Our county and its people. A descriptive work on Jefferson County, New York, Part 103

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 103

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Tallman, Edwin J., was born in 1860 on a farm near Orleans Four Corners, a son of Jermain and Mary Tallman; he remained on the farm until he was twenty years old, and was educated in the public schools of Clayton and Watertown. He taught school four years, then engaged in the purchase of hay and grain. In 1891 he married Jennie Adams; they have one son, Leland. In politics he is a Republican and has represented his party as a delegate to county, senatorial, congressional and State conventions, and was the alternate delegate from Jefferson county to the last Republican National Convention held in St. Louis in June, 1896.

Delaney, Daniel, was born at Lafargeville in 1856, a son of John De- laney. He was educated in the public schools and worked on a farm for four years. He clerked in Beddlecome's store four years, starting in for himself in 1880, and has continued with marked success up to the

PERSONAL REFERENCES.

present time. In 1883 he married Mary B. Lawlor of Clayton, and they have two children : Evered D. and Pauline. In polities Mr. Delaney has always been a Democrat, was elected town clerk in 1884 and served four years; having been each year re-elected. Mr. Delancy is an es- teemed citizen, doing a large business and at the present time is forty- one years old.

Leonard, Edgar, was born in the town of Lyme, August 15, 1832, his father being Charles Leonard and his mother Rosina Estes. He was educated in the common schools at Three Mile Bay. He worked at wool carding and cloth dressing with his father until 1850, when he went with him to Dexter and continued in the same business. He mar- ried Mary A. Huntington, daughter of Joseph Huntington, of Dexter, in 1853, and they had three children : George E., Addie E. and William E. Ile continued in the wool carding business with his father until 1860, when he went into the lumber business with his father-in-law. lle was clerk of the town of Brownville in 1862 and 1863, and was dep- uty marshal of the town in 1863 under Provost Marshal Fred Emerson, and assisted in making the drafts. In the fall of 1863 he was appoint- ed by James K. Bates (state prison inspector) as keeper in the Auburn prison. He was promoted to the commissary department in the prison the same year, and was in the prison service altogether seven years. He returned to Dexter with his family in 1820, and engaged again in the lumber, sash, door and blind business with Mr. Huntington. He purchased his interest in 1871, and was burned out the same year. He built at once and continued in the business alone till 1882, when his son-in-law, James A. Gilmore, and his two sons came into the business with him, establishing the firm of Leonard, Gilmore & Co. In 1886 they purchased the old Dexter woolen mill property. They sold the plant to Charles Campbell of New York city, who built the present large sulphite pulp and paper plant. Leonard, Gilmore & Co. com- menced building on their lots, which was the first commencement of Dexter's boom. They continued as the Leonard & Gilmore Co. up to the spring of 1895, when his son George died and the firm became in- corporated with Edgar Leonard president; Lucy A. Leonard (widow of George Leonard), vice-president; James A. Gilmore treasurer, and William E. Leonard secretary, under the corporate name of the Leon- ard & Gilmore Co., which is the name of the corporation at this time.

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

Mr. Leonard was appointed once and elected twice to the office of jus- tice of the peace. Ile cast his first presidential vote in 1856 for John C. Fremont. Mr. Leonard came to Dexter a poor boy and is to-day one of the largest owners of real estate. The firm carries on the busi- ness of contracting and building, carries a large stock of hardware, manufactures sash, blinds and doors, deals in lumber and is a large manufacturer of wood pulp. Mr. Leonard and family are members of the First Presbyterian church of Dexter, and he is now supervisor of the town.

Ford, Wayland F., was born in Lafargeville, June 26, 1831, educated at Orleans Academy and Madison University and began the study of law in 1859 in the office of E. R. Keene of Watertown. He was ad- mitted to the bar in 1861 and immediately began practice in his native village in April of that year. In October following he abandoned his chosen profession for the war, enlisting in Co. B, 94th Infantry. Sep- tember 16, 1862, he was promoted to second lieutenant for meritorious services and was discharged from the service in March, 1863, by reason of the consolidation of the 94th with the 105th Infantry. May 1, 1863, he re-enlisted in the 20th N. Y. Cavalry and was promoted to first lieu- tenant September 4 following and to captain of Co. D one month later. He continued with his company and regiment and was mustered out July 31, 1865, having served three years and nine months in defense of the Union. After the close of the war he again resumed the practice of his profession at Lafargeville and in 1866 married Maria Cline, and they have three children: Edith C., Lewis H. and W. Frederick. Mr. Ford has built up an extensive practice and possesses one of the best selected, as well as extensive libraries in the county. His daughter, Edith C., is a noted elocutionist, being a graduate of the Nobel School of Oratory, Detroit, Mich., and at present is a teacher of elocution and physical culture in St. Mary's School, Faribault, Minnesota.

Witt, Ervin W., M. D., son of Levi L. and Fannie E. Witt, was born in Clayton township on his father's farm, January 1, 1865. There were two sons, Byron J. Witt, the well known contractor and builder of Brownville and Dr. Ervin W. Dr. Witt received his early education in the common schools of the neighborhood and for ten years was en- gaged as teacher in various schools of the county. He studied medi-

PERSONAL REFERENCES.

cine with Dr. H. G. P. Spencer of Watertown and graduated from the medical department of the University of Buffalo in 1897, coming to Brownville after graduating, where in the short time in which he has been practicing has succeeded in building up a fine practice, indicative of that success which will be his after a few years of hard and consei- entious work in his profession. In 1892 Dr. Witt married Jennette E. Grant, daughter of Capt. Philander B. Grant of Watertown.

Ilansen, Hans Christian Victhor Valdemar .- Among the prominent residents of Lafargeville, may be mentioned Hans Christian Victhor Valdermar Hansen, born in Denmark and came to America in 1881, coming to Lafargeville in that year. In 1890 he married Salome E. Budlong, daughter of Gideon Budlong, one of Lafargeville's most sub- stantial and respected citizens. Mrs. Hansen's grandfather, Captain Peter P. Folts, was among the earliest settlers and was a soldier in the American army during 1812, and participated in the defense of the State of New York against the invasion of the British forces at Sacket Ilarbor sent to devastate this part of the country. Mrs. Hansen is re- lated to many of the most prominent and wealthy families in Jefferson county. Mr. Hansen, besides the fine residence he occupies as a home, is also the owner of the Viethor House in Lafargeville, which he erected in 1894. The Viethor House has become known far and wide among commercial men as one of the best hotels in the State. Mr. Hansen is a pleasant gentleman to meet, courteous and obliging and withal one of the substantial citizens of Lafargeville.

Potter, Hanly, M. D .- In his book containing a history of the Potter family, Charles Edward Potter goes back in his research to the time of William the Conqueror. We venture the assertion there are few, if any, similar works presenting such an array of names prominent in every department of life from the earliest down to the present time. In our day, and within the memory of most of us, there may be men- tioned the Rev. Dr. Henry C. Potter, D. D., LL. D., Protestant Episco- pal bishop of New York, and his brother, Rev. Dr. Potter, late presi- dent of llobart (now Union) College of Schenectady. Within the domain of medicine and surgery may be mentioned the late Dr. Haz- zard Potter of Geneva, who became famous in both this and European countries for his matchless skill in surgery. Among the representa-

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

tives of this family now living in Jefferson county is Dr. Hanly Potter of Lafargeville, one of the oldest practitioners in Orleans township. Dr. Potter, who was born in Gananoque, Canada, in 1839, comes from good old medical stock. His father was a physician and surgeon of note in Canada and New York, while his brother William was no less distinguished in the profession. Dr. Potter, after finishing the study of medicine, began practice at Lamott, Iowa, and continued at that place until 1869, when he removed to Clayton. In 1870 he removed to Lafargeville, where he enjoys an extensive practice. In 1861 he mar- ried Sarah Miller of Consecon, Canada, and four children have been born to them: Gussie, Dr. George A. of Cape Vincent, N. Y., Will and Ethel. When not attending to his professional duties Dr. Potter can always be found at his pretty home on Main street, a place where he enjoys the pleasures of the domestic side of life when freed from that of the professional. Dr. Potter is a Mason and member of Lafarge- ville Lodge No. 1:1.

Snell, Clinton A., son of Amos and Mary (Turner) Snell, was born November 16, 1869, in the village of Lafargeville, in the house where he now resides. He was educated in the village school, and in 1890 married Ethel B. Walrath, daughter of W. H. Walrath, a prominent merchant of Lafargeville. Mr. Snell's family history shows that his great-grandfather, Adolphus Pickard. was an American soldier in the Revolutionary war, and was shot by an Indian near Springfield, Her- kimer county ; a friend of the wounded soldier, whose name has not been handed down, avenged his injury by promptly shooting the red- skin. Mr. Snell's grandfather, George Snell, was the first person to obtain a deed from the Frenchman, La Farge, who owned all the land in this vicinity at that time Besides his extensive farming and dairy interests Mr. Snell is a breeder of fine Jersey cattle, and among his herd may be found some of the best bred Jerseys in the State. He is an active and efficient member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and one of the official members. Politically Mr. Snell is a staunch Pro- hibitionist, and floated one of the first Prohibition flags in the town. He has a large circle of friends and is known as an honest citizen, and respected by all.

Jerome, Fred J., son of Melvin J. and Lorette Jerome, was born in

PERSONAL REFERENCES.

Lafargeville in 1873, educated in the public schools and Adams Col- legiate Institute. After leaving school Mr. Jerome settled on a farm of his own on the main road four miles south of Lafargeville, where he has since resided. He is a thorough practical man, and excellent farm- er. Ilis father holds at the present time the position of collector of the port of the Thousand Islands, while his brother, Manford J. Jerome, is a druggist in Lafargeville. In polities Mr. Jerome is a Democrat. He is highly respected, successful and a useful citizen.

Strough, Byron J., son of Samuel W. and Emeline (Tallman) Strough, was born on his father's farm in the town of Theresa, February 6, 1844. His early education was received in the schools of the neighborhood and at Theresa Academy, and he obtained a State certificate in 1866. After graduating he taught school until the commencement of his busi- ness career with his brother Lucien S., in 1872, at which time a co- partnership was formed and the brothers bought the drug and grocery business then carried on by Clark B. Bushnell in the Bushnell Block. Here they continued in trade with gratifying success until the inang- uration of their present business, buying and shipping hay and grain, and doing the largest amount of business in that line of any firm in Jefferson county. On June 12, 1867. Mr. Strough married L. Marie Ford, daughter of Rev. Lewis T. Ford, a clergyman of the Baptist faith and prominent as a preacher thirty-five years ago. Mrs. Strough is a sister of W. F., William G. and Charles H. Ford, the former a prominent attorney of Lafargeville and the latter an enterprising farmer and dairyman. Although the town of Orleans is naturally Republican by what is considered a safe majority (about 100). Mr. Strough has been repeatedly returned at each election since 1885 to the office of super- visor of the town of Orleans, proving conclusively that his popularity runs in a deeper groove than that merely political. It has been length- ened and broadened year by year as his intercourse with the farming community has increased, until the man, not his politics, becomes the central object. Mr. Strough is a thirty-second degree Mason, was W. M. of Lafargeville Lodge No. 121, F. & A. M. for twenty-one years; district deputy grand master of the 16th Masonie district for six years, and is at present vice-president of the board of trustees of the Hall and Asylum Fund.

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

Brabant, Joseph H., was born in Clayton N. Y., January 22, 1856, and started in life as a clerk in his native village. He was in partner- ship with Mr. Halt from 1887 to 1896, when he bought out Mr. Hall and now conduets the business alone. Mr. Brabant is a member of the Foresters, Maccabees and C. B. L., and has been trustee and treasurer of the Catholic church for the past three years. He was town clerk three years, treasurer of the village four years and president one term. He married Josephine Charron, and they have seven children: Amos, John, George, Helen, Eva, Gertrude and Florence. Mr. Brabant con- ducts the leading drug and grocery business in Clayton.

Hart, Volney W., was born in Jefferson county, N. Y., April 20, 1833, a son of Augustus W. and Johana (Horr) Hart. His ancestors were of German descent and came to this country at an early date. Mr. Hart's education was obtained in the public schools of his native town, after which he spent two years in the West, being variously em- ployed. In March, 1856, he married Isabelle, daughter of Michael and Jane (Brown) Richardson, who removed from Canada to New York State in 1852, and they had two children: Eddie E. and Willard B. Mr. Hart has always taken an active interest in public affairs and has held the office of commissioner of highways and is now a member of the Prohibition County Committee. He and his family are members of the M. E. church. Edward B. Richardson was born in Pittsburg, Ontario, March 4, 1842 and came to Watertown in August, 1852. He enlisted in the 94th N. Y. Vols , in 1861. This regiment was quartered at Sacket Harbor during the winter, and early in the spring of 1862, marched to Watertown and was hustled on the cars for the field. Ed- ward endured all the hardships of war, was wounded and taken prison- er at the second battle of Run, exchanged, came home on furlough. re- enlisted in the Black Horse Cavalry, had his horse shot under him and at the same time received a sabre cut on his head laying open his scalp, and without having his wound dressed marched five days on small rations, and shut up in a rebel prison and nearly starved to death; he was again exchanged, rejoined his regiment, and was later captured by Mosby's guerrillas and stripped to be butchered, but broke away and ran barefoot over the turnpike road into Harper's Ferry. He remained in the army until the close of the war, came home and remained for a time and then moved to Michigan and from there to Texas, where he

PERSONAL REFERENCES.

died November 10, 1881. His father, Michael P. Richardson, was one of the recruits who joined the 91th Regiment in 1862, and was with his son Edward in the battle at Bull Run, and died soon afterward, Ed- ward's brother George enlisted in the 10th N. Y. Heavy Artillery in 1862, remained in that regiment until the war was over, passing through many hardships and receiving one wound. He is now a farmer in Midland, Mich.

Graves, Joseph F., was born in Clayton, July 29, 1859. He was reared on the farm, which he left at sixteen years of age and began clerking for his father. His father died in 1885 and he succeeded to the business. Mr. Graves is a member of the Odd Fellows and has held all the chairs in the subordinate lodge. lle has been assessor for the town two years and has served on the County Republican Commit- tee. In 1881 he married Mary Marshall, who died in 1882, leaving no children. In 1892 he married Margaret E. Baird, and they have two children, Margaret R. and J. Lloyd. Mr. Graves's mother died in 1893.

Dewey, H. B., was born in the town of Orleans, Jefferson county, March 4, 1859, a son of B. W. and Ellen (Hallett) Dewey, natives of New York State. After receiving a liberal education Mr. Dewey taught school for ten winters and then went into the excursion busi- ness on the St. Lawrence; subsequently he embarked in the furniture and undertaking business and is the leader in Clayton because of his enterprise and progressive methods. Mr. Dewey is a member of the Masonic fraternity, of the Odd Fellows and Foresters. In 1890 he married Mamie L. Swart of Clayton, and they have one daughter, Lois Gertrude. Mr. Dewey is a self-made man and his enterprises have always proved successful.

IIawes, W. P., is a native of Jefferson county, and was for some years engaged in the coal, wood and lime business. In 1888 he became proprietor of the Windsor Hotel and has made it one of the most pop- ular houses on the St. Lawrence. He gives his personal attention to the management of the hotel, which has a capacity of 150 guests and is strictly first-class in every department. Mr. Hawes is a member of the Odd Fellows, both subordinate lodge and encampment and also of the j

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

Foresters. He is a genial and popular gentleman and his house is a great favorite with the public.

Wilbur, S. H., was born in Clayton in 1833. At the age of eight years he left the farm and subsequently learned the trade of carpenter and joiner, which he pursued until two years ago, and has built a great many houses in the village of Clayton, where he still has considerable property interests. Mr. Wilbur is a member of the Masonic fraternity. He has been eight years trustee of the village, which is an evidence of his publie popularity. He married Rebecca Colbeck, who died leaving three children: Maggie, Charles and James; for his second wife he married Mary Ormsby, and they have three children: George, Daniel and Lottie. Mr. Wilbur's parents were Freeman and Catherine Wilbur.

Frame, S. V., M. D., was born in Depauville, N. Y., January 22, 1841, and was educated at the University of Buffalo, graduating in medicine in 1862. September 3, 1863, he enlisted in the 14th N. Y. Heavy Artillery and served with that regiment until honorably dis- charged at Fort Richmond, in February. 1865. Ile was then appoint- ed assistant surgeon in the 16th N. Y. Heavy Artillery and served until the close of the war. Dr. Frame participated in the battles of Dutch Gap, Chapin's Farm, Laurel Hill, the operations about Petersburg, Fort Fisher, Wilmington, N. C., North Branch Cape and Fear River, N. C. He is a prominent G. A. R. man and was the first commander of his post. He came to Clayton in 1868, where he has since followed the practice of his profession. He married Avis D. Johnson, and they have three children: Merton E., Herbert J. and Vivian B. Dr. Her- bert J. Frame is a graduate of the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Baltimore, Md., in the class of 1896, and is now associated with his father. Dr. Frame's father was a physician in the town of Clayton, at Depauville, and his grandfather was also a physician at Russia, Her- kimer county, and came to Depauville in 1822.

Sternberg Bros., Depauville, N. Y .- This firm consists of E. G. and W. F. Sternberg, and they are one of the most prominent manufactur- ing concerns in the town of Clayton. They manufacture annually from 20,000 to 22,000 Yankee cheese boxes, about 5,000 limburger cheese

PERSONAL REFERENCES.

box shooks, 200,000 shingles, and do a large custom trade in sawing lumber, planing, splitting, etc. Their plant covers two acres of ground. They supply cheese boxes for thirty cheese factories and their trade in every department is steadily increasing owing to their excellent work and honorable business methods. G. E. Sternberg was born April 20, 1821. W. F. Sternberg is one year younger than his brother, and both obtained a practical training in their business with their father, who purchased the plant with the saw mill about fifteen years ago, es- tablishing the cheese box factory in 1892. The present firm was formed March 1, 1894, when the present partners purchased the business from their father, E. G. Sternberg.

Brown, G. W., was born in Ontario, Canada, but came to the United States when thirteen years of age. In 1892 he started his boat manu- facturing and boat livery business; he builds all his own boats and has the leading boat livery in Clayton. He keeps for hire yachts, cat boats, skiffs and canoes, keeping in all fifty to sixty boats. His boat livery is opposite the Windsor Hotel in Clayton, and is the popular headquarters for anglers and all lovers of boating. Mr. Brown is a practical boat builder and learned his trade with the St. Lawrence Skiff Company. He is a member of the Foresters and Odd Fellows. Mr. Brown married Minnie D. Porter, daughter of Pitt C. Porter, and they have one son, Millard F. Summer tourists will find Mr. Brown's the proper place to go for the best boat livery service on the river and will always receive the best attention and most liberal treatment.

Grant, Col. R. P., was born in Neversink, Sullivan county, N. Y., May 6, 1844, and at ten years of age was a clerk in a country store, going to school winters until sixteen. He then became manager and financial clerk in his father's store and after his father's death he pur- chased the business, which he conducted alone for a year. He then learned the tanning business and at the age of eighteen was a partner in a tannery. At nineteen years of age he enlisted in the 92d N. Y State Militia, in June, 1863, and his regiment was ordered out when Lee came up the Shenandoah valley in 1864. He was captain of his company at this time and two years later became colonel of the regi- ment and was so mustered out in 1866 and returned to the tanning business. He soon after began dealing in live stock and in 1868 went

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

to Hawkinsville, Oneida county, N. Y., with George B. Anderson, in the tanning business. In 1869 he went to Proctor, Pa., in the employ of Thomas E. Proctor of Boston, a large tanner. Subsequently he dealt largely in tan bark on the Susquehanna River and with Samuel Robertson built a large plant at Sterling Run, Cameron county, Pa., capable of turning out a ton of sole leather every pay. Ile disposed of this business five days before Black Friday on Wall street, New York, and got his money. The next year he opened a bank in Fort Madison, Iowa, with Senator W. G. Kent, and sold out the following year, coming direct to Clayton and started a private bank called the Bank of Clayton, with A. F. Barker, October 1, 1826. In 1884 he bought out Mr. Barker and with fifty-five others started the Exchange Bank with a capital of $40,000 and has been cashier of the bank ever since. Colonel Grant married Lettie C. Hayes of Boonville, N. Y., in 1820, and they have one son, Robert D., who is now assistant cashier of the new National Exchange Bank. Colonel Grant is a strong factor in the cheese business of Jefferson county and has been for fifteen years. He is the managing owner of eight factories in the towns of Clayton, Orleans and Pamelia, and carried off the medal for the best combination of cheese factories at the World's Fair exhibition in 1893, scoring the highest of all combinations of factories exhibiting. He has been and is now the president of the Jefferson County Cheese Board of Trade and takes a lively interest in the business of the county. Colonel Grant started life as a poor boy and by his own abilities has become one of the ablest financiers in the State and owns half of the stock of the Exchange Bank, besides being a stockholder in other sound concerns. He has long been treasurer of the Anglers' Associa- tion and is a member of its executive committee; this committee se- cured from the State an appropriation of $30,000, wherewith to pur- chase islands and points of land at the Thousand Islands to make a State reservation. He is also vice-president of the New York State Fish, Game and Forest League. In 1897 he was made a director of the old Exchange Bank to close up its affairs, preparatory to organ iz- ing the new National Exchange Bank, which was established with 100 stockholders, $50,000 capital and a paid up surplus of $10,000, and opened for business January 1, 1898.

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Our county and its people. A descriptive work on Jefferson County, New York, Part 103

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