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 47
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MRS. CATHARINE VAN RENSSELAER COCHRAN. ( CAPT MALCOLM'S MOTHER. )
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HISTORY OF OSWEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.
four years he again found himself compelled to scek more commodious quarters, which he did by removing to the Judson block just erected. In the year 1867 he was mar- ried to Miss Verona Glassford, of Oswego city. Four children blessed the union, but death invaded the peaceful fireside and removed one. Fortune continued her favors to Mr. Neal, and in the year 1871 he bought the lot on which the stately, magnificent block which bears his name now stands. Ou the site of the block stood for thirty-six years stone walls five feet in thickness, which were intended by the builder, Theophilus Morgan, to inclose a grand hotel at the packet landing. In the spring of 1872 the erection of the new block was commenced, and notwithstanding the great expense and trouble attending the foundation (spiles had to be driven over nearly the whole surface to the amount of eight thousand feet) the imposing structure-a monu- ment to Mr. Neal's industry and perseveranec-was finished in one year. In another part of our work ean be seen an illustration of this fine building, which is not only a eredit to Mr. Neal, but an ornament to the city as well.
WILLIAM SCHUYLER MALCOLM.
Distinguished as this gentleman's ancestry are on his mother's side, they are only less so on that of his father. His grandfather, General William Malcolm, was descended from a powerful Scotch family, one of whom-Malcolm of Balbeadie-was created a knight-baronet by King Charles the Second. General Malcolm served throughout the Revo- lutionary war with distinguished courage, commanding a regiment at the battle of White Plains, and taking part as a general officer in many subsequent engagements. After the war he was during three terms a member of the State legislature from the city of New York.
His son, Samnel Bayard Malcolm, was bred to the law, became the private secretary of President John Adams, and was honored with the especial friendship of that emi- nent patriot. His marriage with the daughter of General Schuyler, their residence at Utica and Stillwater, and his death in 1814, are mentioned in the biography of Mrs. Cochran.
William Schuyler Malcolm was born at Utica, on the 23d day of February, 1810, and removed to Oswego with his mother and step-father in 1825. He was educated for a civil engineer, but preferred a nantical life, studied navi- gation, and at the age of nineteen went to sea. At the end of two years, having made voyages to Smyrna, Leghorn, and the West Indies, he returned home, and immediately went to commanding vessels on Lake Ontario. For twenty- three years he sailed the lakes, commanding numerous vessels, both sail and steam, many of which he owned. Among the ships he commanded were the steamer "Os- wego," the propeller " Chicago," and the steamer " United States," then considered the finest vessel on the lakes.
For a short time during the " Patriot war" of 1838-39, Captain Malcolm acted as deputy United States marshal, being especially selected, on account of his knowledge of the frontier, to prevent violations of the neutrality laws.
The part he took on board the steamer " United States," just before the celebrated affair at " Windmill Point," has been mentioned in the general history.
In 1842 Captain M. was married to Eliza Lawrence, daughter of Richard Lawrence, Esq., of Oswego. She, like her husband, was a zealous member of the Episcopal church. Mrs. M. died in 1865.
Captain Malcolm was elected one of the first aldermen of the city of Oswego, in 1848, but aside from that has taken little active part in political life. In 1854 he was ap- pointed an assistant engineer in the United States civil ser- vice, being stationed at Oswego. This position he held until 1869. Since that time Captain M. has led a less active life than before, though still owning some property in use on the lake.
Captain Malcolm is the father of seven children : Cath- arine Schuyler, wife of Elias Baxter; Mary Lawrence, wife of Donglas Beeson, of Erie, Pa. ; Philip Schuyler Malcolm, Emma Malcolm, Richard Lawrence Malcolm, William S. Malcolm, Jr., and Anna Van Rensselaer Malcolm. Ile has been for many years a warden of Christ church, and has always manifested a deep interest in its welfare. Few men have lived a more active life, few men are more widely known along the great lakes, and very few indeed display more vigor under the weight of sixty-seven years.
MRS. CATIIARINE VAN RENSSELAER COCHRAN.
This lady was not only, as is well known to all the earlier citizens of Oswego, a daughter of one of the most illus- trious patriots of the Revolution, but represented a family that for more than a hundred and fifty years exercised an immense influence over the colony and State of New York. From 1650, when Philip Pietersen Sehuyler, an enter- prising young gentleman from Amsterdam, made his home at Beverwyck (now Albany) down to 1804, when General Philip Schuyler, the father of our subject, sank into the arms of death amid the sorrow of a nation, there was no time when some one of that family was not an eminent leader of the people.
Colonel Philip Pietersen Schuyler was a man of mark under the last Dutch governor of New Netherland and the first English governors of New York. Ilis second son, Colonel Peter Schuyler, was mayor of Albany for twelve successive years. Exercising great influence over the Six Nations, he led a body of Mohawks and Dutch colonists through the wilderness of northern New York into Canada the year after the destruction of Schenectady (1691), and inflicted heavy loss on the French in retaliation for that terrible massacre. He was afterwards a member, and finally president, of the king's provincial council, chief commis- sioner of Indian affairs, and for a time acting governor of the province of New York.
His younger brother, Captain John Schuyler, led an expedition against Canada the same year as the Schenectady massaere, though then but twenty-two years old. lle after- wards held many important stations, both civil and military,
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HISTORY OF OSWEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.
and was for eight years a member of the colonial assem- bly. Still another brother, Arent Schuyler, located in New Jersey, and founded an influential family there, one of his sons having been the Colonel Peter Schuyler who defended Oswego against De Montcalm, as mentioned in the general history.
The eldest son of Peter Schuyler, of Albany, Colonel Philip Schuyler, succeeded to his father's influence over both whites and Indians. For a long period he was a prominent member of the colonial legislature, a military leader, trusted to defend the colony against the French, and a commissioner of Indian affairs, who held nearly the same relation towards the Six Nations that was afterwards held by Sir William Johnson. His wife (who was also his cousin, being a daughter of Captain John Schuyler) was the subject of a book called " An American Lady," by the Scotch authoress, Mrs. Grant,-a work which is recognized as the pleasantest picture now extant of pre-revolutionary times on the Hudson. Numerous other members of this remarkable family occupied positions of considerable impor- tance, both civil and military.
One of the brothers of the lady just mentioned was John Schuyler, Jr., at one time mayor of Albany. His eldest son, born in November, 1733, was Philip Schuyler, after- wards the distinguished American general and statesman. Entering the military service at the age of twenty-one, this Philip Schuyler was one of the most active and useful officers engaged in the old French war, and his services in Oswego County have been duly noticed in the general his- tory. He was one of the foremost leaders in the long civil opposition to British tyranny, and when his country was compelled to resort to arms he placed life and fortune at her service. Of his career as a major-general in the Rev- lution it would require far too much space to speak here, and it is too well known to make such mention necessary. Called to the senate of the United States after victory had crowned our arms, he was one of the foremost members of that august body, and when at length he slept the sleep of death, five years after his friend Washington, all true Amer- icans mourned the loss of the patriot, the soldier, and the statesman.
We have spoken at unusual length regarding the ancestry of Mrs. Cochran, for it is seldom indeed in this youthful country that a single family presents such a long list of dis- tinguished members. Her own life was marked by much more of incident than usually falls to the lot of woman. Born at Albany on the 20th of February, 1781, nine months before the surrender of Cornwallis, she was almost literally rocked in the cradle of revolution. She was bap- tized in the Dutch Reformed church, General and Mrs. Washington being two of her sponsors. Her name was the same as that of her mother, who was a daughter of the distinguished family of Van Rensselaer. When only six months old she was the central figure of a most romantic yet terrifying scene.
Though General Schuyler had withdrawn from the army, he was still active in the cause of his country, and the British and Tories were anxious to get possession of his person. He was aware of the fact, and a guard of six soldiers had been furnished him, three of whom were on
duty at a time. Nevertheless, a bold ruffian named John Waltermeyer, accompanied by a gang of Tories, Canadians, and Indians, made the hazardous attempt. Just at twilight on a sultry August day the general and his family were collected in the front hall of his house in the suburbs of Albany. The three guards off duty were asleep in the basement; the others were lying on the grass outside and not very vigilant. A servant announced that a stranger wished to speak with the general at the back gate. A trap was at once suspected, the doors were instantly barred, the family ran up-stairs, and the general sprang for his arms. Waltermeyer's gang surrounded the house, the three guards who were barred out fled, and the doors were soon broken in. The three soldiers below rushed up to the back hall where they had left their arms, but these had been removed by some of the family, and they were quickly overpowered.
At that moment it was discovered that the infant Catrina was asleep in its cradle in the basement. Margarita, the general's third daughter (then a brave girl of twenty-two, afterwards the wife of the celebrated patroon, General Ste- phen Van Rensselaer), instantly rushed down the two flights of stairs, snatched up the child, and bore it to the upper rooms. As she fled up-stairs one of the cut-throats flung a tomahawk at the heroic girl. It whizzed past the head of little Catrina, slightly cut the dress of Margarita, and was buried in the railing of the stair. A moment after Waltermeyer met her, but supposing her to be a servant allowed her to pass, exclaiming, " Hello, wench, where is your master ?"
" Gone to alarm the town," replied the quick-witted girl. The general heard her, flung up a window, and called out at the top of his voice,-
" Come on, my brave fellows, surround the house and secure the scoundrels !" A panic seized on the marauders, who immediately fled, carrying off their three prisoners and a large quantity of silver plate.
Such was Mrs. Cochran's infancy. As she grew up she was the friend and companion of her father, accompanying him on numerous journeys, and constantly meeting the most distinguished society of the country, who always surrounded her father and her equally distinguished brother-in-law, Alexander Hamilton. At the age of about twenty she was married to Samuel Bayard Malcolm, a rising young lawyer, and, like herself, the child of a Revolutionary general. For many years the young couple resided at Utica, where General Schuyler had possesscd a large estate. Four children were born to them there, two of whom died in their youth, the others being the well-known citizen of Oswego, Captain William Schuyler Malcolm, and his brother, Alexander Hamilton Malcolm.
About 1812 Mr. and Mrs. Malcolm removed to Still- water, Saratoga county, where Mr. Malcolm died, in 1814. Mrs. Malcolm removed to Utica, where, in 1822, she mar- ried her cousin, Major James Cochran, a son of Dr. Robert Cochran, who had served with General Schuyler during the old French war, who married the general's sister, and who was surgeon-general of the American army during the Revolution. Major Cochran had himself been a member of Congress and a State senator. One daughter was born of this union, who died when but two years old.
RESIDENCE OF LUTHER WRIGHT, COR.W. SIXTH & SCHUYLER STS., OSWEGO, N. Y.
Luthur
Weight
LUTHER WRIGHT was born at Nelson, New Hampshire, on the 13th day of September, 1799. In the year 1806 he came with his father to the town of Rodman, Jefferson county, New York, where he remained, following agricul- tural pursuits, until seventeen years of age, when he com- menced teaching school. He continued in this honorable vocation during a period of two years, and subsequently entered the employ of Mr. Jesse Smith, of Smithville, Jefferson county, one of the most extensive merchants on the northern frontier. He remained in the establishment of Mr. Smith about seven years, when he removed to Tompkins county, New York. He successfully conducted a mercantile business in that locality until 1832, and in that year came to Oswego, then a small village, and engaged in the business of milling and forwarding, which he conducted successfully until 1842, when the entire establishment was destroyed by fire. In the following year he founded the Luther Wright's bank, which proved to be one of the most successful banking institutions of that period. He has since been engaged in banking, and is the president of the Lake Ontario National bank and the Oswego City Savings bank. His integrity, uprightness, benevolence, and truly Christian
spirit won the confidence of his fellow-citizens in a remark- able degree, and he has been chosen to many positions of honor and responsibility, and he has ever discharged their duties with credit to himself and to the entire satisfaction of the people. He was one of the first subscribers to the stock of the Syracuse and Oswego railroad, and was elected its first treasurer ; he officiated in that capacity until it was merged with the Delaware and Lackawanna railroad company. He was also treasurer of the Lake Ontario Shore railroad company from its organization until its sale to the Rome, Watertown and Ogdensburgh railroad company, and was one of the projectors of the Oswego gas-light company, and the president of that company. It has been truthfully said, that all the public local enterprises of his day have felt the influence of his capital and the benefit of his advice.
In 1828, Mr. Wright united in marriage with Lucinda Smith, who died in the city of Oswego in 1838. Two years afterwards he married Miss L. Bailey, a native of Adams, Jefferson county, New York. His present family consists of three children, two sons and a daughter, the wife of Mr. John T. Mott, of Oswego city.
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HISTORY OF OSWEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.
In October, 1825, Major and Mrs. Cochran removed to Oswego, making their home on the east side of the river, at what is now the corner of Canal and Cochran streets, but was then a forest, where they both resided till their death.
During her residence in Oswego, Mrs. Cochran was a zealous and devoted member of Christ church, the first Episcopal church organized in the place, and her life was in full accordance with her religious professions. In the words of one who knew her, she was honored, beloved, and respected by all around her : honored for her noble family connection, comprising the Schuylers, the Van Rensselaers, the Van Cortlands, the Livingstons, and the Hamiltons ; beloved for her many virtues and courteous manners, re- spected for her native intellect and mental culture.
Her husband died in 1848. Mrs. Cochran survived him nine years, and passed away on the 26th day of August, 1857, almost exactly seventy-seven years after the marau- der's tomahawk nearly blotted out her infant life.
JOHN B. EDWARDS
was born near old Tennent Church, Monmouth county, New Jersey, May 23, 1802. In 1807 he came with his father to the town of Lyons, Ontario county (now Wayne), where
John B. Edwards
he resided when Clinton inaugurated the movement for constructing the Erie canal. Mr. Edwards worked one year as a laborer on the canal, and in the following year, 1820, became a sub-contractor. His energy and great adaptability for this kind of work attracted the attention of Governor Clinton, and in 1822, then but twenty years of age, he was appointed superintendent, and faithfully dis-
charged the duties of that position until the year 1824, when he came to Oswego for the purpose of superintending the construction of the Oswego Canal Company's hydraulic canal ; and has since been engaged largely in the construc- tion and care of the docks and piers in this harbor.
The late Gerrit Smith was an extensive property-owner in this city, and in 1831 his foreman in the construction of work in the harbor displeased him, and upon inquiry for a man who combined the necessary qualifications for the position with honesty and integrity, he was promptly re- ferred to John B. Edwards, whom he at once secured, and from that time up to the date of his death, embracing a period of forty-three years, he was the trusted agent of Mr. Smith, and still has charge of his estate in this county. It is a remarkable instance, and reflects much credit upon both principal and agent, that during this long period not an unkind word or act passed between them.
In 1826 Mr. Edwards married Lydia M. Hall, a native of this State. Their family consisted of four children, viz., two sons aud two daughters, all of whom are deceased. Mrs. Edwards died January 20, 1856, and was buried in Riverside cemetery. January 5, 1858, he united in mar- riage with Julia M. Imlay.
His first vote was cast for De Witt Clinton, and he subsequently became an anti-Mason, afterwards a Whig, and upon the organization of the Republican party became an earnest worker in its ranks, where he has since remained. He was an abolitionist, and performed substantial service for the slave clement, emulating in this humane work with his honored and philanthropic principal and friend, whose life was devoted in a great degree to the unfortunate victims of American slavery. He has been a faithful worker in the interests of the village and county, and has held the office of supervisor of Scriba, county coroner, president of the village, alderman of the city, trustee of the orphan asylum, and upon the organization of the Gerrit Smith library was chosen a member of the board of trustees, and still officiates in that capacity. Ile is also president of the Oswego County savings bank. He became a member of the Methodist Episcopal church in 1828, and his active business carcer has ever been measured by the scale of religious duty and a God-like principle. Ile has given liberally to the support of the church, and in its general welfare manifests a lively interest, and was lay delegate to the last general conference of the Methodist Episcopal church. He has now attained the age of seventy-five years, and during a residence of more than half a century in this city no man has won the esteem and confidence of the people in a greater degree. His fellow-citizens point to him as " an honest man, the noblest work of God."
COL. EDWARD M. PAINE.
This gentleman was born in England, on the 29th day of October, 1832. When but five years old he was brought by his father, Mr. Edmund Paine, to Oswego, where the home of both has ever since been. As the youth grew up to manhood in the frontier village, by the side of the lake and
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HISTORY OF OSWEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.
the river, with the primeval forest not far distant, he showed a strong predilection for out-door sports, and at one time was considered one of the best marksmen in the place, win- ning some valuable trophies from numerous rivals.
COL. EDWARD M. PAINE.
In September, 1854, he was married to Miss Hannah G. Stewart, of Granby, by whom he has had two children.
When the Rebellion broke out, Mr. Paine, then twenty- nine years old, was one of the very first to respond to the call to arms; entering the service in April, 1861, as cap- tain of Company B, Twenty-fourth New York Infantry. He went to the seat of war with his regiment, but was dis- abled by a sunstroke, and resigned in September of the same ycar.
In June, 1862, finding himself recovered, he again en- tered the army, this time as captain of Company A, in the One Hundred and Sixth New York Infantry. After serving through 1862 and 1863 (taking part in the battle of Martinsburg in the latter year), he entered with his regiment in the spring of 1864 into the great campaign of a year's duration, which ended in the crushing out of the rebellion. In a little over two months Captain Paine took part in the battles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Cul- pepper, Cold Harbor, Kelly's Ford, Petersburg, Brandy Station, Laurel Hill, Summit Point, Weldon Railroad, Hanover Court-House, and Monocacy. In the latter con- flict he was severely wounded. On the 12th of October following he was discharged on account of his injuries.
No sooner were his wounds healed, however, than he was cager to engage once more in the fray. In March, 1865, he entered the service for the third time, being com- missioned as major of his last regiment, the One Hun- dred and Sixth. As such, he took part in the closing scenes of the great war, being present at the capture of Petersburg and Richmond, at the battle of Sailor's Creek, and at the surrender of General Lee.
It is needless to say that one who so persistently sought the battle-field whenever his physical condition permitted, did not flinch in the presence of the foe. So strongly did his conduct impress his superior officers that on their recom- mendation, although he had been a major only a few weeks at the close of the conflict, he was brevetted lieutenant-colo- nel and colonel by the president of the United States for gallant and meritorious conduct throughout the war. Col- onel Paine was finally mustered out July 3, 1865.
After his return Colonel Paine was elected in 1870 to represent the first and third wards of his city in the board of supervisors of Oswego County, and was re-elected in 1871, 1872, and 1873. So many re-elections are pretty good evidence that his judgment as a civil officer equals his courage as a soldier.
DANIEL ELLSWORTH TAYLOR
was born in the town of Granby, on the 23d of June, 1845. At the age of eight years he removed with his parents to Niles, Cayuga county, where he attended school during the winter months, and assisted his father on the farm each summer until September 21, 1861, when, at the age of sixteen, he enlisted as a private in Company H,
Daniel E. Taylor
Seventy-fifth Regiment N. Y. V. Infantry, then forming at Auburn. He left that city with his regiment the latter part of November, 1861. Their destination was Fort Pickens, Santa Rosa island, Florida. While disembark- ing from the steamer " Baltic," in which they had taken passage, an accident befell Mr. Taylor, by which he came very near losing his life. The rebels were in possession of
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HISTORY OF OSWEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.
harbor-vessels with supplies or troops for the garrison, and they were obliged to anchor about a mile from shore. They were compelled to land their cargo in small boats, also themselves to disembark by the same means. The boat in which Mr. Taylor went ashore was swamped, there being a high sea running at the time, and he came very near get- ting drowned. He remained with his regiment, and was in all the skirmishes of the first Red River expedition. On the arrival of Banks' command a general assault was made on the rebel works. They had been driven into their for- tifications, and the Union troops had taken such shelter as they could procure, behind logs, stumps, etc. Mr. Taylor, taking refnge behind a stump from the murderous fire of grape and canister and shells, heard a comrade, about two rods away, crying for water. He left his refuge, walked over to his comrade, in plain sight of the rebel sharp- shooters, gave the wounded soldier a drink of water and made him as comfortable as possible, and then returned to his post behind the stump. As he reached for his gun a bullet went erushing through his right arm, entering at the elbow, passing down the forearm, and coming out at the wrist. Seven weeks afterwards his arm was amputated. He was discharged August 22, 1863, having served twenty-three months and one day. Several incidents worthy of record we could relate, showing his devotion and bravery, but space will allow of but one:
At the battle of Pattersonville the Seventy-fifth Regi- ment was detailed and sent out through a thick growth of underbrush to the left of the main line, to observe the rebels and prevent them turning the left flank of the regi- ment. When they had marched about a quarter of a mile they received a deadly fire, which they returned as best they could. Finally, the rebels ceased firing, and the Seventy- fifth advanced to a ditch and formed their line. A small foree was called for to reconnoitre. Taylor volunteered, and was sent out with others, and had proceeded about twenty rods, when a rebel could occasionally be seen skulk- ing in the underbrush. Each man in the squad was left to make his own way. Taylor and a comrade were cautiously going along a crooked path, when they came to a thick clump of bushes, and each went on either side of it, when they could discern rebel uniforms through the bushes at the distance of about twenty feet. They both brought their guns to their shoulders at the same time. Taylor's gun missed fire, but his comrade's went off. No sooner had this been done than a dozen or more guns were aimed at them. They immediately fell flat on their faces, and thus escaped unharmed, although the bushes were cut all around them. As soon as the rebels had emptied their guns they jumped up and ran back as fast as possible, and succeeded in joining the regiment, with oue man fatally and two seriously wounded.
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