Our county and its people. A descriptive work on Jefferson County, New York, Part 99

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 99

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Pitcher, Fred B , traces his ancestors through a long line to England. His father, Seymour Il. Pitcher, was born in Lewis county, N. Y., and is still living. Fred B. was born in Adams, N. Y., April 29, 1862; he was educated in the common schools of his native village and after graduating from the Adams Collegiate Institute, pursued a complete course of studies in the Cornell University, from which he was gradu ated in the class of 1888, receiving the degree of B. S. Having deter- mined to locate in the city of Watertown, he entered the office of ex- Judge J. C. McCartin and was admitted to the bar in 1890; he continued in the office of Judge MeCartin for the following two years, and at the death of the judge assumed his business which he conducted until the spring of 1892, when he formed a copartnership with Charles H. Walts, ex-county judge of Jefferson county, which partnership still continues. Mr. Pitcher is not only a prominent member of the bar, but is also an active politician, being an enthusiastic Republican. He is also promi- nent in fraternal societies, being a member and officer in the various local Masonic bodies. Ile was for five years a member of the 39th Sep- arate Company, N. G. N. Y., and is chairman of the Republican county committee and corporation counsel of the city of Watertown.

Gilman, William H., was born in the town of Lorraine, December 19, 1856, a son of Julius Gilman, a farmer, and was the youngest of four children. He was educated in the Hungerford Collegiate Insti- tute of Adams and Rochester Collegiate Institute; he began the study of law in 1822. Ile was appointed postmaster under President Arthur in 1884 and filled that position for three years, when he resigned. In 1891 he came to Watertown and was with E. B. Wynn for two years and in February, 1891, opened an office for general practice. June 11, 1894, he married Mary Collins Stone of Adams, daughter of Cyrus K. Stone.

Carlisle, John N., was born August 24, 1866, and is a son of Will-

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

iam S. Carlisle. He was educated in the Watertown High School and began the study of law in the office of Hon. Henry Purcell, Septem- ber 1. 15>5, where he was a student until admitted to the bar February 15. 15>9. He was city attorney in 1891 and 1892, and is a member of the Democratic State Committee and has been chairman of the Demo- cratic County Committee seven years. He is a member of the Union Club and Jeffersonian Club, and was married in January, 1594, to Carrie C. Brown, daughter of Edmund Brown of Pulaski, and they have one daughter. Catherine C. Carlisle. He is now a member of the law firm of Brown, Carlisle & Hugo, the senior member of which, Hon. Elon R. Brown, is now State senator for his district.

Steele, Harvey W., is a native of Jefferson county and a son of La- fayette and Lois (Nash) Steele. He was educated in the district school and Hungerford Collegiate Institute, where he was a teacher for five years. In the spring of 1853 he entered the law office of Judge A. H. Sawyer, and was admitted to practice in 1556. In 1856 he was the Democratic candidate for district attorney, and in the fall of 1892 was elected alderman of the Third ward of the city of Watertown, N. Y., and served one term. He was elected supervisor of the Third ward in 1895, and was re elected to that office in 1891. Mr. Steele was for many years secretary of the Democratic County Committee, has been president of the Jeffersonian Club, and is a director of the V. M. C. A. He is now practicing his profession at Watertown.

Goodale, Addison Wight, was born in the town of Fowler, St. Law- rence county, August 11, 1831, and was educated in the district schools and Gouverneur Seminary (now Ives Seminary). In 1855 he began the study of medicine with Dr. Ira HI. Abel of Antwerp, and attended lectures at the Albany Medical College from 1855 to 1558, from which institution he was graduated June 5. 1558. He began the practice of his profession in South Rutland, in August of the same year, where he remained until April 1, 1863. when he enlisted in the 10th N. Y. H. A., and was mustered in as assistant surgeon April 13, 1863, He re- mained with this regiment until the close of service June 23. 1865. when he was mustered out. He returned to South Rutland, where he was engaged in practice until March, 186t. when he returned to Water- town and spent one year in this city, then entered the employ of the Phoenix Life Insurance Company of Hartford, Conn , as adjuster and superintendent of physicians. He was located in Canandaigua, Syra-

PERSONAL REFERENCES.

euse and Hartford until 1884, when he removed to New York city occupying the same position until 1888, when he returned to Water- town where he has since been a resident. The doctor has been a trustee of the Thousand Island Park Association since 1883, and treas- urer a number of years, and is now secretary of the association; he is also a director of the Alexandria Steamboat Company, and has been health officer for ten years at Thousand Island Park. August 12, 1858, he married lielen J. Fowler of Antwerp, and they have two daughters: Mrs. A. B. Abernethy of Brooklyn, and Florence L., who resides at home. Dr. Goodale is a member of the G. A. R. and joined the Masonic fraternity in 1863; he is a member of the Jefferson County Medical So- ciety and also of the Union Club. He is a member of the First Pres- byterian church, and is president of the Farmers' & Traders' Bank of Kimball, S. Dak.

Paris, Charles M., a native of Lewis county, N. Y., was born in 1838. His early life was spent on a farm and as a tanner. In 1874 he re- moved to Jefferson county and engaged in farming in Rutland, where he remained until 15:5, when he removed to the city of Watertown and engaged in the grocery business and after a time embarked again in the tannery business, operating the Hall and Farwell tanneries of that city. In 1882 he was appointed justice of the peace, to fill an un- expired term, and he so ably conducted the affairs of the office that he was favored with two more terms and afterward refused the third. Mr. Paris is a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, the I. O. O. F. and the Royal Arcanum.

Tolman, Solon B., son of William and Mary ( Bancroft) Tolman, was born in the town of Watertown, Jefferson county, N. Y., July 25, 1828. ITis father was born in 1595 in New Hampshire, and removed to Jef- ferson county in 181; and after a few years returned to New Hamp- shire, and was married, then again located in Jefferson county, where he resided until his death in 1892. The first representatives of the family came from England to this eountry in 1634. His grandfather, Ebenezer Tolman, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war and was en- gaged in the battle of Bunker Hill. His father first took up land in the town of Alexandria in 1822, when there were but nine families in the town, but afterward removed to the town of Watertown, where Solon B. was born. Mr. Tolman received his education in the district schools and the Watertown High School and attended two terms at the

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

Rodman Seminary. At the age of twenty-one he was offered a posi- tion at the Grove Hotel, where he remained for a short time and then returned to the farm and in 1860 bought the farm of 180 acres where he now resides. March 16, 1854, he married Lodusta Archer, daughter of Abraham Archer of Rutland, N. Y., and she died in 1866. Mr. Tolman is one of those hard working, energetic and pushing farmers and his friends are legion.

Mckinstry, Willard D., editor of the Watertown Daily Times, was born at Fredonia, Chautauqua county, N. Y., October 1, 1850. His education was obtained in the public schools, the Fredonia Academy and the State Normal. He learned the printing business in the office of the Fredonia Censor, of which newspaper his father was publisher. In 18:22 he purchased the Dunkirk Journal, remaining there until 1884, and removed to Watertown in 1886. He was at first employed as news editor on the Times, then assistant editor and at the death of Mr. Brockway became its editor, and has filled that position until this time. He was appointed as the Republican member of the State Civil Ser- vice Commission by Governor Flower and served one year under Gov- ernor Morton's administration.

O'Brien, Hon. Dennis, was born in Ogdensburg, March 13, 183%, 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 prom- inent 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 intellectual 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 profession 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 substantial portion of the city's population, and his success in his profession gave him a high local reputation throughout the county. In 1880 he succeeded the late James F. Star- buck, as a member of the State Democratie committee. This gave him

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an opportunity of extending his reputation for ability and fidelity be- yond the bounds of his county and generally over the State, and he im- proved it. For four years he held this position, and in November, 1883, was elected attorney general and re-elected in November, 1885, his term of office terminating January 1, 1888. His administration as the State's attorney for this great commonwealth established 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 re- markable 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.

Brown, L. Leslie, a member of the well known firm of Brown, Zuller & Co., one of Watertown's solid and substantial houses, was born in the town of Russell, St. Lawrence county, N. Y., a son of Charles H. and Harriett E. (Pulnan) Brown, natives of Oneida county. There were three sons and two daughters of the family, Leslie the younger of the three sons. His father died when he was fifteen years of age, and his mother four years later. Leslie then became engaged with the Canton Lumber Co. of Canton, N. Y., with which company he was employed for about two years. On the 28th of November, 1890, he left Canton to go to Phillipsburg, Mont., taking four days and five nights for the trip, where he was employed by a ranchman (a former New York man) by whom he was employed one year. He then be- came engaged in the grocery business in the city of Phillipsburg and sold out to a Mr. Sorrenson in November, 1892. During the winter following he was ill with mountain fever and he returned east to re- gain his health.

Bergevin, John E., was born in St. Martin, Quebec, September 9,

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

1844. His parents removed to the town of Rutland, Jefferson county, N. Y., in 1850, where he received his education from the district schools. llis first business experience was as a clerk in Watertown, and in 1862 he accepted a position with John M. Carpenter where he remained until 1864 and then became a member of the firm of Carpenter & Ber- gevin; in 1893 the firm was succeeded by the present firm of Bergevin, Carpenter & Co., dealers in general merchandise. Mr. Bergevin was married to Elise M., daughter of Philippe Barron, a native of Switzer- land. Mr. Bergevin has served on the Board of Aldermen, and as chief of the fire department two years and on the Board of Supervisors; he is now on the Board of Health.

Hickox, William D .- Among the younger members of the farming community of the town of Watertown, none stands higher in the esteem of the community than W. D. Hickox. He is a son of George F. and Antoinette (Ball) Hickox, and was born April 2, 1859, in the town of Rutland, Jefferson county, N. Y. His education was obtained in the public schools of his native town and the schools of the city of Water- town. After acquiring a liberal education he began life as a farmer and has since been successfully engaged in farming. December 9, 1885, he married Rose E., daughter of L. F. and Adelia (Smith) Spink, of the town of Rodman, and they have an only son, Laban G., who is two years of age. Mr. Hickox attributes his success to his own patient, methodical habits, punctuality, thrift and unceasing attention to busi- ness at all times. He is an estimable citizen and a model of homely virtues.

Hunting, Stanley E., is one of the active, enterprising young busi- ness men of Watertown. He is a native of this city and has resided here all his life. Mr. Hunting was born July 26, 1865, and received his education from the public schools and the C. T. Goves Business College. His first business experience after leaving school was in the milk business with his father, where he remained until the death of his father in 1883, and from that date until 1891 he conducted the business alone. He at this date formed a copartnership with F. B. Devendorf in the plumbing business, which was carried on under the style of Devendorf & Hunting for two years, when the firm was succeeded by Hunting & Weeks and after two years that firm was succeeded by the now well known firm of Hunting, Weeks & Cochran, the present style. Mr. Hunting is a prominent member of the Lincoln League. Febru .

PERSONAL REFERENCES.

ary 28, 1893, he married Grace L., daughter of F. B. Devendorf of Watertown, N. Y. Mr. Hunting is one of the hard working, pushing young men who have preferred a business to a professional life.

Brennan, Philip, was born at Rochester, N. Y., February 4, 1853, a son of Edward and Ann (MeDermit) Brennan, who were natives of Ireland and came to this country at a very early date and settled in Quebec, Canada, and later removed to Rochester, N. Y. When Philip was quite young his parents removed to the town of Pinckney, Lewis county, where he attended the district schools, and also the High School at Lowville. His first business experience was as manager for Hon. D. C. Littlejohn of Redfield, Oswego county, in whose employ he remained for eleven years. At this date he removed to Jefferson county and began business on his own account. During his residence in the town of Worth he was elected supervisor for one year. He then built a hotel at New Boston, which he conducted for a short time and sold out and removed to Watertown. He worked at the carpen- ter's trade there until 1896, when the contracting and building firm of Brennan, Hodge & O'Brien was organized and since then he has given his entire time and attention to the company's extensive affairs. Mr. Brennan is a practical mechanic and it is through his efforts that the firm has grown to be the leading builders of the city. November 1, 1881, Mr. Brennan married Rosa A., daughter of Garrett and Mary (Smith) Doyle of Lewis county, and they have four children : William 12., twelve years of age; Henry I., ten; Mary, three, and George W., one.

Ward, James A., was born in Watertown in 1854. He commenced the study of law in 1876 in the office of Hon. Dennis O'Brien and was admitted to the bar in 1829. Since then he has been in practice in his profession and for a time was a member of the firm of O'Brien, Emer- son & Ward.

Bell, John A., V. S .- This eminently successful veterinary surgeon is a native of Ontario, Can., born August 21, 1856. After attending the public schools he attended the Ontario Veterinary College and re- ceived the degree of V. S. in the class of 1880. He then located in Napance, Ont., where he remained for a year and then removed to Watertown, where he proceeded to erect a commodious veterinary hos- pital. Every known appliance is at hand for the successful treatment

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

and care of horses and cattle. Dr. Bell's success has been remarkable and he has a reputation for many miles around as a successful and ac- complished veterinary surgeon. He has always taken an active inter- est in politics and has been government inspector since 1892. Through his advice one of the best milk and dairy regulations in the State was adopted by the City Board of llealth and he made its inspector. He also is inspector for the State Board of Health. All cattle going into neighboring States from this section have to be examined by him. He is a great lover of all domestic animals and is first vice-president of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. He was one of the charter members of the New York State Veterinarian Society and is now clerk of the Board of Censors. Dr. Bell is a representative citizen and esteemed by all with whom he has dealings.

Van Vleck, George, was born in the town of Antwerp, Jefferson county, N. Y., March 26, 1835. He was engaged in farming until he was nineteen years of age, when he learned the marble trade in the establishment of Mr. E. S. Stockwell of Theresa. After an apprentice- ship of four years he removed to Watertown and entered the services of Foster M. Ferrin, where he remained for fourteen years. In 18;2 he embarked in business on his own account in which he has since been successfully engaged. In April, 1861, he enlisted in Co. A. 35th N. Y. Vols., and served his country faithfully for two years. He is a mem- ber of the G. A. R. and one of Watertown's leading citizens.

Stowell, Olmsby O., M. D., was born in Athens, Canada, November 4, 1>45, a son of Rev. Oliver O. Stowell, a Methodist clergyman. Dr. Stowell was educated in the common schools and at nineteen years of age was a student of art in the Queen's University of Art at Kingston ; in 1865 he entered McGill University as a student of medicine, and after two years at McGill entered Queen's University, Kingston, and after two years there, graduated with the degree of M. D., C. M., in 1869. He began the practice of his profession in Copenhagen in 1870, where he was located for twenty two years, removing to Watertown in 1892, where he has since resided. Dr. Stowell has always taken a deep in- terest in school work, but little in politics, giving most of his attention to general practice. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., Royal Arcanum and the Grange ; he is also a member of Lewis County Medical Society, Jefferson County Medical Society and Watertown Society of Physicians and Surgeons. In 1872 he married Josephine E. Bishop of Copenhagen

PERSONAL REFERENCES.

and they have two sons: Dr. Harold B. Stowell, age twenty-five years, and Royal O. Stowell, in his fourteenth year.

Marrian, Charles A., was born in Watertown, Jefferson county, N. Y., January 16, 1850. He was educated in the common schools of his native city after which he embarked in the retail cigar and tobacco business in a small way, catered to the wants of his patrons, enlarged his stock from time to time, and by economy, hard work and strict in- tegrity has succeeded in building up a large and lucrative business. Ile is a son of Charles and Emma (Moren) Marrian, who were natives of Montreal, Can. Mr. Marrian was married in May, 1884, to Tinnie Richardson of Watertown, and they have one son.

Breen, Isaac R., son of Nathaniel and Eleanor (Smith) Breen, was born October 2, 1865. His father was born in the north of Ireland in the year 1816, and his mother, who was of English ancestry, was born at Smith's Falls, Ontario, in 1823. They were among the early settlers of the town of Montague, Lewis county, N. Y., and later removed to Jefferson county, where they resided until their death. Six sons and three daughters survived them, Isaac R. being the youngest son. Hle removed with his parents to Jefferson county and received his education from the public and high schools of Watertown, after which he took up the study of law and was subsequently admitted to the bar at Syra- euse, in 1888. In 1894 in company with his brother, Nathaniel F., he formed the now well known law firm of Breen & Breen, which is one of the most prominent at the Jefferson county bar. During his legal career he has been engaged in numerous litigations involving important interests and the disposal of large sums of money. As a lawyer he is ever watchful of his client's interest and is considered a safe and pru- dent practitioner.

Breen, Nathaniel F., of the law firm of Breen & Breen, stands in the very front rank of the bar of Jefferson county and is regarded as one of the most trustworthy attorneys of Watertown. He was born in the town of Montague, Lewis county, N. Y., July 21, 1861, a son of Na- thaniel and Eleanor (Smith) Breen, who settled in Jefferson county in he year 1822, just one mile north of the city of Watertown, and were the parents of nine children-six boys and three girls; of the boys five were lawyers and one a preacher. The father was of Irish nativity, and the mother of English descent. Ilis education was obtained from

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

the common schools and the Watertown High School, after which he entered upon the study of law and was admitted to practice in 1884. In 1894 he formed a law partnership with his brother, Isaac R. Breen, under the firm name of Breen & Breen, which continues as it was then organized. Mr. Breen is a close student of men and affairs and enjoys the confidence, respect and esteem of all his associates. In all his professional relations there has been revealed a versatility of talent, a fertility of resource, a knowledge of law and a power of lucid presenta- tion of complex and involved legal situations which have stamped him as an attorney of high rank.

Bush, Fred V., senior member of the well known grocery firm of F. V. Bush & Co., is a native of Watertown, born in October, 1856. Mr. Bush is a son of Simon H. and Zeruah E. (Waterman) Bush, who came from Vermont to Watertown in 1820. Up to the age of twenty- three years Mr. Bush lived upon the farm, at which time he removed to Chicago where he was engaged for a time as street car conductor, where he remained until 1880, when he returned to Watertown and en- tered the employ of Messrs. Fuess & Baker in a clerical capacity for two years, then on the dissolution of the firm, two years with W. O. Baker, after which he returned to the old store and remained with Fred Fuess four years. He then resigned his clerkship and entered the real estate business until, in 1892, in company with William M. Weston, he engaged in the grocery business on Public Square. After two years he sold his interest to his partner and in company with Hon. John P. Douglas, Hannibal Smith, A. W. Munk and others organized the Standard Publishing Company for the purpose of publishing a daily and semi weekly paper in Watertown. In August, 1894, owing to financial difficulty in which his former partner, Mr. Weston, found himself, he purchased the stock, and resigning his position as director in the Standard Company, he again embarked in the grocery business; and several months later his brother, Frank H., became associated with him. On April 5, 1880, Mr. Bush was united in matrimony with Miss Kittie A. Giegerich of Alexandria. Two daughters, Jessie E. and Ruth G., have blessed their union.

Bond, Edward A., one of Watertown's most prominent and thorough- going business men, was born in Dexter, Mich., April 22, 1839. His first employment after completing his schooling was in the engineers corps on the construction of the U., S. & S. V. R. R. (now the D., L.

PERSONAL REFERENCES.

& W.), where he remained until 1869, when he was appointed assistant engineer on the Chicago, Pekin and Southwestern Railroad, remaining in their employ until the following spring and then returned to the D., L. & W. He remained with the road until it was extended to Bing- hamton, when he resigned to accept an offer made by the Utica and Black River Railroad as resident engineer, which position he held until the resignation of the chief engineer, when he was made chief en- gineer of that road. In 1886 he became engineer and general superin- tendent of the Carthage and Adirondack Railroad, where he remained until 1889, when he formed a copartnership with Mr. Hinds under the firm name of Ilinds & Bond and engaged in the securing of franchises and the construction of water works. They continued together until 1896, when the firm dissolved and Mr. Bond has since then conducted the business alone, retaining all the interests of the firm of Hinds & Bond in the several water works in which the firm was interested. He is now president of the Barrie and Napanee water works of Ontario, Canada. November 11, 18:3, he married Gertrude, daughter of Abra. ham and Aurelia Hollenback of Clayton, N. Y.

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Our county and its people. A descriptive work on Jefferson County, New York, Part 99

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