Our county and its people. A descriptive work on Jefferson County, New York, Part 97

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 97

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PERSONAL REFERENCES.

years, at the end of which time he became superintendent of the Cen- tral New York Telephone and Telegraph Company and has since acted in that capacity. He is a prominent citizen and esteemed by all with whom he has any dealings.

Walts, Charles H., was born in the town of Pamela in 1839, a son of William and Louisa (Allen) Walts, who came from Otsego county at an early day to Jefferson county, where they still reside. Charles Il. was educated in the schools of the county, having the advantage of attending the Jefferson County Institute. Te commenced the study of law in the office of Clark & Calvin, and subsequently entered the Al- bany Law School, receiving his diploma in 1861, with the degree of B. L. He commenced the practice of his profession in Theresa, but soon removed to Watertown, where he has since resided He formed a partnership with Judge W. F. Hubbard, with whom he was asso- ciated until February, 1876, when he joined with William F. Porter, forming the firm of Porter & Walts, which continued until January 1. 1896. In February, 1892, he formed a partnership with Fred B. Pitcher. Ile was elected to the bench in 1872 and re-elected in 1883. Judge Walts served three years as city attorney and is prominent in political circles.

Bean, George R., might be termed a native of Watertown, having removed with his parents from Otsego county when he was but two years of age. He was educated in the public schools and at an early age entered the service of Dexter & Herrick, who were engaged in the flour and feed business, in whose employ he remained for seventeen years. In 1885 he embarked in business on his own account, forming the firm of George R. Bean & Co., which continued for nine years, when it was succeeded by Messrs. Robins, Bean & Makepeace, and after one year that firm was succeeded by the present firm, that of Bean & Makepeace. This firm now owns and operates the only electric mill in the county, grinding all kinds of grain with the exception of wheat. It requires a force of from five to ten workmen to operate the mill. Mr. Bean was married in July, 1852, to Myra Nelson of Pulaski, N. Y. He is an active member of Corona Lodge I. O. O. F., the A. O. U. W. and the K. S. F. I.

Ball, Henry M., one of Watertown's most respected and honored citizens, was born in the town of Rutland in June, 1820. He removed

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE,

to Watertown when a boy and was educated in the public schools and attended one term at the old Watertown Academy. In 1839 he was offered a position in the store of Stephen Johnson at Depauville, which he accepted and continued there for two years. This was his first busi- ness experience, and in 1841 he returned to Watertown and associated with Walter N. Woodruff in the grocery business. After two years of mercantile life in this line the firm was dissolved and he returned to the farm, where he remained for several years. Mr. Ball has been twice married, first, to Mehetable Burnham in March, 1843; she died died in April, 1871, and in 1823 he married Eunice D. Drullard, of Buffalo, N. Y.

Zimmer, John Otto .- Among the leading exponents of the tailor- ing art of Watertown is John O. Zimmer, born in the town of Alex- andria, N. Y., July 10, 1868. His first business experience after leaving school was as a salesman for A. Bushnell & Co., where he re- mained for five years. After leaving A. Bushnell & Co. he served an apprenticeship with A. Montgomery of Watertown, then held a position as custom cutter in the tailoring establishment of Cornwall Bros. of Alexandria Bay, N. Y. After leaving Cornwall Bros. he entered busi- ness on his own account in 1884 and from the beginning has been a decided success. He turns out a very superior class of work and han- dles only the highest grades of fabrics and a competent force of ten to fifteen skilled workmen are employed. Mr. Zimmer is highly regarded by the community for his ability and gives his personal attention to every garment made in the house. September 23, 1891, he married Bertha E. Countryman of Watertown. Mr. Zimmer is a son of George (born in Germany) and Anna (born in Watertown) (Zimmer) Zimmer; his father came to this country in 1866.

Bergevin, Peter, a native of Canada, was born December 9, 1842. His parents removed to Watertown in 1850, where the family remained about a month. Mr. Bergevin then removed to the town of Rutland, Jefferson county, where he was engaged in farming until 1841, when he returned to Watertown and established himself in the livery busi- ness in which he has since been engaged. In November, 1871, he married Josephine Becker of Natural Bridge, N. Y. Mr. Bergevin is a member of the G. A. R., having served in Co. A, 10th Regiment N. Y. Vols., during the war of the Rebellion.

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PERSONAL REFERENCES.

Fuller, George F., a native of the town of Rutland, Jefferson county, N. Y., was born in October, 1865. After attending the district schools he learned the grocery and meat business as an employee of George McComber, with whom he was associated for seven years and later in the employ of Fred Fuess, with whom he continued for ten years. He at this date embarked in business on his own account in company with Mir. Dryden, under the firm name of Fuller & Dryden, which copart- nership still continues. Mr. Fuller is known as a sound and reliable business man and is fully alive to the requirements of the time.

Rhodes, Orlo B., editor of the Watertown Daily Standard, was born in the town of Scriba, Oswego county, N. Y., January 14, 1849, the only child of Schuyler and Amanda M. (Sherman) Rhodes. He was brought up on a farm and attended the district school until he was thirteen years old, when he entered one of the ward schools of Oswego. At the close of the school year he entered the Oswego High School and was prepared for college. He entered Brown University at the age of seventeen from which he was graduated in the class of 1870. He was elected vice-principal of Hungerford Collegiate Institute, Adams, N. Y., which opened in September of that year with Albert B. Watkins, Ph. D. principal. He served in that capacity until 1816, when he became joint principal with Dr. Watkins and held that position until 1878 and then accepted a call to the Morgan Park Military Academy at Morgan Park, Ill., where he remained one year. In 1882 Mr. Rhodes returned to Adams and was connected with the Hungerford Collegiate Institute one year, then became principal of that institution as the successor of Dr. Watkins. Under his principalship the debt of the institute was paid off, a small endowment was established and the name was changed by the Board of Regents of the State to Adams Collegiate Institute. Mr. Rhodes remained principal until July 16, 1894, when he became editor of the Watertown Daily Standard. During his service as a teacher Mr. Rhodes tanght chiefly Greek and Latin and prepared a good many boys for college, acquiring a marked reputation in this work. He also gave much attention to English literature and as an educator was highly regarded in the State. Ile is a man of decided intellectual tastes, which have showed themselves in his teaching and in his editorial work. He has written a good many educational papers, lectures and book reviews, some of which have been recognized as of exceptional force and ability. Mr. Rhodes still resides at Adams, going back and forth to his editorial duties each day.

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

Adams, Charles L., was born in Wisconsin in 1852. He is a graduate from Hamilton College and was a teacher for several years. He came to Watertown in 1848, and entered the office of John Lansing, under whose tutelage he remained until he was admitted to the bar in 1882, and has since been in active practice. Mr. Adams was appointed city attorney in 1884 and again in 1889, and was elected surrogate in No- vember, 1895.

Seaver, Alanson D., son of William and Eliza (French) Seaver, was born in Watertown, N. Y., in 1845. His parents were natives of Ver- mont and among the early settlers of Watertown. Alanson D. was early apprenticed at the machinist's trade and was employed for many years by the Davis Sewing Machine Company as a tool maker. He was elected county treasurer in 1884 and re-elected in 1887; he was also city clerk for one year. He is now associated with Mr. Frank H. Munson, under the firm name of Munson & Seaver, who are city agents for the Agricultural Insurance Company.

Smith, Hannibal, a leading lawyer and educator, was born in Oswego county, November 29, 1839. He prepared for college in West Win- field and Cazenovia Seminaries and in 1860 he entered Hamilton Col- lege, freshman class, remaining one year. The two years following he was incapacitated for study on account of ill health. He, in the fall of 1893, re-entered Hamilton College and was graduated third in grade for scholarship in his class in 1866. He was awarded the Head Prize Oration, the subject being "Alexander Hamilton as an Interpreter of the Constitution." In the fall of 1866 he entered the law department of the University of Michigan, where he continued his studies one year. He was elected principal of the Little Falls Academy in 1867, which position he held for two years, resigning at the end of the school year in 1869, when he entered the law department of Hamilton Col- lege, and in 1870 was graduated and admitted to practice in the S11- preme Court of this State. In February, 1870, he was elected principal of the High School of Watertown and superintendent of the public schools. Ile continued as principal of the High School until July 1, 1874, when he resigned and formed a partnership for the practice of law with Gen. Bradley Winslow, which continued until 1872. From 18 ** until 1892 he practiced law alone. In July, 1892, he formed a copartnership with his son, Edward N. Smith, and has since practiced

PERSONAL REFERENCES.

law with his son under the firm name of Smith & Smith. Mr. Smith has always taken a deep interest in educational affairs and was a mem- ber of the Board of Education of the city of Watertown from 1874 to 1889; for two years he served as president of the board. He is a director and the treasurer of the Taggart & Moffett Land Improvement Company, also a director and treasurer of the Siouski Paper Company, and also a director and treasurer of the Stand Publishing Company, and a member of the firm of M. Harbottle & Co., in the hardware business in the city of Watertown.

Cheesman, Byron C., M. D., one of the most genial, popular and well known gentlemen of the city of Watertown, was born in Jeffer- son county, N. Y., in 1856, and has spent nearly his entire life in that county. llis education was obtained at Adams at the Hungerford Collegiate Institute. In 1846 he entered the office of Dr. J. R. Sturte- vant as a student, after which he took a course at the University of Vermont at Burlington, then entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Baltimore, Md., from which he received the degree of M. D). in the class of 1880. He immediately began the practice of his profession at De Panville, Jefferson county, N. Y., where he continued for ten years and in 1894 removed to Watertown, where he has since been successfully engaged. He is a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, the I. O. F., the I. O. R. M. and the Jefferson County Medical Society. In every walk of life Dr. Cheesman is honored with the high regard of his friends and townsmen.

Coughlin, Jere., editor and proprietor of the Watertown Herald, was born at Farmersville, Ont., in 1854. His boyhood was spent in work- ing, teaching school and attending school. In 1844 he was an appren- tice in the Carthage Republican; two years later local editor, then associate editor. He became political editor of the Watertown Daily Times. Seeing the necessity of a strong weekly paper and desiring a large circulation to start with, he purchased the Carthage Leader, Co- penhagen News, Clayton Free Press, and the Jefferson County (Theresa) HIerald, which were merged into the Watertown Herald and which has been a financial success since its inception in 1886. Mr. Coughlin was married to Marian Montgomery, July 18, 1818. One of the many new features introduced into local journalism, is a photo-engraving plant of his, in the hands of his brother who is an artist of considerable ability.

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

Lance, George A., alcading manufacturer of Watertown, was born at Little Falls, N. Y., January 4, 1850. His education from schools was meager and limited to the elementary grades. He was early appren- ticed to the printer's trade and after that to telegraphy, and was em- ployed by the N. Y. C. Railroad for several years. In 1866 he was in charge of the business of the American Telegraph Company at Troy, N. Y., until its consolidation with the Western Union Telegraph Com- pany, at which time he went into the employ of the latter company, remaining for some years. He came to Watertown in 1871 and in 1813 was employed by the late Gilderoy Lord to take charge of his foundry and machine shop, remaining in that position until 18$? when he pur- chased the Watertown Woolen Mill and engaged in the manufacture of yarn, and in 1894 bought his present site which he now operates in connection with the woolen mill, manufacturing agricultural imple- ments, a specialty being the manufacture of the celebrated "Lord Plow." Mr. Lance was married to Florence, daughter of the Hon. A. W. Peck of Watertown, and an ex-member of the Assembly and ex- sheriff of Jefferson county. Mr. Lance is a prominent member of Corona Lodge I. O. O. F. and of the Board of Education.

Conde, W. W., commenced the hardware business in Watertown in 1818, and for five and a half years was located at No. 10 Washington street. In 1883 he bought the Belknap & Lewis stock. located at No. 3 Public Square, where he has since been located. He employs six- teen men and occupies the entire building, five floors, also a large brick warehouse in the rear, containg five floors.

Walker, George H .. son of Joseph T. and Dorcas (Bailey) Walker, was born in Brownville in 1859. His parents who were natives of Eng- land, first located in Massachusetts and subsequently in Jefferson county. George H. was educated in Watertown High School and Wesleyan University of Middletown, Conn .. where he graduated in 1881. He studied law with Mullin & Griffin, and was admitted to the bar in 1884; he was appointed deputy county clerk in 1887. He was a member of the firm of Mullin, Griffin & Walker from 1892 until the firm dissolved by death of the senior member in 1897; has been United States Circuit Court commissioner since 1892, and director in the City National Bank since 1892, and is now a member of the firm of Purcell, Walker & Burns.

PERSONAL REFERENCES.

Burns, Thomas, was born in Watertown, N. Y., November 16, 180, and has always resided there. He is a son of John Burns, a mason and builder of this city and president of the Trades Assembly. Thomas was educated in the public schools and graduated from the Watertown High School in 1888. Soon afterward he entered the office of Judge O'Brien and James A. Ward, where he remained until January, 1889, when Judge O'Brien took his seat on the Court of Appeals bench, and he entered the office of Mullin & Griffin, where he remained until 1891, when he entered Cornell University, remaining there two years, com- pleting a full course in the law school, together with a course in rhet- oric, history and economics. While attending Cornell, and in the fall of 1892, he was admitted to the bar. He spent his vacations in the office of Mullin & Griffin and upon completing his studies at Cornell returned to Mullin & Griffin as their managing clerk. In the mean time George H. Walker, deputy county clerk, a former student in the office of Mullin & Griffin, entered into partnership with them. Mr. Burns continued in the employ of Mullin, Griffin & Walker until its dissolution by the death of Mr. Griffin in April, 1892, whose assistant he had been for several years in the preparation of trial and appeal of cases. After the death of the late Senator Joseph Mullin, of the law firm of Mullin, Purcell & Walker, Mr. Burns was admitted to the firm of Purcell, Walker & Burns, This firm represents many large corpo- rate interests, being attorneys for the N. Y. C. & II. R. R. R. Co., and for the receivers of the Murray Hill Bank of New York city. They also are the attorneys for the State in the actions brought to recover over a million dollars in penalties from Armour & Co., for violations of the oleomargarine laws of the State.

Sabin, George G., M. D .- This eminently successful physician and surgeon was born in Ontario, Wayne county, N. Y., November 28, 1838. His education was obtained at the Palmyra Union School and the Macedon Academy. In 1861 when the call to arms was heard he was among the first to answer the summons and enlisted in Co. D, 6th Ohio Vols., and served for three years and after two months at home he re-enlisted in the 9th N. Y. Heavy Artillery, serving with that regiment for one year. He returned to Wayne county and entered the office of his uncle, Dr. Samuel A. Sabin, as a student, where he re- mained for one year, when he entered the University of Michigan (medical department) and received the degree of M. D. in 1868. 1Ie

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

immediately began the practice of his profession at Denmark, Lewis county, N. Y., and in 1894 removed to Watertown, where he has since been engaged in the practice of his profession. Dr. Sabin served eight years as health officer of the town of Rutland and was the president of the Jefferson County Medical Society in 1885 and has been its censor since 1870, with the exception of 1884 and 1885, when he was vice- president and president. In 1897 he was elected county physician and commenced his duties January 1, 1898.

Ogsbury, Wilson D .- Among the many real estate dealers of Water- town there is none who stands higher in the esteem of the people than W. D. Ogsbury. He is a native of the town of Pamelia, Jefferson county, N. Y., born February 11, 1869. He spent his boyhood upon the farm and in 1891 removed to Watertown and engaged in his pres- ent business. Mr. Ogsbury is a son of Edmund K. and Majina (Gove) Ogsbury. November 28, 1894, he married Harriet B. Robinson.

Thompson, Edward H., has for many years been one of Watertown's leading citizens and merchants. He was born in Martinsburg, Lewis county, N. Y., in September, 1835. After completing his schooling he went to New Haven, Conn., to take up the study of portrait paint- ing with Wales Hotchkiss, where he remained for three years, but was forced to give up his chosen profession on account of defective eye- sight. In 1859 he removed to Watertown and engaged in the retail grocery business in company with Mr. Tyler, under the style of E. H. Thompson & Co. This copartnership continued until 1866, when Mr. Thompson purchased his partner's interest and conducted the business alone until 1892, when he admitted J. W. Van Camp and L. J. Mc- Donald, under the firm name of E. H. Thompson & Co., which firm is now one of the largest in Northern New York. Mr. Thompson was married in November, 1860, to Mary E. Isham, who died in 1863, and he was again married in May, 1866, to Mary A. Hopkins.

Herrick, Rev. Osgood Eaton, M. A., D. D., now retired post chap- lain U. S. army, was born in Windsor, Vt., April 25, 1826. He re- moved to Jefferson county with his father in 1839, and in 1846 to Watertown. He was ordained to the ministry of the Protestant Epis- copal church by the late Bishop De Lancey, June 15, 1851. The same year he became rector of Emmanuel church, Adams, N. Y. In 1853 he became rector of Christ church, Manlius, N. Y., and in 1856 he be-

PERSONAL REFERENCES.

came rector of St. Paul's church, Key West, Fla., which office he held thirteen years. In 1864 President Lincoln had him appointed post chaplain in the U. S. army. In 1870 he was ordered to Fort Warren, Boston, Mass., and in 1825 to Fortress Monroe, Virginia, where he re- mained fifteen years, or until he was retired, April 25, 1890. The de- grees of M. A. and D. D. were conferred upon him by Hobart Col- Jege, Geneva, N. Y. May 16, 1853, he married Charlotte Willard Smith. lle is a member of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, of the Commandery of the District of Columbia.

Shepard, William J .- One of the notable contributions of New Eng- land to the population and prosperity of Watertown is William J. Shepard, junior member of the well known insurance firm of Beebee & Shepard. He was born in Boston, Mass., August 23, 1854, a son of James and Sophia (Gassner) Shepard. When he was ten years of age his parents took up their residence in Watertown, where he has since resided. Mr. Shepard has taken an active interest in public af- fairs and in 18;8 was elected city chamberlain. Ile was a member of the first Police Commission of Watertown, was chairman of the com- mittee that prepared the rules and remained a member of the commis- sion for five years. In 1888 he was appointed manager of the Water- town Thermometer Works, where he remained for four years and then resigned to accept the secretaryship of the Watertown Savings Loan and Building Association. At the end of this time he purchased the insurance business of Joseph Atwell, which he conducted until March, 1893, when he with Myron Beebec, under the firm name of Beebee & Shepard, formed a copartnership which still continues. Mr. Shepard was a charter member of the Lincoln League of which he was presi- dent two years. He is also a member of the I. O. O. F., being a past grand and was a charter member of Court Stella, I. O. F., of which he is now its chief ranger. Hle was for many years a member of the 39th Separate Co., N. G. N. Y., and a member of its rifle team for four years. He is also the vice-president of Trinity Workingmen's Social and Beneficial Club and was one of the charter members. Mr. Shep- ard has also taken an active interest in politics and is now the secretary of the Republican County Committee. In February, 1884, he married Margaret, daughter of Azariah and Margaret Nellis of Newark, N. Y., and they have three daughters: Helen, Pauline and Josephine. In every walk of life Mr. Shepard is honored with the high regard of his friends and townsmen.

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

Lansing, Robert .- The hackneyed phrase, "a leading citizen," may with perfect propriety be applied to Robert Lansing, for he is an acknowledged leader of the bar, a safe adviser not only in legal and business questions, but in matters of public spirit and the general weal and political policy of public affairs generally. He was born in Water- town, in October, 1864. After attending the public schools of the city he entered Amherst College in 1883, from which venerable seat of learning he was graduated with honors in 1886, receiving the degree of A. B. He then began the study of law in the office of his father and was admitted to the bar at Utica in 1889. He at this time formed a copartnership with his father, the firm name being Lansing & Lansing. Mr. Lansing has always taken and active part in polities, although he has never been willing to accept office. IIe has always been an earn- est Democrat and has faithfully followed out the traditions of his party. He has long been a valued counselor in party affairs. He was one of the associate counsel for the United States before the Bering Sea arbitration at Paris in 1892, and one of the government counsel before the Bering Sea Claim Commission at Victoria, B. C., in 1896, and at Halifax in 1897. He has been counsel for the Mexican legation in Washington and also the Chinese legation. He was married in Janu- ary, 1890, to Eleanor, daughter of ex-Secretary of State John W. Fos- ter, of Washington, D. C. Wise in counsel, decisive in action and generons in judgment, Mr. Lansing is a citizen whose publie spirit, attainments and life, reflect honor upon the community of which he is a member.

Field, B. A., son of Safford E. and Phoebe (Allen) Field, was born in Houndsfield in 1853, which place was his parents' native town. His grandparents were natives of Vermont, and his father's father located at Field's Settlement in 1806. On his mother's side his ancestors were descendants from the old Ethan Allen stock; on his father's, they were a branch of that family of which David Dudley and Stephen Field are members. Brayton A. was graduated from the Watertown High School in 1873, and from Dartmouth College in 1878. He then became principal of Proetor Academy, Andover, N. H., and in 1883 began the study of law with O'Brien & Emerson. He was admitted to the bar April 20, 1886, and has since been in practice in Watertown.

Harrington, Ernest E., is a native of Jefferson county and a son of H. H. and Mary (Cooper) Harrington, also natives of the county

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Our county and its people. A descriptive work on Jefferson County, New York, Part 97

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