Landmarks of Oswego County, New York, Part 103

Author: Churchill, John Charles, 1821-1905; Smith, H. P. (Henry Perry), 1839-1925; Child, W. Stanley
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason
Number of Pages: 1410

USA > New York > Oswego County > Landmarks of Oswego County, New York > Part 103

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FAMILY SKETCHES.

two children-William D., the leading physician of Camden village, Oneida county, and Alice C., wife of George D. Thomas, of Orwell. Mrs. Towsley died October 8, 1887, aged fifty-two years; Mr. Towsley married second, March 14, 1889, Hattie R. Sprague, a native of Sandy Creek and daughter of Alonzo and Matilda Sprague.

O'Reilly, John Maurice, was born in Syracuse, N. Y., April 4, 1854, son of Patrick, a native of County Westmeath, Ireland, who came to Quebec, Canada, in 1848, and thence to the United States in 1849. His wife was Catherine Shea, a native of Connty Cork, Ireland. Their children were John Maurice, born April 4, 1854; Michael James, born September 27, 1857, died August 18, 1878; Mary Ann, wife of Daniel Hanley, born August 27, 1860. John M. O'Reilly began life for himself when twenty-one ; he bought his present farm in March, 1889. On March 3, 1886, he mar- ried Ellen Delphena, daughter of Thomas McMahon, of Hastings, born November 13, 1855, and their children are Mary Jane Catherine, born March 21, 1887; Patrick Thomas, born April 8, 1888, died August 6, same year; Agnes Elizabeth, born July 28, 1889; Stella Delphene, born June 19, 1892; John Maurice, born October 3, 1894, died October 17, 1894. The subject is one of the trustees of the village of Central Square.

Devendorf, Major H. C., was born in Verona, Oneida county, in June, 1828, son of Peter Devendorf, a native of Herkimer county, one of thirteen children of Rudolph and Barbara (Thumb) Devendorf, natives of Mohawk Valley. Rudolph officiated as judge, assemblyman, county clerk, and held other offices in Herkimer county. Peter Devendorf came to Hastings in 1832, was elected justice of the peace the following year, which office he held twenty years; was also supervisor fourteen years. His wife was Rhoda A. Sherman, a native of Oneida county. They had five children, Henry C., Rudolph H., Mary, Mrs. Rhoda A. Breed, of Central Square, and Mrs. Catherine Beebe, of Central Square. At the age of sixteen he began as clerk in Oswego, later clerked in various places until twenty-four years of age, when, in 1853, he purchased of his uncle his general store in Hastings, which he conducted until 1856, when he removed to Central Square, where he engaged in the same business and where he has since been interested. From 1871 to 1883 he resided in Georgia, where for ten years he served as postmaster of Doctortown post-office. He then returned to Central Square, where he owns and conducts the largest dry goods and grocery store in the town. In 1858 he was made captain of a company of New York State National Guards ; later elected lieutenant-colonel. In 1862 he raised a full company, which went from Oswego as Company D in the 110th Regiment, with him as captain, and served until the close of the war. In 1864 he was promoted major. The last eighteen months of his service was at Fort Jefferson (Dry Tortugas), and was in command of the post when the Lincoln conspirators arrived, Colonel Hamilton commanding in Key West. His wife and adopted daughter, Mrs. Emma Dygert Low, were with him during his service in that fort. In 1853 he married Armonella, daughter of Lorenzo D. Marshall, of Mohawk, N. Y., and granddaughter of John Marshall, of Warren, N. Y., who enlisted in Colchester, Conn., as a soldier of the Revolution, and was supposed to be the last one living who witnessed the surrender of Cornwallis, owing to his youth at that time and his great age at the time of his death. His father was drafted, but was the head of a large family, and his eldest

LANDMARKS OF OSWEGO COUNTY.

son was accepted in his place at the age of sixteen, and was ninety-nine at the time of his death.

Newton, Pitt M., was born in Sandy Creek, May 2, 1825, a grandson of Jotham, of Connecticut, who died aged forty-five. The father of subject was Jotham, also born in Connecticut, who died in this county, aged ninety-four. He married Sarah A. Titus, of Vermont, who died here, aged eighty-two. Their children were Marlitta, Jane, Almira, Sarah A., Pitt M., Harmony, Martha, Sophia, Yates W., Andrew J., Ellen, and Viola. The father was an iron manufacturer and farmer, and served as justice of the peace fifteen years. Pitt M. was educated at Sandy Creek, Mexico, and the college at Meadville, Pa. He taught school six terms, then engaged as clerk. He conducted a mercantile business for thirty-five years and was associated with the Earl & Newton Bank five years, and was supervisor of the town four years. He was also secretary of the Oswego County Farmers' Insurance Company six years, and has conducted a farming and dairy business for many years. He has been justice of the peace for the past six years. June 16, 1850, he married Huldah A., daughter of Levi and Lovisa Matthews, of Mexico, N. Y., and their children are: Lillie E., Cora, Clarence, Arthur, Harlan L., Earl J., and Herbie, of whom Arthur and Herbie are deceased. Lillie has taught in Sandy Creek High School, and is executrix of her grandfather's estate; Cora married P. M. French, of Rochester; Clarence resides in North Platte, Neb. ; Harlan resides in Sandy Creek; Earl lives in Santa Fe, N. M. Yates and Andrew J., brothers of our subject, served in the war of the Rebellion, the former as lieutenant. The subject of this sketch, P. M. Newton, was one of the first to inaugurate the movement for a Union High School in Sandy Creek, which has proved a success and is now an honor to the town. He is a Republican in politics, liberal and independent in his theological and religious views, and since his retire- ment from active business affairs has spent most of his spare time in reading books and the best literature of the day, and enjoys his advanced and riper age most in trying to keep abreast in living topics and issues of the times.

Chrisman, Austin, was born in Ellisburg, November 16, 1835, a son of Peter and Olive (Allen) Chrisman, natives of Herkimer county and of Vermont respectively, who early came to Ellisburg. The grandfather of our subject was Frederick Chris- man. Austin was educated in the common schools, and follows farming, owning a place of eighty acres, which he bought in 1870, though he first came to the town in 1862. He also worked the Orin R. Earl farm for four years. In 1850 Mr. Chrisman married Caroline, daughter of Thomas Exford, a native of St. Lawrence county, and they have these children: Horace, who married Eva Nellis, of Sandy Creek; and Sophia, wife of A. Burton Herriman, also of this town. Abram Chrisman, the only brother of Austin, spent his life in Jefferson county as a farmer, where he died July 26, 1892. His wife was Frances Woodruff, by whom he had twelve children. The three sisters of Mr. Chrisman are Emily, wife of Horace Wood; Sophia, wife of John Boomer; and Celestia, wife of James Ely.

Burnside, William J., a farmer of Kinney's Four Corners, is the owner of a model farm of fifty acres, on which he raises fruit and grain as well as general farm produce. His father, Robert, died August 1, 1872, aged sixty-one, and his mother, Margaret, died March 27, 1889, aged eighty-nine. They had four children, of whom the oldest,

FAMILY SKETCHES.

Samuel M., enlisted August 25, 1862, in Company H, 110th N. Y. Vols., and died in hospital at Baltimore, Md., October 25, 1862, aged twenty-five. The second son, William J., enlisted December 1, 1861, in Company F, 81st N. Y. Vols., and was promoted while in service to corporal and to sergeant, receiving an honorable dis- charge at Chaffin's farm, Va., December 6, 1864. Mary A., the third child, married Samuel H. Cook, February 19, 1872. Robert J., the fourth child, enlisted in Com- pany H, 110th N. Y. Vols., August 25, 1862, was promoted to corporal and sergeant, and died in hospital at Baton Rouge, La., August 25, 1863, aged twenty years.

Leanor, Theophilus A., was born in Canada in 1861, and came with his father's family to Williamstown in 1870. His father, James Leanor, had twelve children: Joseph in New Washington Territory, Canada; Felix. Oliver, Philip and Matthias, in Michigan, Louis in Manitoba, Samuel in Ontario; Ann J., Mary E., and Benjamin at home; and Mary A., in Oswego. He was a lumberman and spent some time in Redfield, then in Orwell, jobbing for William Breeher, and in the fall of 1874 moved to Swartville where he was in the employ of C. W. Swart until 1882; then moved on the east side of the town and built the present Leanor saw and shingle mill, The- ophilus working with him. The father died in 1888, subject and his brother carrying on the business for four years, and since then alone. He married Julia A., daughter of Albert Munay, and has one daughter, Laura, born in January, 1890. He was ap- sointed postmaster at Swartville in the fall of 1893, the office being a new one estab- lished largely through his efforts.

Pattat, Eugene, was born in Hastings in 1838, son of James and Madaline (Tack- ley) Pattat, natives of Alsace, France, who came to West Monroe in 1833, and settled on a farm. Their children are Francis, James, Peter, Catharine, Vintoria, Constant, Eugene, and Joseph. They died aged eighty and eighty-one respectively. Subject remained at home until 1868, when he purchased his present farm of 100 acres. In 1875 he married Georgann, daughter of Joseph Gingrass, natives of Canada, and they have one child, John, born in 1876. They are members of the Grange. Subject's brother, Francis, has devoted his time to farming near Little France. His first wife was Mary Pickeny, and they had two children, Jenette and Elizabeth; his second wife is Mary Loren. He is a member of the Grange. In 1888 he removed to Central Square, where he has since resided. Joseph is in partnership with Eugene and never was married.

Sullivan, Thomas, was born in Oneida county February 24, 1845, son of Daniel Sullivan, a native of Ireland, acarpenter and stone mason by trade. He was an only son, and came to the United States with his mother at the age of five years, his father having died when he was a child. He came to Constantia in 1862. His wife was Ellen Mahana, and their children are Jane, Thomas, William, Kittie, Daniel, John, Ella, Lydia and Adelbert. He died in 1869, and his wife in 1892. Subject began life as a millwright, and in 1865 added to his trade the stone mason trade, thus being equipped with the practical knowledge of laying the foundation, and constructing and finishing of buildings. His services are always in demand, and by his energy and integrity he has provided for himself and family a comfortable home. In 1877 he married Cora, daughter of Alanson Marshall of Constantia, and they have three daughters, Leita, Eva and Gladys.

LANDMARKS OF OSWEGO COUNTY.

Salisbury, De Grasse, was born in Jefferson county, August 24, 1846, a son of Lod- owick and Eliza (Cook) Salisbury, the former dying in Jefferson county, aged eighty, and the latter now living. Their children were Hiram P., Mary, Elizabeth, Cordelia, Alexander, De Grasse, and Jerome D. Our subject was educated in Jefferson county and clerked in a store two years. At the age of seventeen he became a partner with his brother, Hiram, in the grocery business, and at the age of twenty he opened a boot and shoe store in Theresa under the firm name of Lehr & Salisbury. In 1880 he opened a boot and shoe store in Sandy Creek, and here he has since continued. Jan- uary 25, 1882, he married Carrie Ellen, daughter of Henry Corse, of Sandy Creek, and Lydia Howe, his wife. Mr. Corse wasa first lieutenant in the late war, and killed at the battle of Bull Run. Mr. Salisbury is a Mason.

Salisbury, Moreau J., was born in Oswego county August 2, 1840. The Salisburys were among the early settlers of this section and are counted among the most promi- nent families. Ever since the organization of the town the family has been active in public affairs. His grandfather, Reuben, who was a native of Vermont, settled in the eastern part of what is now the town of Sandy Creek in 1822. He was a lieuten- ant in the war of 1812, his commission now in the possession of Mr. Salisbury, dated April 10, 1813, was signed by the colonel cf the 30th U. S. Inft. He died here, aged seventy-nine. Mason, the third son of eleven children born to Reuben Salisbury, and the father of the subject of the sketch, was born in Vermont and came here with his parents when twelve years of age. In 1833 he married Miss Mary Olmstead, who was born in Delaware county, N. Y., in 1808. To them were born Sarah M., Violet, Moreau J., Ann, all living. Mason Salisbury was a miller by occupation, and served the town as justice of the peace thirty-three years, and up to the time of his death was a member of Assembly (in 1860-61), and served the U. S. government as enroll- ing officer during the late war. He died here in 1877, aged sixty-seven, and is sur- vived by his widow, who is still active at the age of eighty-five. Moreau J. Salisbury was educated in the public schools of the town, at Pulaski Academy and Cazenovia Seminary. He served in Co. G, 24th Regiment N. Y. Vol. Inf., enlisting in May, 1861; was with the regiment and participated in all its engagements up to, and in- cluding the battle of Antietam namely, Falmouth, Gainesville Second Bull Run, South Mountain and Antietam; was wounded at Bull Run, and Antietam, and was discharged May 29, 1863, with the rank of sergeant. The 24th Regiment was in the First Army Corps, First Division, and First Brigade, known as the "Iron Brigade." January 8, 1867, he married Helen M., daughter of Lucius and Caroline (Mills) War- riner, to whom were born Fanny C., wife of F. A. Wood of Woodville, Jefferson county, N. Y., M. Juliet, Mason W. (deceased), and Lucius A. Mrs. Salisbury, who was an active member of the Congregational Church died August 2, 1891. Mr. Salis- bury was a member of the Board of Water Commissioners when the waterworks were built in 1891, and has since served the village in the same capacity. He is also a member of the G. A. R., and for many years has been quartermaster of A. J. Barney Post. He has served his town as collector and town clerk. He has continued the business carried on by his father, and runs the only grist mill in Sandy Creek village. In 1885 he built a commodious mill (old mill destroyed by fire), and uses the the stone and roller process. The mill has a capacity of 36,000 pounds of grain and and 6,000 pounds of buckwheat per day.

FAMILY SKETCHES.

Simpkins, Stephen, was married when eighteen years old to Jane Turner. He was a minister of the gospel until nearly the time of his death, which occurred in April, 1894. He was ninety-four years of age and the father of thirteen children, one of whom, John Simpkins, was born in Albany county September 8, 1831. He mar- ried Mary, daughter of Rev. Ard Blakesley of Albion, Oswego county, December 17, 1854. Ard Blakesley was born in Connecticut April, 1799, and was seventy-five years old at the time of his death. His wife, Mary Wickwire, was born in Litchfield, Conn., January 30, 1806; both removed with their parents when young children to Florence, Oneida county, then a dense wilderness, suffering all the privations of a frontier life ; after they were married they lived for a time in Florence Hill, then moved to West Camden, from there to Albion, Oswego county, where Mrs. Blakesley has lived fifty- six years. Mrs. B. was the mother of twelve children, three boys who served in the Union army, all of whom are dead; one, William, fell while attempting to lay a pon- toon bridge in front of Petersburg; another son, James, went on a whaling voyage never to return and was never heard from; he is supposed to have found a watery grave; and one daughter married Harvey Clark and died in Michigan two years ago last January ; of her twelve children, four daughters and one son are now living, and at the advanced age of eighty-nine her health now bids fair to carry her on for some years yet. Rev. Ard Blakesley died in Albion April 11, 1874. Mr. and Mrs. John Simpkins had three children: Leonard, Mina and Nettie. Leonard died at the age of ten years. The family for several generations back have been residents of South Westerlo, Albany county. Their occupation has been chiefly farming, which is now the occupation of John Simpkins, in connection with which he buys and ships to New York city lumber in logs. During the last year he has paid over $2,000 for freight, which fact shows that he is carrying on quite an extensive business in this line. Mr. Simpkins is now sixty-three years of age. His wife's mother, who is now eighty-nine years old, is living with her son-in-law, John Simpkins, and is hale and hearty.

Loren, Francis, was born in Hastings in July, 1842, son of Dominick Loren, a native of France, who came to Hastings about 1830, a blacksmith and farmer. His wife was Anna Buet, and their children were Joseph, Mary, Josephine, Charles, Francis and Sylvester. Our subject was first a cooper, and in 1861 enlisted in Co. A, 24th N. Y. Inft. He served two years, and was wounded in the Second Bull Run August 30, and was discharged. His three brothers were also soldiers and wounded. In 1866 he married Mary, daughter of Jacob and Francis (Germain) Pierson, natives of France, who came to United States in 1852. Their children are Josephine T., Augus- tus D., Florence E., Kittie E., Minnie F., Charles P., Frederick B., Jennie I., and Octavia E. Subject is a member of the G. A. R., Isaac Waterbury Post, No. 418, of Central Square. He and wife are members of the Central Square Grange.

Lilley, Dexter M., was born in the town of Richland September 28, 1865. The great-grandfather of Abner Lilley was one of three brothers that came from Scotland to this country. He settled in Cambridge, Connecticut, and in 1777, March 8, mar- ried Sibble Hale. To them three children were born, Olive, Phineas and Abner. He was a soldier in the great struggle for liberty in the Revolutionary war and was killed near its close. Phineas Lilley, the grandfather, was born at Cambridge, Con- j

LANDMARKS OF OSWEGO COUNTY.

necticut, November 29, 1779. He married Amy Sampson November 1, 1802, and settled in the town of Sandy Creek. He was a farmer and carpenter, also a member of the Presbyterian Church. Their children were Cynthia, Abner, Levi, Oren, Dyanthia, Alfred, Emily, Olive and Mary. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and died February 2, 1855, in the town of Richland at the age of eighty-seven years. Alfred Emery Lilley, the father, was born May 23, 1815, in the town of Sandy Creek. At the age of sixteen years he became a member of the Methodist Church and a most faithful and earnest worker for the cause of Christ. March 9, 1842, he married Lucina Brown, daughter of Daniel and Sallie Brown, and in 1843 purchased a farm one mile east of Pulaski where he soon located and passed the remainder of his life. His wife died March 6, 1855, leaving one son, William W., who was drowned in Lake Ontario November 29, 1868, at the age of twenty-three years, leaving a wife and two children, Josephine M. and William W. In 1857, August 27, he married Betsey Maria Severance, daughter of William and Eliza Hadley Severance. Betsey M. was born February 22, 1830, in the town of Sandy Creek, and was of English origin. The children were Rosie L., Amy E., Phineas, Dexter M., Mina A. and Mattie S. The father died September 16, 1883, at the age of sixty-eight years. Rosie L. Lilley married John A. Frary February 26, 1879, and resides in the town of Richland. Phineas Lilley married Winnie Filkins January 21, 1881, and resides at Oswego. He is a carpenter and sawyer by trade. Mina A. Lilley married George Stark September 11, 1889, and resides at Pulaski. Dexter, Amy and Mattie reside at the old home east of Pulaski with the mother, Betsey M. Lilley. Amy is an elocu- tionist, Mattie S. a teacher of public school and Dexter is a stationary engineer, car- penter and farmer, caring for the old home and its surroundings where the memory of past pleasures still linger and cherished feet have trod.

King, Don A., traces his ancestry to the reign of Queen Elizabeth, when John King, father of the original settler in this county was secretary to that Queen. A son named Edward was a classmate of John Milton. He was later drowned in the Irish Sea and commemorated by Milton in the poem of "Lycidas." John, the an- cestor of the family in this country, settled in North Hampton, Mass., in 1645 from England. Don A., son of Henry and Betsey (Allen) King, was born in Ellisburg, Jefferson county March 27, 1820. His mother was a daughter of Joseph Allen, esq., the first settler at Bear Creek (now Pierrepont Manor). His father, Henry King, came from Southampton, Mass., in 1806. Our subject graduated with honors from Union College in 1844 in the same class with Prof. Joy of Columbia College, Gov. A. H. Rice, William H. H. Moore, James C. Duane, U. S. A., also Gens. Frederick and Howard Townsend of Albany. After graduating he studied law with a Mr. Blake at Cold Springs opposite West Point, and finished with Hon. A. Z. McCarty of Pulaski, in 1847, and September 22 of that year was admitted to the bar. In 1848 he married Mary, daughter of Thomas C. Baker of Pulaski, by whom he has four chil- dren, Ella M., widow of the late Rev. J. H. Wright; Katherine D., wife of J. L. Hutchens; Charles B. and Sarah F. Charles B. is a graduate of Union College, and now resides at Peoria, Ill. In 1848 he formed a co-partnership with Mr. McCarty which existed until 1855, in which year he was appointed a director of Pulaski Bank, which office he filled until its dissolution. Upon the organization of R. L. Ingersoll & Co.'s Bank he became a partner, and was attorney for the bank until 1876. Mr.

FAMILY SKETCHES.

King has been greatly interested in educational matters and was one of the incor- porators of the Pulaski Academy, besides contributing largely toward its prosperity.

Kehoe, William, was born in the city of Oswego June 23, 1839. His parents moved into Scriba and he naturally became a farmer. He has branched out, however, into the meat business and in 1883 started a refrigerator in Oswego for the purpose of jobbing beef and provisions consigned from Armour & Co. of Chicago. He is a member of the firm of Mollison & Dowdle, and in connection with them they have opened branch houses in Waterloo, Ogdensburg, Malone and Tupper Lake. In 1876 Mr. Kehoe married Ellen Lewis of Jefferson county and they have three chil- dren, Norman D., Lena and Hattie. Mr. Kehoe's father was William Kehoe, a na- tive of Ireland who came to America in 1829. His mother was Elizabeth Burns.

Kenyon, Jason, was born in Steuben county July, 1829, son of Clark Kenyon, born in Rhode Island in September, 1796, one of five children of Joseph Kenyon of Rhode Island, who was born in 1773. In early life Clark was a contractor, justice of peace for years, and sheriff of the county. Later he came to Onondaga county, where he engaged as public work contractor. His later life was spent in farming. His wife was Elizabeth Perry, born in Rhode Island in 1797, a cousin of Commodore Perry, and their children were Sally, Nancy, Harriet, Jane, Maria, Perry, Jason and Theresa. At the age of twenty-one subject engaged in public work, since which time has devoted most of his time to farming. In 1862 he enlisted in Co. E, 110th Regiment, served six months, discharged on account of disability. In 1851 he came to Hastings, and the following year married Angeline, daughter of William Benson of Parish. Their children were Cora M., Judson J., Nettie J. (deceased), and Edwin C., Herbie S., Jessie A., now living. Mr. Kenyon is a member of Hastings Grange, also member of Isaac Waterbury Post 418 G. A. R., served as assessor eleven years, and also collector. His wife died in April, 1894, and he is now retired, living with his children.

Klock, Romain, was born in Parish April 29, 1848, son of Daniel and Efau Klock. Mr. Klock's father was among the earliest settlers in Parish and cleared most of his own farm. Subject was educated in Parish then went to work on his father's farm, which he continued until the death of his parents, when he bought the interest of the other heirs and became sole owner. This farm consists of 100 acres, which Mr. Klock keeps in a superior state of cultivation. He married in 1870 Sarah Philbrick, and has three children, Arthur, Ernest and Leona.

Kenyon, Edwin R., was born in Mexico on the farm where he has always resided. His grandfather, Louis, was a native of*Westmoreland county, and came to Oswego county with his family about 1820. He died in Mexico in 1884, aged seventy-five. Joseph, a son of Louis, and father of Edwin R., was a native of Mexico, and lived and died there. His wife, Sarah Hotchkiss, was a native of Vermont. Subject mar- ried in 1856 Ellen Andrews, and they have one child, Luke, a resident of Palermo.

Ingersoll, William O., of Scotch ancestry, was born in Richland, December 7, 1848, a son of Benjamin Ingersoll, who was born in Richland, where he died aged sixty- three years. He married Hannah Bull of Jefferson county, who died in this town, aged fifty-four years. Their children were Alzina, Allula (deceased), Lymon, Isaac, Margaret, John B. and William O .. The father was a farmer, fisherman and lumber-

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Landmarks of Oswego County, New York, Part 103

Author: Churchill, John Charles, 1821-1905; Smith, H. P. (Henry Perry), 1839-1925; Child, W. Stanley Publication date: 1895 Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason Number of Pages: 1410

Author: Churchill, John Charles, 1821-1905; Smith, H. P. (Henry Perry), 1839-1925; Child, W. Stanley
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason
Number of Pages: 1410