Our county and its people. A descriptive work on Jefferson County, New York, Part 94

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 94

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

He has resided for more than twenty-five years on a suburban farm located at No. 161 State street in the city of Watertown, about one and a half miles from the public square, where, with a competent man to attend to the work, he enjoys the quiet of country life and the oppor- tunities for study and investigation thereby afforded.

صر

------

BENJAMIN F. HUNT.

907

BIOGRAPHICAL.

BENJAMIN F. HUNT.

BENJAMIN F. HUNT, the greater portion of whose active business life was spent in other counties than Jefferson, was a native of Rodman, born in 1810, and was the son of Simeon Hunt, the latter being one of the pioneers of that town and also of the Black River country. Simeon Hunt was born in Coventry, Conn., in 1223, and in 1798 was married with Roxalina Moody. In 1803 the young couple came to Rodman, traveling with an ox team and with all their worldly goods packed on the wagon. Arrived in Rodman, Pioneer Hunt built a log cabin, and as travel through the town was then constantly increasing, his house was soon turned into a tavern, and was so conducted by him for many years, although the old log building was soon replaced with a more sub- stantial structure of frame. When the town of Adams (which originally included Rodman) was organized Simeon Hunt was one of its first town officers, and in later years, after Rodman had been set off from Adams, he was frequently elected to important positions, while the town meet- ings were generally held at his tavern, In 1805, when the Congrega- tional society in the town was formed, Mr. Hunt was one of its found- ers, and also one of its first trustees and chief supporters. The few remaining sons of old settlers remember Simeon Hunt as an ardent lover of music, whose fame as a violin player was known throughout the region. However, an accident happened him while felling a tree in the woods, after which he was deprived of the free use of his bow arm.

With his own hands Simeon Hunt cleared a hundred acre tract of heavily timbered land in Rodman, and developed an excellent farm in this once wild region. Indeed, during the first year of their family life in the town, wolves and other wild animals were almost nightly visitors about the cabin, and for more than six months after her arrival Mrs. IIunt did not so much as see another white woman. Thus it is seen that the lives and energies of this young couple were wholly devoted to building up a comfortable home in the new region, and later years their toil was rewarded. Mr. Hunt was an enterprising man and in addition to his farm and hotel he owned a good grist mill and a saw mill. But neither he nor his wife attained advanced years. Mrs. Hunt died in May. 1831, from injuries received in a runaway accident, and in the fall of the same year her husband followed her to the grave.

Benjamin F. Hunt, son of this worthy pioneer couple, spent his young

908

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

life on the old home farm, working during the summer season and at- tending district school in the winter. At the age of sixteen years he began teaching winter school, still doing farm work in the summer, and so continued until he was of age, when the death of his parents threw upon him the responsibility of maintaining the farm and other property. At the age of twenty-five years he married with Sarah R., the daughter of Daniel Talcott, one of the pioneers of Adams. Of this marriage four children were born, of whom two are now living: Daniel Talcott Hunt, of Chicago, and Benjamin F. Hunt, jr., of Boston.

In 1832 Mr. Hunt embarked in mercantile business in Kingston, Canada, but on account of the cholera epidemic of 1832 and '34 he was obliged to leave that locality, hence returned to this county and pur- chased a large farm in Rutland. It was one of the best farms in the town, having excellent buildings. Mr. Hunt proved a successful farmer, but soon after the death of his wife (in 1844) he sold out and removed to Rodman, where he went into mercantile business with Robert S. West. Here he lived about thirteen years, when, in 1857 he removed to Monroe county, and for many years afterward was the Canadian agent for the famous seedmen, Briggs Brothers, of Rochester. However, in 1873 Mr. Hunt went to Bridgeport, Conn., and entered into a mercan- tile partnership with his son, F. S. Hunt, and successfully carried on business until the fall of 1894, when he retired from active life to enjoy the fruits of his well spent years. The second wife of Mr Hunt was Louisa L. Greenleaf, of Watertown, who died in Bridge- port in 1893. In October, 1897, Mr. Hunt married with Mrs. Julia A. Sherman, widow of the late John Avery Sherman, one of Wa- tertown's most influential and honored men for many years. This marriage was one of the most notable events in social life in Watertown, and one which drew attendance and congratulations from all over the land. However, the period of pleasant married life of this aged couple was brief, Mr. Hunt, notwithstanding his advanced age, apparently enjoyed excellent health, yet on April 7, 1898, the destroyer invaded the household and bore him away to eternal rest.

GEORGE H. MCKINLEY.

Comparatively few really successful men attain success in the com- munity of their birth and it is a patent fact that a man who starting in

GEORGE H. MCKINLEY.

910

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

such througout this section. He has been a rigid partisan, always sup- ports unreservedly the party platforms, and is recognized by Jefferson County Democrats as one of their leading spirits. Mr. Mckinley does not, however, engage in politics for purely personal reasons. He has long held to the belief that every good citizen should take an interest in political work. He has served on the Democratic County Commit- tee for twelve years, and had charge of the Roswell P'. Flower guber- natorial campaign in District No. 3 of Clayton, which gave Mr. Flower the largest percentage of votes cast of any district outside of the metropolis. He has served as village trustee and in 1893 was the unanimous choice of the people for the office of village president, serving the term with credit to himself and to the village. Mr. Mc- Kinley's devotion to the cause of education is well known and he has faithfully and intelligently served on the village board of education for eighteen years, being now the president of the body. In 1894 Mr. Mckinley was appointed by President Cleveland postmaster at Clay- ton village and has given a creditable and popular administration. He is a member of a number of fraternal organizations and was a charter member of the National Exchange Bank of Clayton, still serving on the board of directors.

Mr. Mckinley married, in 1876, Margaret E. Halpin of Clayton. Seven children have been born to them: Francis M., student at Cor- nell (Ithaca) Law School; John Henry, Lena Eleanor, Edward Emanuel, George Victor, Ililliard Arthur and Florence Marie.

HORACE E. MORSE.

HORACE ELI MORSE, who for more than forty years has been a suc- cessful practicing lawyer at Clayton, was born in that part of the town of Watertown commonly known as Dry Hill, on August 24, 1831. He was the son of Hiram and Adeline (Rogers) Morse and the eldest of their five children. His young life was spent on the farm, at work and attending district school until about fifteen years old, when he was given two terms in a select school and also several terms in the old Jefferson County Institute. In the mean time, and during the succeed- ing three years, Mr. Morse when not attending the institute, taught district school, and is remembered as a very successful teacher. When nineteen years old he began reading law under the direction of Clark

H & Mworse.

+ ميـ

911

BIOGRAPHICAL.

& Calvin, of Watertown, spending only a few months in the office each year, and otherwise devoting himself to school teaching for a mainte- nance, for the aspiring young student was determined both to educate and support himself. In this landable zeal his efforts were rewarded, and at the Oswego General Term of the Supreme Court in April, 1851, he was admitted to practice. He remained about six months in Clark & Calvin's office, performing several important duties, and in Novem- ber following, at the suggestion of Mr. Calvin, he went to Clayton to begin active practice.

When Mr. Morse arrived at the hotel in Clayton one of the justices of the peace of the town was holding an examination of a prisoner charged with arson, and he was immediately employed by the com- plainant to assist in condueting the prosecution. The prisoner was dis- charged for lack of evidence, but the occasion was fortunate for the young lawyer, and the friendly relation then established more than forty years ago has never been severed. Mr. Morse has been an ardent advocate of reforms and progressive measures that called for considerable expenditures of money, but which ultimately resulted in great and lasting benefit to the town and village. The greatest oppo- sition to these measures was on account of their expense, but the old love of a liberal education for the youth impelled Horace E. Morse to persist in his undertaking until the end sought by him and his associ- ates was finally accomplished; and the superiority of the Clayton Aca- demie School among the educational institutions of the county has been his and their reward.

In addition to his interest in matters pertaining to the schools, Mr. Morse has been an active factor in almost every enterprise having for its end the welfare of the town, both industrial and political. In 1855 he was elected town superintendent of schools and held the office until it was abolished by law. In the fall of 1869 he was elected school com - missioner for the Third district of the county, and served three years. In 1884 and '85 he was supervisor of the town, and in February. 1887, he was appointed by President Cleveland to the office of collector of customs at the port of Cape Vincent. In this position he served four years, living for the time at the Cape, leaving his law matters in charge of his son, George E. Morse, also an attorney at Clayton.

In 1891 Mr. Morse returned to Clayton and resumed practice. He has always been a firm and consistent Democrat, and has taken an active interest in polities since the time he attained his majority. As

912

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

an earnest party adherent, he has occasionally been drawn into candi- dacy for county offices where it was hoped personal and professional popularity might turn the scale of doubtful contest, for the principles he has advocated and upheld have always been those of the minority party in the county.

On April 8, 1858, Horace E. Morse married with Helen Eddy Estes, daughter of Aaron Eddy, of Clayton. Of this marriage seven children were born, but the destroyer has invaded the household and taken four of them away. The children now living are George E. Morse, a prac- ticing lawyer at Clayton and deputy customs collector at that port; Horace W. Morse, cashier of the First National Bank of Clayton, and Florence Alice Morse, also of Clayton.

DENNIS O'BRIEN.

HON. DENNIS O'BRIEN was born in Ogdensburg, March 13, 1837, and the events of his life have become a subject of public history. Though the positions he has held, and now holds, entitle him to a prominent place in the records of the State, yet in the history of his adopted county, where the germ of his future success was developed, it is proper that a brief sketch of his life, character and ability should be recorded. He was favored by nature with a strong physical constitution and equa- ble temperament, which properly directed imparted great intellectnal strength. Thus endowed he early entered upon the realities of life with a determination to succeed.

He studied law at Ogdensburg, and was admitted to the bar in May, 1861; in November of that year he moved to Watertown, where he has since resided. From that time his business and reputation in his pro- fession gradually increased; from 1869 he was an alderman in the city for some four years and afterwards was elected mayor. His judicious management of these offices won the respect and confidence of the sub- stantial portion of the city's population, and his success in his profes- sion gave him a high local reputation throughout the county. In 1880 he succeeded the late James F. Starbuck, as a member of the State Democratic committee. This gave him an opportunity of extending his reputation for ability and fidelity beyond the bounds of his county and generally over the State, and he improved it. For four years he held this position, and in November, 1883, was elected attorney-general

T 1

ASICA TILLLA FCUAL :

ALFRED D. REMINGTON.

913

BIOGRAPHIICAL.

and re-elected in November, 1885, his term of office terminating Jan- mary 1, 1888.

His administration as the State's attorney for this great common- wealth established the fullest confidence in his thorough capability and integrity with all parties throughout the State. In 1889 he remained at home during which time it became evident that public opinion was tending towards his nomination by the Democratic party for judge of the Court of Appeals. This seems to have been conceded on account of his exalted, though comparatively brief public service. When the State convention met he was nominated with remarkable unanimity ; the nomination was ratified by the people at the election by a large majority. On January 1, 1890, he took his seat in that court for the constitutional term of fourteen years and by reason of the many changes that have recently taken place in the membership of the court he is now next to the senior member in years of service. Of his influence in the court and the manner in which he has discharged the duties of his high office we need not speak. His success as a judge is so well known to the people and bar of the State, that it requires no words of commendation.

ALFRED D. REMINGTON.

It is not surprising that readers of biography grow suspicions of what appears to be unstinted praise, remembering that there is a dis- position on the part of many writers to indulge in idle compliment of men who have attained success either in the mercantile or professional walks of life. There are some men, however, too well respected in the community which knows them as they are to call forth suspicion as to the motive of the compiler, and one of these is Alfred D. Remington.

Mr. Remington was born at Manlius, Onondaga county, N. Y., April 13, 1822, a son of Illustrious and Annice (Dennison) Remington. His father, a man of exceptional ability and business acumen conducted a cotton mill in Manlius at this time, and he was reared in that village, receiving the excellent advantages offered by the Manlius Academy. At an early age he engaged in the hat manufacturing business in Auburn and later in Watertown. This business was entirely unsuited to his natural capacity and he soon left it to engage in a paper manufacturing enterprise at Fayetteville, near Syraense, being associated with his

914

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

father under the name of Remington & Son. He came to Watertown in 1856 and with his associates established the business which has grown to be the largest enterprise in Jefferson county.

Considering the length of time they have been in business and the extent of their operations Mr. Remington and his associates have prob- ably paid out more money for labor than any other firm within the bounds of the county. Mr. Remington is still a comparatively young man with many years of work and capacity before him. The value of the Remington enterprise to this community has been great but their influence also extends beyond the limits of the State and even of the country.

The subject of this notice is regarded, and justly so, as one of the leading spirits among paper manufacturers, for he has repeatedly proven himself a man of many resources, fearlessly grappling with problems that might have intimidated less courageous men. The business has grown from a small beginning to large proportions, but as it broadened out Mr. Remington was ever found " measuring up to the line." The mills which represent his life work are noticed more in detail in the industrial chapter.

Mr. Remington was one of the pioneer manufacturers of wood pulp in this country, and the first to make it in Jefferson county. Later when the " Sulphite " process was first talked of he became so impressed with the value of it that he made a journey to Sweden to get at the " root of the matter." This was characteristic of him; he invariably grasps all the details and gets at the bottom of whatever he undertakes, be the matter small or great. But, unlike many men possessed of this attribute, he is always ready to accept the suggestions of others. In Sweden he carefully looked into the " sulphite " process and found that it could be used here to advantage. For experimantal purposes he pur- chased quite a quantity and brought it to Watertown with the result that the first paper made successfully in the United States of ground wood and sulphite was manufactured in the Remington Mill " B." This is a historical faet which a hundred years hence will be valuable, giv- ing to Mr. Remington a foremost place among American paper man- ufacturers of the nineteenth century. During the period covering Mr. Remington's experimental work in the process, mills all over the eoun- try were condemning it.

His politics are Republican and before the formation of the Repub- lican party he was a Whig. He is a staunch partisan and might more

915

BIOGRAPHICAL.

than once have obtained political preferment, but the cares of a grow- ing business, as well as his own disinclination to bring his name into prominence have left him with but one record of public service; that of fifteen years of faithful attention as a member of the water board. Mr. Remington was married in 1849 to Miss Helen M. Houghton, a daughter of Dr. Sidney Houghton of Belleville.

WILLIAM ROBERTS.

WILLIAM ROBERTS, who for a period of twenty years has been identi- fied with manufacturing and other business interests in Philadelphia, and who by his enterprise and public spiritedness during that time has contributed largely to the prosperity enjoyed by the village and its peo- ple, was not a native of this county, although the surname has from the earliest settlement of the town been a synonym for integrity, probity and worth. Mr. Roberts was born in Remsen, Oneida county, Decem - ber 29, 1831, and spent the early portion of his life on a farm. Later on he located at Martinsburg, where he was a farmer, and also fur- nished supplies for the construction of the Black River Railroad. In 18:7 he removed to Lowville and engaged in lumbering and kindred pursuits for several years, but in 1882 he came to Philadelphia and built the large lumber mills, which are still the leading industry of the village. He was one of the founders and the first vice-president of the Bank of Philadelphia, which was organized in 1888; was one of the incorporators, principal stockholders and president of the Indian River Chair Company, which was organized in 1890. In 1894 he purchased the interests of the several stockholders outside his own family. The factory buildings, with machinery and stock, were completely destroyed by fire on September 30, 1892. The work of rebuilding was begun about ten days later, and was carried forward with such vigor that chairs were again being made on February 1, 1898. The new factory is much larger and better arranged than the old, and is in all respects a modern and admirable plant. Charles O. Roberts is general manager of the company.

When, in 1896, the water system of the village was constructed, Mr. Roberts was one of its most interested advocates, and was president of the first Board of Water Commissioners, still holding the position. In- deed, it has been said by residents of the town that no worthy public

916

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

enterprise having for its end the welfare of the village, has been sug- gested or carried into effect without the name of William Roberts having in some prominent way been associated with it. His present business interests comprise chiefly the saw, planing and grist mills in Philadelphia village. In these and other enterprises he is materially assisted by his sons, who are mentioned in this paragraph.

On September 22, 1856, William Roberts was married with Sarepta, daughter of Leonard S. and Sophia (Smith) Wilder. George W. and Charles O. Roberts are the children of this marriage. Both are active business men of the village, and the latter has been supervisor of the town, except one year, since 1889.

AZARIAH H. SAWYER.

AZARIAH H. SAWYER, more frequently known in professional and so- cial circles as Judge Sawyer, was a native of Potsdam, born June 19, 1834, and was the son of Rev. George and Mary Ann ( Richardson) Saw- yer. George Sawyer was also a native of l'otsdam, and was the grand- son of Capt. Manasseh Sawyer, a patriot of the Revolution, who en- tered the service at the age of seventeen years, and was promoted sev- eral times until he was commissioned captain. After the close of the war Captain Sawyer emigrated to St. Lawrence county, where he was a pioneer. The wife of Rev. George Sawyer was the daughter of Major Richardson, an officer of the United States army, who served with distinction during the second war with Great Britain.

Thus it appears that Judge Sawyer is descended from thoroughly patriotic American stock. The ancestor of the family in America was Thomas Sawyer, a native of Lincolnshire, England, and was one of three brothers (William, Edward and Thomas), who crossed the At- lantic in 1636, and settled in Rowley, Mass. In 1646 Thomas left Rowley and was one of the five successful settlers of Lancaster, Mass., and one of its first " Prudential " men. After the town was burned by the Indians, in 1676, it was rebuilt by the Prescotts, the Sawyers, the Wilders and the Houghtons. Thomas married (1648) with Marie, the daughter of John and Mary Prescott, and from them descended a large and distinguished family. John Prescott was the ancestor of Col. William Prescott, the hero of Bunker Hill, and also of William H. Prescott, the historian. As a matter of historic family interest it may

917

BIOGRAPHICAL.

be further stated that from Lancaster there were eighteen members of the Sawyer family in the Revolutionary service at one and the same time; and one company raised in Lancaster was officered wholly with representatives of this patriotic family, but not one person bearing the surname was found among the loyalists of that town.

Captain Manasseh Sawyer, the pioneer of St. Lawrence county, was the great-great grandson of Thomas Sawyer, the settler in Lancaster; and in the same manner, Captain Sawyer, the pioneer, was great-grand- father of Judge Sawyer, of Watertown. In Rev. George Sawyer's family were two children, Azariah Il. and George C. Sawyer, the latter a lawyer and business man of Syracuse. The young life of Azariah and his brother was spent with their parents in the northern counties of this State, the father being a clergymen of the Methodist Episcopal church, following the customary itinerary of his various pastorates. Azariah was educated at Lowville Academy and also under private tutors, intending to enter college, but failing health compelled him to change his course. In 1854 he began reading law in the office of Amos G. Hull, of Fulton, and at the general term of the Supreme Court held at Watertown in April, 1857, he was admitted to the bar. The late James F. Starbuck was chairman of the examining committee, and on Mr. Sawyer's return home he received a letter from that distinguished lawyer asking him to locate in Watertown and become his partner in the general practice of the law. Three months later (July 1, 1857), the firm of Starbuck & Sawyer was formed, and was continued with gratifying success to both partners until Mr. Starbuck's death, Decem- ber 11, 1880.

Since the death of his partner Judge Sawyer has practiced alone. He loves the practice of the law, not because he loves litigation itself, but because it is a profession in which men of standing and capacity find full scope for all their powers, and yet can aid in the able and honest administration of justice. His elients, and those of the firm that pre- ceded, know he will not betray their confidence, his professional asso- ciates know him to be incapable of trick, the bench knows that candor and fairness are his characteristics. Upon all the political issues of the day he entertains clear and well settled convictions, and is perfectly frank in his expression of them. His sentiments are emphatically con- servative-naturally inclined to adhere to the established order of things, and not easily drawn into the advocacy of any of the "isms" of the day. The principles he has maintained have been in accord with 116

918

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Our county and its people. A descriptive work on Jefferson County, New York, Part 94

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