Our county and its people. A descriptive work on Jefferson County, New York, Part 108

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 108

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father was born; Julia, deceased, leaving four children and husband; John D. Cole, M. D., of Alexandria Bay; Leslie D. at home; Jasper, deceased ; Eunice M., deceased ; and Ida M. Jones of Syracuse, N. Y. Mr. Cole was a Whig and has been Republican since organization of the party; has been assessor and commissioner of highways, also trus- tee of the village. He and wife attend and support the Presbyterian church. In 1887 Mr. Cole built a fine residence in the village where he has since resided

Bullard, P. D., was born in Henderson, N. Y., July 6, 1819, a son of Percival and Dorcas ( Phillips) Bullard. Pereival Bullard was born on the Green Mountains, in Vermont, Angust 12, 1789, and came to Massena with his parents previous to the war of 1812, where his father bought a farm, a part of which is now occupied by Massena village. lle ran a hotel at Ogdensburg during the war, when the British came over and burned the place together with the hotel; he then went to Henderson and from there went West to locate land, and died in St. Louis. Percival Bullard was a merchant in Sacket Harbor during the war of 1812, after which he went to Henderson, where he engaged with his brother Jonathan in the dry goods business, and remained there until 1824, when he came to Theresa and bought a grist mill and saw mill of Leray and ran them until 1830, when he died. Percival 1. Bullard was five years old when he came to Theresa with his father; he is now the oldest continuous resident of the village. When he was thirteen years of age he entered Lowville Academy, where he remained two and a half years, and then began his business life as a clerk in the store of Rulison & Thomas at Evans Mills, where he remained one year as clerk ; he then went to Belleville and engaged in the store of O. S. Salisbury as clerk, where he remained one year until the spring of 1837, when he came to Theresa and clerked for Anson Ranney in his store three years, at the end of which time he entered into partner- ship with Mr. Ranney before he was twenty-one years of age; they re- mained together in business four years until the spring of 1844, when he, Dr. J. D. Davison, Franklin Parker and Artemas Baker built a business block which stood until the great fire in April, 1890. In the spring of 1845 he filled his corner store in said block with goods, where he remained selling goods on his own account until the spring of 1848, when his brother-in-law, Ambrose Walradt, became his partner; they continued in business until 1861, when they dissolved partnership, Mr.

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

Www.dit .nl : b. Davis n as partner continuing the business until the " the war in 1.05. At this time Mr Bullard, J. D. Flower DE S . : : Guvern - Flower and Mr. Waradt firemed a business con- nem nd : the sake of general merchandise; they remained together in Indiaes wat January. 1-10, when Mr. Flower retired from the with Utica. From this time until the spring of 1513 patrued under the arm i Baltard & Walradt. Mr. Battant then > M his interest in the Arm to George Kelsey, and since that time has lived retired. Herwas a farm of le4 acres, and twenty- ex acres of land in the village: als a good residence in the village. He has been One of the railroad commissioners of the town since the A mimen cent of the Black River and Morristown Railroad in 1s:0. In 1st he murmel Cutharine Walradi. a piece of Dr. J-ha D. Davison : id: children: Percival A .. Aligall C., Amelia A .. Clarence D. F: rente A. Ind May. George W., and use that died in infancy. My- Battant Mell in 1570, and the his second wife he married Maria Wwi-wit in the :allof 1 :1: she died November 4. 1536. Mr. Bullard "> & Ile- crat and held the ffice if supervis : for his town in 1851. 1-2 am : 1-2.

Shell & Makepeace .- This Arm is composed wf Gideon Shell. jr .. J. H. Shell and | | Makepeace. Gideon Shell, jr., was born in Herki- mer . anty. N. Y .. in 144h. a son : Giders Shell, born in the same anty in Is0f. and Came to Orleans abun: 1535, returning to Herki- mer chingy after eight years and in 1-4 came to Theresa. He fol- : wel farming in Orleans and afterwards was ibreman ci the tannery gde. N. Y. He has lived a retired life in Theresa for about His wife was Catherine Schultz, born in Herkimer :::: :: 100 And Wielen 1645. The Father : Gideun was Jacob P. Saul de Preven ir there, and was killed at the battle of Oriskany. Gide - Szell. ... tas educated at Theresa at Guidenough's select After tw years : farming Mr. Snell engaged in the milling business in Theresa in 250, buying one-half interest in the mill of A. Il Gardiner. ri abt 1set Mr. Shell and his brother. Jacob H .. thirds interest and E. T. Makepeace, the Father of the : Mike' eace. the remainder, and the firm has since been A. Makepeace They have a general flouring business,

dalty. Mr. Shell was married in December. : Theresa, and they have two children :

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William M. and Jennie A., wife of W. W. Holmes of Redwood, N. Y. William M. was educated at Theresa and was graduated from the State Normal of Potsdam and at present is a student in the New York State Homoeopathic College of New York city. J. 11. Snell was born The- resa, in May, 1861, a son of Jacob II., brother of Gideon Snell, jr. Jacob H., sr., was born at Snells Bush, Herkimer county, January 3. 1831, and came to Orleans at sixteen years of age and to Theresa at twenty years. In 1820 he bought an interest in the grist mill at The- resa and continued in business until his son took his place. J. H. Snell, jr., was educated at Theresa and was ten years old when he came off the farm and succeeded his father in the firm of Snell & Make- peace. In 1885 he married Florence E. Hildreth and they have one son, Karl H., born December 24, 1889. In polities Mr. Snell is a Re- publican and has been trustee of the village and trustee of school dis- turiet No. 7. J. J. Makepeace was born in Alexandria, March 5, 1857, a son of E. J. and Marie (Tahash) Makepeace. J. J. Makepeace was reared in Alexandria and at the age of ten came to Theresa, and was educated there and at Adams Hungerford Collegiate Institute. He clerked in a drug store for A. C. Eddie three years and then worked in a grist mill, and at his father's death took his interest and has since been a member of the firm. November 10, 1892, he married Florence A. Chadwick of Theresa and they have two daughters: Ruth C., born January 11, 1894, and Dorothy M., born May 1, 1896. Mr. Makepeace is a Republican in politics, but not an aspirant to office. He built a fine residence on Brooklyn street, village of Theresa, in 1892. Elliot J. Makepeace, son of Solomon, was born in Pamelia, Jefferson county. April 26, 1829. February 21, 1854, he married B. Marie Tahash, and began his business life in a saw mill and then went into a grist mill for Jason Clark at Plessis, N. Y. They had one son, John J., born March 5, 1857, and one daughter, Elsie J., born April 6, 1861. In 1864 he came to Theresa and became a member of the firm of Snell & Makepeace, and continued in that relation until his death, August 13, 1888. He died in the mill while attending to his duties, and his re- mains are buried in Oakwood Cemetery in Theresa. Elsie J. Make- peace was married to George S. Blackman, September 24, 1889.

Kelsey, James E., M. D., was born in Theresa, June 14, 1850. a son of Jesse Kelsey. Dr. Kelsey was educated in the common and high schools of Theresa, and began the study of medicine in Theresa with

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

Dr. Davison. He attended the Geneva Medical College and was grad- uated from the Syracuse Medical College February 13, 18:3, being the second graduate of that college. He began his practice in his native town and has since had a very successful business. He has been health officer for many years and holds the office at present. He was chief sanitarium inspector of First Division of State Board of Health, having under his charge twelve counties. He isa member of Jefferson County Medical Society. He is extensively interested in agricultural matters and has made a specialty of breeding trotting horses, and is a breeder of Southdown and Shropshiredown sheep. He is at present breeding Ayrshire cattle. Dr. Kelsey has a farm near and in the village of Theresa of 200 acres, also about 400 acres in the towns of Theresa and Antwerp; he is also interested in real estate in Chicago and the village of Antwerp. The doctor was in debt about $1,000 after leaving col- lege and has made his own property and is one of the wealthiest men of Theresa. lle built one of the finest residences in Theresa, where he now resides. In 18:8 he married Olive A. Willard of Antwerp. Dr. Kelsey is a member of Theresa Lodge No. 124, F. & A. M. ; Water- town Lodge of Perfection; Ogdensburg Council P. of J., and Chapter of Rose Croix; Central City Consistory S. P. R. S., thirty-second de- gree, Syracuse, N. Y. : and Media Temple A. A. O. N. M. S. of Watertown, N. Y. ; he is also a member of I. O. F. of Theresa, N. Y. He is at present examiner for about twelve leading insurance companies. In politics he is a Democrat, though not an aspirant to office.

Wheeler, Milton E., was born in Watertown, July 29, 1826, a son of Amos and Relief (llerrick) Wheeler. Amos Wheeler was born in Parkersfield, N. H., in 1:89, a son of Jacob Wheeler, born in New Hampshire, March 19, 1250, and died in 1841; hiswife was born in 1751 and died in 1808, and they had fourteen children. The brothers of Amos Wheeler, Nehemiah and Jacob, came to Jefferson county before the war of 1812. Nehemiah went west and Jacob returned to New Hampshire. Amos Wheeler came to Jefferson county about 1812 and was at Sacket Harbor at the time of the battle. He settled in Water- town and afterwards went to Brownville, then to Worth and after seven years came to Theresa, in 1830, and there died in 1869. He was a member of the M. E. church and very active. He was married twice and had eight children by his first wife and three by his second. Milton

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E. Wheeler was educated in the common schools. He is by trade a carpenter, but carries on general farming, having a farm of 180 acres and is one of the foremost farmers of his town. In politics he is a Re- publican and has served as highway commissioner. He is a member of Theresa Grange. March 9, 1853, he married Mariett Evans, and they had nine children: Ella, George, Ida (deceased), Gilbert, Charles (deceased), Charlie (deceased), Nina (deceased), Carrie and Edward M.

Holley, C. I., was born on the farm he owns, November 13, 1842, a son of Sanford B. Holley, born in Ellisburgh, November 14, 1810. Sanford B. was a tanner by trade, working at his trade for several years; he was also a farmer for several years, Ile was a strong anti- slavery man and assisted many slaves in obtaining their freedom. He died April 14, 1820. He and wife had nine children: Leonora E., Phoebe A., William H1., La Morte Sanford, Charles 1. (as above), Eliza, Elihu B., and two that died in infancy. C. 1. Holley was edi- cated in the common schools and has always been a farmer and stock dealer. He is one of the prominent farmers of his town, owning where he resides 178 acres and in the same town a farm of 155 acres; he keeps a dairy of seventy-five cows. Mr. Holley was married in March, 1865, to Melvina Wilds, and they had one son, William H., born December 19, 1865, a dry goods merchant in Watertown. Mrs. Holley died in 1865, and in 1866 Mr. Holley married Antoinette C. Martin, and they had three children: Ardelia V., born April 18, 1869, wife of O. D. Greene, jr., of Adams; Phoebe A., born April 18, 1873, died in 1815; and Floyd M., born March 2, 1884. Mr. Holley is a Re- publican, but not an aspirant to office; he is a member of Rising Light Lodge No. 63; and of the Belleville Grange. In October, 1861, he enlisted in Co. K, 91th N. Y. Infantry, and served until February 1, 1865. He served in the battles of Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chan- cellorsville, Gettysburg, Petersburg, Wilderness and many skirmishes.

Fillmore, Millard M., was born in Ellisburgh, on the farm he owns, October 18, 1848, a son of Lavias and Mariette (Thayer) Fillmore. Lavias Fillmore was born in Vermont, and came to Ellisburgh in 1816. with his parents, Ethnia and Eunice (Coolegrove) Fillmore. Ethnia was in the war of 1812, and the family are related to the late President Fillmore. He was a member of the State militia, was a farmer, and a Democrat in politics. Lavias died August 5, 1885, and his wife died

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March 24, 1st8. Millard M. Fillmore was educated in the Union Academy, and is a farmer, owning 250 acres of land and keeps a dairy of thirty- five cows. Mr. Fillmore is a member of Rising Light Lodge No. 637, F. & A. M., and also of the Eastern Star and Union Grange No. 5 of Belleville, N. Y. April 17, 18;2, he married Jennie Cham- berlain of Ellisburgh, and they have one son, Arthur M., born August 30, 1526, and educated in the Union Academy and Northern Business College of Watertown, N. Y. The family are members of the Congre- gational church of Woodville, N. V.

Wheeler. Andrew A., born in Mannsville, N. Y., July 18, 1836, is a son of Philip and Roxana M (Shepard) Wheeler. Philip Wheeler was born in Brunswick, Rens- selaer county, N. Y .. June 30, 1800, a son of John Wheeler. John Wheeler traced his ancestry to Worcestershire. England, the family crest being the motto " Facie- tenus." The father of John commenced his settlement in Rensselaer county by the purchase of a farm from the' Van Rensselaer patroon, which John Wheeler, by ad- ditional purchases, increased to a tract of 1,200 acres, and where he was known as a New York slaveholder, and where he spent his life. Upon his death and the settle- ment and division of the estate the slaves were set apart to Philip Wheeler as a por- tion of his share of the estate of his father, and he manumitted them before he was obliged to by law. After inheriting his portion of his father's estate Philip Wheeler engaged in clerking for Philip Dater (a relative by marriage, and at one time a di_ rector of the R. W. & O. Railroad), and was afterward engaged in trade on River street in Troy, and in transporting lumber from Troy to New York city. In 1823 Philip Wheeler was married in Troy to Roxana M. Shepard. In 1825 he moved to Ellisburgh. Jefferson county, N. Y., with his father-in-law, Thomas Shepard, where he purchased of David I. Andrus, agent of Col. Samuel Wardwell, a tract of 1,000 or more acres of land adjoining the now corporate limits of the village of Mannsville, which was divided between them, cleared, and in 1839 Mr. Wheeler sold his part of the purchase, and moving into the village, purchased of Hon. Daniel Wardwell about 200 acres of land, on which the greater part of the village now stands. He soon en- tered into mercantile pursuits in opposition to Newton Mann and his grandson Maxey Mann, in connection with farming, and afterward bought out the Manns and carried on a large and successful business, accumulating an ample property for those lays. He was a Whig and later a Republican, and was tendered the nomination for supervisor and also member of assembly, which he declined, preferring his business to public office ; he was the leading business man of the section for a quarter of a century. After retiring from merchandising he was actively interested in directing his farm work, clearing his land of about 3,000 pine stumps. He finally sold 100 acres of his land, which was cut up into village lots, retaining the 125 acres now owned by the subject of this sketch. He died in 1872 from a paralytic shock, super- induced by his anxiety over the election of General Grant. He watched the polls from the hour of opening until they closed without intermission. He went home, ate a hearty lunch, read returns until after midnight when he retired. He was found

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the next morning by his bedside, speechless and semi-unconscions, and after three days passed away. Roxana M. Shepard, his wife, was born in Troy, N. Y., in 1802, a daughter of Thomas Shepard (see biography of Henry Wardwell Shepard). She died id 1867. They had six children Sallie A., who was sealded at the age of four- teen months; Philip, deceased; Thomas Brown, who was educated at the Union Academy of Belleville, at Cazenovia Seminary and the Norwich University of Ver- mont ; he began the study of medicine with the celebrated surgeon, Dr. Amasa Trowbridge of Watertown, N. Y., continued at Pittsfield, Mass., Woodstock, \'t., and was graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia Uni- versity, New York; he served as resident surgeon at Bellevue Hospital and prac- tieed for a few years in Mannsville ; he removed to Montreal, where he is now prac- ticing as a specialist in chronic cases; he developed a celebrated medicine, known as Dr. Wheeler's Compound Elixir of Phosphate and Calisaya Bark, which is sold, not as a patent medicine, but to physicians for the treatment of chronic cases; he mar- ried Annie Shaw, daughter of Andrew Shaw, a merchant in Montreal and the owner of a line of vessels plying between that city and European ports; he bas had six cluldren of whom two daughters and one son survive, the latter being Dr. Clande L. Wheeler, a graduate of Laval University, Quebec, in the course in arts and from Magill University of Montreal in medicine, and is now a practicing physician in New York city. John, who was drowned July 1. 1853, off the Bay of Quinte, Sackets llarbor; William L., deceased; he was educated at Cazenovia Seminary and McGill University, Montreal, and read medicine with his brother at that place, and was graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, taking the high- est honors at the Ophthalme School of New York ; he was appointed assistant surgeon in the U. S. navy, and served through the late war, being stationed on various ves- sels, the last of which was the iron clad Patapsco, one of the fleet at Charleston harbor. As a volunteer he was with the commander in the night attack by thirty boats on Fort Sumter, where a shell burst above the heads of the commander and himself, from which he received a scalp wound. " Sit still, doctor," the commander said to him, "you will make a damn good breastwork." fle was mistakenly re- ported as captured. He resigned from the navy to marry, but at the request of Cap- tain (now Admiral) Ammen, he took a trip around the world, having first passed an examination for acting past assistant surgeon. Upon his return he began the prac- tice of his profession at Ithaca, N. Y., where he met with snecess. While at Ithaca he completed his matrimonial arrangements and was married to Esther Gracie, eldest daughter of William Beach Lawrence of Ochre Point, Newport, R. 1., and re- moved to Newport, where he practiced medicine until his death. After his death his widow came to Mannsville and caused to be erected the Wheeler Memorial Chapel at an expense of $20,000, in which is a memorial window by the celebrated artist, Mary Tillinghast of New York, which is one of the finest examples of Christ healing the blind in existenec. She placed a trust fund of $10.000 in the care of the parochial fund of the diocese, the income of which is to be forever devoted to maintaining the chapel and grounds. Mrs. Wheeler was killed by a runaway horse in Boston, and her remains were placed by the side of those of her husband in the chapel, where services are held twelve times a year. A. A. Wheeler, the subject of this sketch, was educated in the common schools of his native village, Jefferson County Institute (now known as the Watertown High School) and by private tutors, and was gradu-

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ated from Union College in 1-38, and from the Albany Law School in 1859. He completed his law studies in the offices of Harris, Peckham & Tremain in Albany ; the celebrated criminal lawyer, William Hadley; and Starr, Buck & Sawyer of Watertown, as preparatory for the practice of law in New York city. His brother William (who had been selected by his father to continue his pursuits of merchant and farming) leaving, changed his plans by the advice of his brother Thomas, he in- stead was persuaded by his parents to remain with them. He opened an office in Mannsville in 1-61. August 6, 1862, he enlisted as a private in Co. A, 4th New York Light Artillery, and was made first lientenant. He was stationed at Fort Wads- worth, New York harbor, Sandy Hook and Fort Mahan, defences of Washington. llis battalion was later consolidated with the 10th New York Heavy Artillery. in which Lieutenant Wheeler's company became Co. E. He remained with this reg- iment a little over one year, when he returned home to take command as captain of a company in the 20th N. Y. Cavalry, his father having made partial arrangements which he supposed were about completed, with a captain who had recruited a com- pany and was afterwards promoted to major of the regiment, whereby Mr. Wheeler would succeed him; but through complications brought about by other officers, he was unable to transfer the company to Mr. Wheeler, and he therefore remained at Mannsville, and resumed the practice of his profession, in which he has been success- ful. In politics Mr. Wheeler is an ardent Republican and cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln, having begun his political career by distributing Free State doc- uments and speaking for the Republican party in school districts and the village during the Fremont and Dayton campaign. Since then he has spoken in nearly every gubernatorial and presidential campaign under direction of the Jefferson County Committee and State Committee, his last campaign service being that of Harrison's second administration in 1892, when he had the counties of Albany. Schenectady, a part of Ontario, all of Otsego and a part of Oswego and Jefferson. He was on the State Committees list in the last campaign, but made only a few speeches, the active campaign being transferred West. He has been the president of the village of Manasville four years and inaugurated the reform in sidewalks, which has resulted in the village having the best walks in the State. His name has been before the caucuses and conventions for member of assembly and one year 300 electors signed a petition requesting him to serve as a candidate. He invariably refused to canvass for the office. He has represented his party at two State con- ventions and taken part in the debates therein, following George William Curtis and Editor James of Ogdensburg, in the attempt to break what was known as the Conk- ling unit rule, which was afterwards broken at Utica. He ranks among the best political speakers and writers in the State. In 1895 he was appointed judge advo- cate on General Atkinson's staff, N. Y. Department G. A. R., and was active in service under special laws providing for the preference being given to veterans in civil service appointments in cities, towns and villages, having many important man- damus proceedings and making and reporting decisions under those laws. He is a member of Delta Phi, Umon Chapter, is a member of Zion Protestant Episcopal church of Pierrepont Manor, is now vestryman and has been delegate several times to conventions representing that church.

Thompson, Hon. Anson S., M. D., was born in Harrisburg, Lewis county, N. Y.,

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March 21, 1828, a son of William and Synthia (Stoddard) Thompson. William Thomp. son was born at Johnstown, N. Y., and at the age of seventeen came to Lewis county and died in Carthage in 1871. Anson S. Thompson was reared in Lewis county until twelve years of age, when his parents moved to Denmark, where he was educated in the common schools and Denmark Academy, he taught school for ten terms and in I819 moved to Wisconsin, where he also taught. In 1852 he re- turned to Denmark and began the study of medicine with Drs. Stanton and Allen, and was graduated from the Cincinnati Medical College May 18, 1556. He immedi- ately commenced practice in Ellisburgh, where he has since had a very successful practice. He is a stockholder and director of the Citizens' National Bank of Adams and has been a lifelong Republican; he was supervisor from 1882 to Iss6, deputy collector of customs, 1861-65, and member of assembly, 1887-88, county coroner for three years and has on several occasions been a representative to State con- ventions. lle is a member of Rising Light Lodge No. 637, F. & A. M., of Belle- ville. Dr. Thompson married Emily S. Kibling, November 10, 1858; Mrs. Thompson was a daughter of Stilmon Kibling, who came with his parents from Vermont when a boy and was one of the wealthiest families of the town. Dr. Thompson has one adopted daughter, Maude Thompson, who was adopted at the age of four years. She is a student at Union Academy. Dr. Thompson is one of the managers of the Craig colony for epilepties, appointed by the governor of the State. The wife of Ilugh Thompson, grandfather of Dr. Thompson, was Elizabeth Van Slyke.

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Our county and its people. A descriptive work on Jefferson County, New York, Part 108

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