possession of a large property.
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