Our county and its people. A descriptive work on Jefferson County, New York, Part 100

Author: Emerson, Edgar C., ed
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: [Boston] Boston History Co.
Number of Pages: 1368

USA > New York > Jefferson County > Our county and its people. A descriptive work on Jefferson County, New York > Part 100

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Ilunter, Charles B., merchant tailor, was born in Watertown, N. Y., January 4, 1843. After attending the public schools for a number of years he entered the post-office in the capacity of assistant mailing clerk, where he remained for four years, when he resigned his position to accept an offer made him by the proprietors of the Great Wardrobe in their entting department, and after a service of three years he em- barked in business on his own account. Mr. Hunting is now one of the leading merchant tailors of the city and has already built up a very large and growing business. He is a son of Henry R. and Jennie (Smith) Hunter. Mr. Hunter is a prominent member of the Citizens Club and I. O. R. M.

llodge, Clinton D., son of Henry and Lorinda (Stoddard) Ilodge, was born in the town of Rutland, Jefferson county, N. Y., February 29, 1868. After completing his schooling he served an apprenticeship at the mason's trade, after which he was engaged for a period of thirteen years in that work. Mr. llodge was not content to work all his life under others and in 1896 he formed a copartnership with P. H. Bren- nan and Thomas O'Brien, under the firm name of Brennan, Hodge & O'Brien, which is now one of the largest employers of labor in the city and the uniforin excellence of their work is due to the fact that no

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

matter how great the number of contracts on hand, every structure receives their personal supervision, Mr. Hodge looking after the mason work of the firm. November 1, 1888, he married Mary P., daughter of Parley G. and Eliza A. (Otis) Woffle of Brownville, and two children have been born to them: Bessie, aged eight, and Gordon, aged six. Mr. Hodge is widely known as a practical builder. His education has been obtained in the school of experience and there is no branch of the industry with which he is not familiar.

Todd, Edward M., son of David MI. and Phebee (Babbit) Todd, was born in the town of Rodman, Jefferson county, N. Y., October 11, 1852. llis early days were spent on his father's farm and in 1881 he purchased the mill he now operates at Burr's Mills, where he has since resided. In October, 1882, he married Fanny Shannon, who died April 30, 1891, leaving three children : Marvin, Mary and Rena. Mr. Todd was again maried to Emma Archer of Burr's Mills. Mr. Todd is one of the hard working, pushing young men who have preferred a business to a professional life. He has always enjoyed the esteem and friendship of a large circle of business men and social acquaintances and has a wide reputation as a business man of prudence, forethought and in- tegrity.

Baker, George C., a native of the city of Watertown, was born Janu- ary 21, 1865. After completing his schooling he entered the Water- town post-office and was advanced from time to time until he became superintendent of carriers. In 1892 he embarked in the grocery busi- ness in company with J. Il. Fraser, under the firm name of Baker & Fraser, which firm now continues as it was then organized. Mr. Baker was married October 24, 1890, to Grace E., daughter of Alphonso Salisbury who is superintendent of the Watertown Water Works. He is a charter member of the Lincoln League.

Willard, Edward S., M. D., was born at Fairfield, Herkimer county, N. Y., September 3, 1853, and was educated at Fairfield Academy and Dansville Seminary. He began the study of medicine in 1826 with his brother, Dr. Isaac N. Willard, and was in attendance on lectures at Al- bany Medical College during 1878, 1819 and 1880, graduating from there March 3, 1880. He practiced for two years and three months in Adams, six years and a half at Fairfield, and for the past eight years has been located in Watertown, N. Y. Previous to, and during lectures, he was

PERSONAL REFERENCES.

engaged in teaching school. Dr. Willard held the office of coroner three years in Herkimer county, and served as health officer while in Adams and Fairfield.' Dr. Willard comes from a family of physicians, having three uneles, two cousins and a brother who have been or are engaged in the practice of medicine. He is the youngest son of Charles W. Willard, late of Fairfield, Herkimer county, N. Y., and grandson of Col. Charles Willard who was doing service at Sacket Harbor when peace was declared in the war of 1812. The family are of colonial stock, tracing their descent from Major Simon Willard who came to this country from England in 1634, and was one of the founders of Con- cord, N. H., and for thirty-five years a member of the General Assem- bly of the colony.

Kellogg, Samuel B., was born in the town of Rodman, April 7, 1846. and was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools of his native town. In the summer of 1864 he enlisted in Co. C, 186th N. Y. Vols., and served until the close of the war. Returning to Rodman he purchased the grist and saw mill at Worthville in 1866 of his father and engaged in milling and lumbering. In 1866 he married Nancy C., daughter of Charles G. and Betsey (Fox) Wilcox, and they have one daughter, Helen Louisa, born in September, 1869, and educated at Union Academy and Hungerford Collegiate Institute. Mr. Kellogg has been town clerk, justice of the peace and supervisor five years, and is at present sheriff of Jefferson county.

Flummerfelt, John A .- This popular and efficient superintendent of the Prudential Insurance Company is a native of Lambertville, Hunter- don county, N. J. After completing his schooling he accepted a po- sition in the drug store of Dr. A. II. Lee, Phillipsburg, N. J., where he studied pharmacy for three years and then entered the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, at the same time filling a clerkship for the firm of French, Richards & Co. of Philadelphia. Ile accepted a position in the laboratory of the Potter Drug & Chemical Corporation of Boston, Mass., in 1882. In 1886 he was employed with the drug firm of Me- Kesson & Robbins in New York. In 1886, noticing that life insurance was so highly regarded and that it was steadily growing higher in pub-

1 He is now health officer of the city of Watertown, which position he has held since 1-91, and also member of the Watertown Board of Pension Examiners and Surgeons, He is a member of the Herkimer County Medical Society, the Jefferson County Medical Society, the Watertown City Medical Society and the New York State Medical Society.

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

lic esteem, he decided to enter into that business, and accepted an agency at Easton, Pa., with the Prudential Insurance Company of America; starting in the ranks, he has steadily advanced with the com- pany, and by conscientious work has won his present position, that of superintendent of the Watertown District, of which he assumed charge in February, 1896. Mr. Flummerfelt was elected to the Common Council at Easton, Pa., which office he was compelled to resign on ac- count of his removal to Watertown; he is an ardent Republican, a pro- gressive and enterprising citizen and is highly respected. He is a mem- ber of Watertown Lodge No. 49, F. & A. M., and Watertown Chapter, No. 59, R. A. M., Lehicton Lodge No. 244, 1. O. O. F., Easton, Pa., and has been a member of the Prudential Old Guard since 1892.

Tecpell, Etson W., M. D .- Among the promising young physicians of Jefferson county, none stands more prominently than the subject of this sketch. He was born of English ancestors at Kingston, Canada, province of Ontario, April 21, 1874. He took a thorough course in the schools of Kingston, after the completion of which he entered Queen's Medical College, an institute that is regarded as being the peer of any medical college in existence. In 1896 Dr. Teepell was graduated with distinction, receiving the degree of M. D. and C. M. ; he then removed to Watertown and began the practice of his profession. At once be- coming an American citizen, he attached himself to the Republican party in which he is an active worker. He is a member of the English church in good standing. Dr. Teepell's grandfather was a soldier in the American army in the Revolutionary war.

Pollard, William H., was born at Utica, N. Y., August 6, 1848. At an early age he was apprenticed to the machinist trade with the Utica Steam Engine Works, with whom he remained for six years. He then removed to Whitestown to accept a position with B. T. Babbit, for whom he worked eight years. In 1878 he removed to Watertown and entered the employ of the Eames Vacuum Brake Company as a machinist (which afterward merged into the New York Air Brake Company). Through his faithful attention to business he was appointed general foreman, then assistant superintendent, and in 1894 became the super- intendent, in which capacity he is now acting. Mr. Pollard is one of Watertown's most respected and honored citizens and is a prominent member of the Lincoln League.

PERSONAL REFERENCES.

Skeels, Wines R., son of Wines H. and Lydia T. (Richardson) Skeels, is a native of Watertown, N. Y., born June 12, 1843. Mr. Skeels took an active part in the organization of the Watertown Dairy- men's Board of Trade in 1814 and was for the first five years its secre- tary. He has also been secretary of the Jefferson County Agricultural Society, a position he now (1898) holds, for several years and was with his wife charter members of the Watertown Grange. His first business experience after leaving the farm was in Homer, Mich., where he re- moved in 1883 and engaged as a florist, remaining there until 1889, when he returned to Watertown to accept a position with the R., W. & O. Railroad. In 1893 he built the green house he now occupies at No. 213 Washington street. In April, 1822, he married Della A. Chapin of Watertown, and they have two children ; Lumira P. and W Harris. Personally Mr. Skeels is a very social gentlemen and is es- teemed by all who know him.

Brintnall, Titus I., has been engaged in the live stock business since he was seventeen years of age. He is a son of Isaac and Mary ( Her- rick) Brintnall and was born on the old homestead about four miles southwest of the city of Watertown, where he now resides, December 10, 1851. His education was obtained in the public schools of his native town and in Herkimer county. April 21, 1871, he married Mattie, daughter of John and Fanny (Jones) Hose. Mr. Brintnall's parents were both born on the farm where he now resides and his grandparents were natives of New England and came to this country in 1800. Mr. Brintnall is one of the thoroughgoing farmers of Jeffer- son county and his friends are legion.

Adams, Dr. Murray M., was graduated from the New York Home- opathic Medical College, April 16, 1885. He commenced practice in the dispensary of that institution, where he remained nearly a year, then located in St. Albans, Vt., and seven months later removed to Watertown, his native city, where he is now in successful practice. In 1892 he was appointed by Mayor Roth on the city Board of Health and served three years. In 1893 he was appointed state commissioner of health by Governor Flower, in which capacity he also served three years, and through his influence a bill was passed giving the city of Watertown absolute control of its water supply, in regard to its san- itary condition. He is by appointment of the trustees one of the at-

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

tending physician at the Henry Keep Home, and is also serving on the medical board of the City Hospital.

Fuess, Frederick, a native of Germany, was born May 23, 1841. In 1×64 he emigrated to this country and settled in New York city, where lic remained for three years and in 1867 removed to Watertown and entered the employ of Nill & Jess as a clerk and remained in that capacity for three years. In 18:3 he formed a copartnership with W. (. Baker under the firm name of Fuess & Baker; Mr. Fuess succeed- ed the firm in 1854 and has since conducted business alone. Mr. Fuess carries a full line of groceries and provisions and is considered one of Watertown's leading merchants. He was elected alderman in 1897.

()'Brien, Patrick, was born in County Waterford, Ireland, April 2, 1851. In May, 1866, he sailed for America and came direct to Jeffer- son county, where he was employed as a farm hand until 1828 and then purchased some property in the city of Watertown and after some eleven years' residence in that city exchanged his city property for the farm he now resides on, known as the Valley farm. Mr. O'Brien was married on June 19, 18;8, to Mary A. Donahue of Watertown, and they have four children: John D., aged nineteen; Edward J., aged fifteen; Catherine A., aged twelve, and Mary H., aged eight. Mr. O'Brien is a member of the Exempt Firemen of Watertown, No. 32, Co. 1), and the Knights of St. Patrick. He also takes some part in politics and is now sole trustee of his district. Mr. O'Brien has always enjoyed the esteem and friendship of a large circle of friends.

Buck. Robert Jones, has been a resident of the city of Watertown since 1ss0, having removed from St. Albans, Vt., to accept a position with the Davis Sewing Machine Company, in whose employ he re- mained for three years. At the end of this service he was offered a position as bookkeeper with the firm of Farwell & Rhines, which he accepted and held for eight years, and then resigned to become a member of the coal firm of Marcy, Buck & Riley, wholesale dealers in coal, in which business he is now engaged. He was married in Au- gust. 1887, to Mary, daughter of Richard Marcy of Watertown. Mr. Buck is a trustee of the Jefferson County Savings Bank, also of the City Hospital. He is a member of the Royal Arcanum, Corona Lodge, I. O. O. F., and was the first president of the Lincoln League.

Olmsted, William P., the eldest son of Jabez and Orpha (Knight)

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Olmsted, was born in the town of Houndsfield, Jefferson county, N. Y., February 22, 1836. lle removed with his parents to the town of Watertown when he was an infant and where he was educated and has since resided. After obtaining a liberal education from the public schools he was employed by his father on the farm and at the age of twenty one began business on his own account. He now makes a specialty of raising sheep and calves, in which he has been very suc- cessful. Mr. Olmsted has never been married, preferring a quiet, sin- gle life. lle has the happy faculty of making friends and is highly esteemed by all who know him.

Roth, Florentine D., son of John W. and Elizabeth (Daniels) Roth, was born at Nazareth, Pa., July 11, 1855. His ancestors were of Ger- man and English descent and were among the early settlers of this country. Mr. Roth began his business career in a village store as a clerk and before he attained his majority had charge of a large general store at his native home, where he remained for twelve years. At this date his services were seenred by the firm of Bush & Bull at Easton, Pa., where they had a branch store, and after a year he was sent to Watertown by this firm and after another year was admitted to mem- bership in the dry goods firm of Bush, Bull, Roth & Co. This was in 1882, and August 2, 1897, he in company with Mr. Santee succeeded that firm under the firm name of Roth & Santec. Mr. Roth has al- ways taken an active interest in polities, has been an ardent Democrat, was elected alderman from the Third ward, was mayor of the city and the Democratic nominee for member of assembly in the First District. In 1880 he married Emily V., daughter of Palmer and Mary E. (Lereh) Santec.

Dennison, Albert S., was born in Whitestown, Oncida county, N. Y., March 12, 1815. His education was obtained in the public schools and the Rome (N. Y.) Academy, from which he was graduated in 1862. The following year he enlisted in the 3d N. Y. Light Artillery, Bat- tery 1, serving his country faithfully in that company until the close of the war. After the war was over he entered the office of Dr. S. F. Tremain as a dental student and after three years' hard study opened an office on his own account and was engaged in practice for a period of twelve years. In 1842 he removed to Watertown and engaged in the manufacture of waterproof paper bags (an invention of his own), which was the first successful attempt to use paper for carrying wet f

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

goods, such as oysters, molasses, pickles, etc., and was the germ of the present paper box that is used for the same purpose; after three years in that business he entered the service of Mr. Herrick in the flour and feed business, where he remained until 1Ss5, and then embarked in his present business, that of manufacturing rubber stamps, stencils, etc. In 1809 he married Mary C. Gridley of Kenosha, Wis. Mr. Dennison is a prominent member of the A. O. U. W. and the G. A. R.

Williams, William G., is a native of Columbia county, having been born in the city of Hudson, N. Y., in 1829. His father, Nathan Will- iams, died when he was a babe, leaving his mother with six children. three sons and three daughters, with little means for support. The brothers and sisters (now all dead except one sister in Brooklyn over eighty years old) were placed in various homes and he and his mother removed to Norwich, Chenango county, where for several years they made their home with an uncle, James Birdsall, a banker in that vil- lage. After a few years Mr. Birdsall and family removed to Addison, Steuben county, where he had a store and mills. Mr. Williams here received his early education in the public schools, which was at that time but a small country village. In 1840 he with his mother moved to Ifomer, Cortland county, to live with a sister, and the next year to Preble, an adjoining town, where for several years he had a home in the family of a Methodist clergyman by the name of North. His new home was a pleasant one; he had all the advantages of school that the village afforded and at the age of sixteen received his first certificate to teach school. This certificate was given by Henry S. Randall, at that time county superintendent of Cortland county, and afterwards as State superintendent of public instruction granted him a State certificate. He taught his first school in an adjoining district; many of his pupils were much older than himself and being rather frail physically, his happy faculty of making friends of his pupils made his discipline as a teacher a success from the start. In 184; he made a visit to a friend near Troy and was persuaded to take a school which this friend had taught the winter previous, in the town of Brunswick, for the winter. In the spring of 1848 he came to Jefferson county by the persuasion of this same friend and by his assistance engaged to teach his first school in that county, in what was then known as district No. 9 in the town of Watertown. He taught the two following winters in the old stone school house at Watertown Center; during these years he attended the

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old Jefferson County Institute, summers, and was graduated in 1851. lle then engaged to teach the Brownville publie school which he man- aged successfully for the next five years, during which time he was twice elected to the office of town superintendent of the schools of that town. In 1855 the assembly district school commissioners (under the new law establishing such an office) were appointed by the Board of Supervisors and Mr. Williams received the appointment for the Third Assembly district of Jefferson county. Before his term expired he was persuaded by the late Lotus Ingals, who at that time was one of the trustees of the Lamon street school of the then village of Watertown, to take charge of it. He taught this school for eight years, and when in 1865 the present graded school system was established he was placed in the Arsenal street school and taught it for four years. He was then elected by the school board to the office of superintendent in 1869, holding that position not quite a year when he received the appointment of postmaster of Watertown, and for over twelve years he conducted the affairs of the office faithfully and to the satisfaction of the public. During this time and afterwards he was a member of the school board most of the time. He has always taken a lively interest in the various enterprises for the industrial success of the city of Watertown, and had much to do with the organization and success of the Watertown Spring Wagon Co and was for many years one of its directors and chairman of its executive committee. In March, 1843, on the resignation of Superin- tendent Seymour, he was again elected to the office of city superinten- cent of schools, which position he now holds and it is evident that the changes in the public schools which he has inaugurated are working to the satisfaction of those interested in the cause of education and good citizenship. In 1855 Mr. Williams married Mary E. Guard of Brown- ville, who died in 1886, leaving a daughter, Florence E., who is now a teacher in the Watertown High School. In 1888 Mr. Williams married Mary E. Barrows who has long been connected with the Watertown schools.

Sloat, Charles W., was born in the village of Great Bend, Jefferson county, N. Y., October 10, 1810. He acquired a liberal education from the public schools of the towns of Pamelia and Watertown, and when the call for volunteers was issued he was among the first to answer and enlisted in Co. 11, 94th N. Y. Vols., and served his country faithfully for three years, being discharged in 1864 as first lieutenant. After

4-1

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

the war he returned to Watertown and purchased a planing mill, and after two years formed a copartnership with L. C. Greenleaf under the firm name of Sloat & Greenleaf, and has since been engaged in the lumber and milling business. Mr. Sloat has served on the Boards of Aldermen and Education of the city and as one of the supervisors from the city on the county board. He is a member of Watertown Lodge, F. & A. M., and of the G. A. R., of which latter organization he is past commander. He was married in 1868 to Miss Ada L. Budlong of Clin- ton, N. Y ..

Miller, Col. James R., a native of Scotland, came to this country in 1866 and has been a resident of Watertown since 1868. He has been a member of the Masonic fraternity since 1869, having been honored by them with the position of worshipful master of Watertown Lodge No. 49. and eminent commander of Watertown Commandery No. 11. He was captain commanding Co. C on its organization as a part of the 35th Battalion, N. G. S. N. Y., afterward commissioned lieutenant- colonel of the battalion and acted as captain of the Battalion Rifle Team. In 1885 he returned to the service as captain of the 39th Separate Co., retiring finally in 1888. His success as a clothing merchant has been continuous and he now operates one of the finest retail stores in Northern New York. He is a member of the Merchants' Protecting Association and has served on the executive committee at different times. At present he is a trustee of the Jefferson County Savings Bank and a director of the Watertown National Bank, and has just been elected first president of the Watertown Athletic Association. An energetic and thorough going business man, Colonel Miller has been unusually successful in whatever he has undertaken.

McConnell, Joseph A., son of James A. and Jane (Thompson) Mc- Connell, was born in Watertown January 14, 1856. He was educated in the Watertown High School and in Hamilton College, graduating from the later in the class of 1878. He commenced the study of law with Charles A. Sherman, continued with Sherman & Purcell, and was admitted to practice in 1881. He soon after commenced practice in his native city, and from 1885 till November, 1889, was associated with F. H. Peck in the practice of law. In 1885 Mr. McConnell was elected recorder for a term of four years and was re-elected to that office in 1889. In 1892 he refused a renomination for the office. In 1861 the charter of the city was changed. The office of recorder and

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the offices of the justices of the peace were abolished, and a City Court, having civil and criminal jurisdiction, was established. Mr. MeConnell accepted unanimous nomination of the Democratic party, of which he has always been a member, for the office of city judge and was elected by a large majority.

Gardner, Giles L., one of Watertown's progressing and enterprising farmers, is a son of Isaac and Susannah (Grey) Gardner, natives of New England, who settled in Jefferson county at a very early date. Mr. Gardner was born June 5, 1865, in the town of Watertown on the farm adjoining the one he now owns. He obtained a liberal education from the public schools, after which he was employed on the farm. In June, 18%, he married Annetta, daughter of Alfred and Betsey (Spencer) Joy, natives of Canada, and they have three children: Fred 1., aged eight years; Mae C., aged five, and Ethel B., aged three years.

Smith, Edward W., was born in Little Falls, Herkimer county, N. Y., November 30, 1868. He was educated in the schools of Watertown and was graduated from the High School in 1886; he then entered Hamilton College in the fall of 1886, graduating in 1890, and com- menced the study of law in his father's office, where he remained one year and then entered the Buffalo Law School, from which institution he was graduated May 30, 1892, being admitted to the bar at Buffalo in June, 1893. He returned to Watertown and formed a copartnership with his father under the firm name of Smith & Smith. Mr. Smith was city attorney of Watertown in 1895 and 1896, secretary of the Republican County Committee of Jefferson county for the years 1893 and 1894, and chairman of that committee for the years 1895 and 1896, and is a member of Corona Lodge No. 205. I. O. O. F. and of the Lincoln League. January 2, 1894, he married Alice L. Powers, daugh- ter of Isaac P. Powers, and they have one son, C. Powers Smith.

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Our county and its people. A descriptive work on Jefferson County, New York, Part 100

Author: Emerson, Edgar C., ed Publication date: 1898 Publisher: [Boston] Boston History Co. Number of Pages: 1368

Author: Emerson, Edgar C., ed
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: [Boston] Boston History Co.
Number of Pages: 1368