Our county and its people : a memorial record of St. Lawrence County, New York, Part 101

Author: Curtis, Gates
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason
Number of Pages: 1328

USA > New York > St Lawrence County > Our county and its people : a memorial record of St. Lawrence County, New York > Part 101
USA > New York > St Lawrence County > Our county and its people: a memorial record of St. Lawrence County, New York > Part 101

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).

Davis, P. A., Hopkinton, was born in Stockholm, November 24, 1838, a son of Francis Davis, born in Hancock, N. H., in 1805, whose father was Edmond, born in Hancock in 1781. He was a noted teacher. His wife was Mary Graves, and they had seven sons and a daughter. He was for many years postmaster of East Washington, and also a justice

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of the peace. Francis Davis was at one time a teacher, but for the greater part of his life he was a saw-miller, also owning a grist mill. October 12, 1828, he married Bet- sey Converse Knights, (widow of E. Knights), by whom he had five children : Mary, Julia, Martha, Francis and Philo. The latter was educated in the schools of Hopkin- ton and Potsdam Academy and has always followed farming, except for a few years during which he was engaged in a creamery. A few years ago he rented his farm and now lives at Fort Jackson. He owns the old Davis homestead. September 18, 1860, he married Anna Lobdell, who was born December 27, 1837, at Plattsburg, a daughter of D. S. Lobdell, whose wife was Loretta Leonard. Mr. and Mrs. Davis have had four children : Edith L., born June 21, 1861, wife of Rev. J. M. Bartholomew of New York city, assistant pastor of Holy Trinity church; Martha E., born March 13, 1863, wife of Professor T. W. White, teacher and superintendent of schools at Westboro', Mass. ; Francis D., born July 25, 1866, a graduate in mechanical engineering from Cornell University, class of '90, who is now in the employ of Yale & Town of Stamford, Conn .; Harry D., born May 19, 1872, died at the age of nine years. In politics Mr. Davis is a Democrat. He is a member of Elk Lodge, No. 577, F. & A. M.

Chittenden, Varick A., Hopkinton, son of Clark S., was born in Hopkinton, February 6, 1838. He was educated in the Potsdam Academy, and in 1857, in partnership with his brother, King S., engaged in the mercantile business in this town. The partnership lasted until 1874, when our subject bought out his brother and carried on the business till 1893, when he sold to his son, J. H., who now carries it on, the business having been continued in this family since 1823. V. A., in partnership with his brother, owns the old homestead of 435 acres, where they carry on general farming, and are also largely interested in the stock business. Mr. Chittenden is a Republican and was town clerk for twenty-one years. He is now serving his fifth year as postmaster of Hopkinton. He married first Charlotte Risdon, of Hopkinton, by whom he has had three children : Bertha, wife of H. J. Sanford, a merchant of Parishville, by whom she has one daugh- ter, Alice; Edna M., wife of E. M. Kent, of Westfield, a manufacturer of paper ; J. H., who was educated in the Ogdensburg Academy and the Albany Business College, from which he graduated in 1886. In 1893 he married Gertrude Hoyt, of Parishville. The wife of our subject died March 5, 1871, and he married second Laura A. Lawrence, of Hopkinton, by whom he had two children : Mabel, who died aged three years, and Lawrence A., a student at the Ogdensburg Academy. (See biography of K. S. Chit- tenden).

Chittenden, King S., Hopkinton, was born in Hopkinton, February 20, 1833, a son of Clark S., son of Solomon Chittenden, of Connecticut, whose ancestors were Welsh and English. He married in Vermont Susannah Sanford, by whom he had five sons, and he and wife spent their last days in Hopkinton. He was a soldier in the Revolution, and died at the age of ninety-six, and his wife aged ninety-two. Clark S. was born in Benson, Vt., May 16, 1803, and at the age of sixteen began to learn the currier's and tanner's trade, at which he worked four summers, attending school winters. Early in life he engaged in the mercantile business in Hopkinton, which by strict attention to business and by honorable methods he made into a prosperous trade, which he contin-

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ued forty years, then turned over to his sons King S. and Varick A. January 8, 1828, he married Julia A. Sheldon, born May 27, 1808, in Hopkinton, a daughter of Abram Sheldon, one of the pioneers of the town. They had five children, two surviving, our subject and V. A. Chittenden. He was justice of the peace forty-three years, postnias- ter sixteen years, supervisor six years, and member of the State Legislature two years, 1859-60. He was always in favor of good schools, and he and wife were members of the Congregational church. He died May 18, 1890, and his wife May 19, 1880. King S. was educated in Potsdam Academy and at Bakersfield, Vt., and clerked in the post- office under William L. Knowles in 1851-52. In 1857, in partnership with his brother, V. A., he engaged in the mercantile business until 1874, when he sold his interest to his brother and took charge of their farin and stock business, in which they had also been engaged for a number of years. They own 435 acres of land, the homestead of their father. In their business career they have built up an enviable reputation for integrity and liberality. In politics our subject is a Republican and has served as town clerk and as supervisor, which latter office he held from 1888 to 1894, when he refused a renomi- nation. He has been postmaster in this town for twenty years. October 10, 1859, he married Sarah E. Hopkins, of Potsdam, daughter of Aaron T. Hopkins, who came to Potsdam in 1828, and married Betsey Eastman, daughter of Samuel Eastman, a pioneer of Hopkinton. He engaged in the leather business, and in 1840 built the large stone tannery at Potsdam. He was supervisor nine terms. Mr. Chittenden and wife reared Emma S. Ingalls, who married Sanford H. Chittenden, who died December 22, 1887, leaving two sons, S. King and Sidney I.

Brush, Joseph A., Hopkinton, was born in Hopkinton, May 10, 1816. He was a son of Joseph Brush, a native of Bennington, Vt., born September 18, 1783, who died here January 18, 1879. His wife was Clarissa Armstrong, who was the widow of Abram Sheldon, and they had two sons. He came to Hopkinton in 1808 and settled on the farm now owned by Mr. Haselton in 1814. He died January 18, 1879, and his wife October 6, 1868. Joseph A., our subject, was born and reared on the farm, and edu- cated in the St. Lawrence Academy. He was always a farmer and owned considerable real estate in the town. In politics he was a Republican and was highway commis- sioner several years. He and wife were members of the Congregational church. Sep- tember 12, 1842, he married Adaline Wright, who was born in Hopkinton in 1818, a

daughter of Caleb Wright. The latter was born in Vermont in 1787, and at the age of sixteen came to Hopkinton, where he spent his life. His wife was Rosalinda Smith, a native of Massachusetts, born in 1784. by whom he had five children. Her father was Simon Smith, a soldier of the Revolution, who lived and died in Vermont. The date of Caleb Wright's death being November 14, 1839, and that of his wife August 8, 1861. Mr. J. A. Brush died December 4, 1884.

Woodward, G. W., Hopkinton, was born in Franklin county, August 16, 1847, a son of J. W. Woodward, whose parents were William and Sarah Woodward, of Vermont. The father of our subject was born December 27, 1815, and March 20, 1842, he married Sarah Peck, born July 20, 1820, a daughter of William and Mary Ann (Martin) Peck, and they had two sons and three daughters. Mr. Woodward died November 14, 1858,

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and his wife August 14, 1870. G. W. Woodward was sixteen years of age when the war broke out, and was anxious to enlist, but was persuaded to remain at home with his widowed mother, whom he took care of until her death. Soon afteward he went to Massachusetts, where he remained until 1881, being engaged in various occupations. He was six years in the fire department at Holyoke. July 17, 1881, he came to this county and bought his present farm, carrying on a general line and making a spe- cialty of dairying. He has about twenty-five head of high bred stock, and the milk from his cows stood first in the test at the factory. December 22, 1877, he married Em L. Sheldon, born November 15, 1848, daughter of Asa U. Sheldon, born in this county in 1809, whose father, Gaius, was a pioneer of this town. Mr. and Mrs. Wood- ward have had two sons and one daughter: Wright W., born May 10, 1880, at Hol- yoke, Mass. ; Mark Roy, born April 28, 1882 ; Ruth Gail, born February 29, 1887. Mr. Woodward is a Republican, and he and family attend and support the M. E. church.

Wells, Henry, Fort Jackson, was born in Lawrence, April 17, 1850, a son of Deacon Robert Wells. Mr. Wells was educated in the Lawrenceville Academy and the New Hampton Institute, N. H., graduating from the latter in 1866. He started as a clerk, and was with James Sherar & Son, of Nicholville, one year, also with S. Sweet & Co., wholesale clothing, of the same place, then engaged as traveling salesman with Andrew Montrait, of Troy, N. H. After one year he, with J. S. Kellogg, bought a store of gen- eral merchandise of Franklin Kellogg at Fort Jackson, and a year later Mr. Wells bought out his partner and continued the business a year, then sold out to Frank- lin Kellogg, went to Detroit, Mich., and for four years was foreman for a livery firm. . He then came to Potsdam, and after clerking for H. M. Storey and E. D. Brooks about eight years, his brother's death occurred and our subject returned home to look after his parents in their old age. He now owns and lives on the old home- stead, and is also engaged with the firm of Miller & Ober of Fort Jackson. Mr. Wells is a Republican, and a member of the I. O. O. F. No. 620 of Winthrop, N. Y. In 1890 he married Edith Austin, and he and family attend the Free Will Baptist church at Fort Jackson.

Lucey, D. B., Ogdensburg, was born in Boston, Mass., August 17, 1858, of Irish- American parentage. He received his elementary education in the public schools of this county and the Normal School at Oswego, and graduated at the Normal School at Potsdam in the classical course in 1883. He then accepted the position of principal of the Ogdensburg Grammar School, and after one year received the appointment to the chair of Natural and Physical Sciences in the Free Academy in the same city, which position he held for three years. During this time he studied law and was admitted to the bar in September, 1886. In June following he retired from the academy and commenced the practice of his profession in Ogdensburg. In 1890 he formed a copart- nership with Hon. George R. Malby for the general practice of law, which relation still continues. Has been connected with the successful prosecution or defense of many important litigations, including some large corporation suits and criminal trials. June 30, 1891, was married to Mary Agnes Tuck, daughter of Andrew Tuck, of Lisbon. Is

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HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.

a member of the Board of Education of the city of Ogdensburg, the Ogdensburg and Oswegatchie clubs, and a lieutenant in the Fortieth Separate Company, New York Na- tional Guards.

Curtis, Francis, Russell, was born in Oswego county, August 14, 1835. He is a son of Ashabel C., a native of Oswego county, born May 29, 1805, who came to Russell in 1836. He married Jane White, born in Vermont, July 14, 1808, and they had nine children. He is a Democrat in politics and a member of the M. E. church. His father was Isaac J. Curtis. Francis M., our subject, was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools. At the age of eighteen months he and his parents came to Rus- sell, where he has since lived. He has always worked at farming and carpentry. He married in 1862 Mary, daughter of Henry and Chloe (Pomeroy) Barnes, of Jefferson county, who came to Russell in 1850, where they both died. Mr. and Mrs. Curtis have had three children : Linda M., wife of Edward Brown; Erwin V., and Middie L. In politics Mr. Curtis is a Democrat.

Van Ornum, Chester, Russell, was born in Russell, September 14, 1861. His father, Chester L., a son of Abram and grandson of Abram (a pioneer of the town of Russell), was a carpenter and joiner by trade and was born in the town of Edwards, January 2, 1827, coming to this town in 1849, where he settled at Elm Creek. He soon returned to Edwards and bought a saw mill and grist mill, which was later destroyed by fire, he sustaining a loss of about $5,000. He soon rebuilt the mill and continued the business about three years, then sold out and came to Russell, where he worked at his trade five years. He bought a farm on Elm Creek, but in 1873 he removed to Silver Hill and took charge of the Palmer mill which he conducted the remainder of his life. February 11, 1849, he married Mary E. Nelson, daughter of Abel and Sophia Nelson, both of Herki- mer county, and they had two sons and two daughters : Ella V., born February 25, 1852, who married, first, Henry Rushton, and, second, Charles T. Freeman of Edwards ; Nelson A., a farmer of this town, who married Mary Noble; Stella, wife of A. L. Free- man, a farmer of Edwards; and Chester, who worked for his father at farming and lumbering, and at the death of his father took charge of the mill. He manufactures lumber of all kinds, and also does custom work, having a planing mill in connection. November 24, 1886, he married Agnes, daughter of D. M. Noble, and they have one danghter, Vera, born September 22, 1887. In politics the family are Republicans. The father was a member of the Baptist church, and his widow, who now resides with our subject, is also a Baptist. The founders of this family in America were three brothers who came from Holland at an early day and settled in the Mohawk Valley.

Smith, John C., Russell, was born in Russell, July 3, 1851. He is a son of John T. Smith, who was born in Russell April 5, 1822, and was a farmer by occupation. He married Alzina Chapman of Stone, Vt., by whom he had five children. He died July 12, 1858, and his wife in November, 1870. Our subject was educated in the public schools, but his parents dying, he and his brother, R. G. Smith, carried on the homestead until John C. became of age, when the place was sold. At the age of nineteen the latter began work on a farm, and in 1877 he and his brothers, R. G. and E. L., engaged in the hardware business, he soon buying out the interest of R. G. Smith, and later he

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and E. L. sold to the former, and engaged in farming. After four years John C. re- turned to Russell, where he has since lived. In 1884 he bought the building now occu- pied by R. G. Smith, and he and the latter now occupy the upper story in the manufac- ture of the Gibbons washing machine. He also owns a farm of 193 acres, which he uses as a dairy farm. He is a Democrat in politics, and is serving his second term as justice of the peace. He is a member of Russell Lodge No. 566, F. & A. M. July 2, 1878, he married Ella C., daughter of Calvin H. Knox. The latter was a son of Chester, whose father, John Knox, came from Blandford, Mass., to Russell in 1805. Calvin H. was born here December 3, 1824, and died November 10, 1891. March 2, 1858, he married Priscilla Barker, by whom he had two children : the wife of Mr. Smith, and Justine E., deceased wife of F. A. Gray of Russell. Mrs. Knox died March 9, 1864.

Fairbanks, Richmond J., Russell, was born in Hermon, October 25, 1858, a son of Reuben J. and Harriet (Eggleston) Fairbanks. Reuben was a son of Oshea and Me- hetabel (Powers) Fairbanks. Oshea and wife came to Gouverneur about 1823, and a year later to Hermon, being pioneer settlers of that town. He went west about 1850, and little has been known of him since. He had five sons and three daughters, of whom Reuben J. was born February 7, 1828. He enlisted October 16, 1861, in Co. F, 60th N. Y. Volunteers, and served throughout the war. November 24, 1863, he was wounded at Lookout Mountain, Tenn. He participated in the battles of Gettysburg and Chan- cellorsville, and was with Sherman iu his famous march to the sea. Mr. Fairbanks and wife were married April 20, 1852, and had six sons and five daughters : Florence, Man- dana, Samuel, Harriet, Cynthia, Rosina, Rodger E., Clark, Perry, Leroy D. and R. J., our subject. The later was educated in the school at Hermon, and at the age of seven- teen began his business career as a teamster and farm hand. He afterwards attended school one year, and then worked a year each at teaming and in the cheese factory. At the age of twenty he bought out the Leathe's route from De Kalb to Fine, and had charge of this for eight years and four months. This proved a very successful under- taking for our subject, he buying during this time 370 acres of land, to which he has added about 250 acres. In 1889 he built a saw mill on his farm, and now manufactures lumber in all dimensions, both rough and finished, shingles and cheese boxes, sawing about 500,000 for market annually. He also has an interest in the Iron-Clad Mills at De Kalb Junction. He has an interest in the Kelly Wagon Works also, and is presi- dent of the company. October 28, 1880, he married Sarah Cousins, born September 7, 1856, daughter of William and Janette (Cleland) Cousins, he a native of Ireland, born February 10, 1819, and she of Scotland, born January 29, 1826. The former died in June, 1885. Mr. and Mrs. Fairbanks have had three sons: Milton J., born July 27, 1882 ; Howard C., born December 6, 1885 ; and Richmond Worth, born June 1, 1887. In politics our subject is a Republican. He is a member of the Independent Order of Foresters, Court 1,241, Hermon Lodge.

Compton, H. M., Russell, was born near Milford, Pike county, Pa., April 19, 1848, a son of Ricmond and Eleanor (Drake) Compton. Richmond was born at Fort Richmond, Staten Island, July 19, 1812, his wife being a native of Pike county, Pa., born March 6, 1815. Richmond was a lumberman, and the owner of large tracts of timbered land, which he manufactured in lumber. He had five sons and three daughters, the former

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all (except one who died in infancy) being soldiers in the late war, who served with distinction. Our subject enlisted also, when sixteen years old in the Eleventh Penn- sylvania Volunteer Cavalry and was in Grant's campaign around Richmond, and was connected with the Armies of the James and Potomac, participating in the battle of Cold Harbor, Drury's Bluff and other hard fought encounters. He received his educa- tion in the common schools of Monroe county, Pa., and began work at lumbering at the age of fifteen. At the age of nineteen he acted as director and manager of lum- bering, serving in that capacity for several years. For over ten years he had charge of a wholesale lumber yard in Pennsylvania, and remained four years as manager of the A. Lewis Lumber Co. He then became one of the managers of the lumber works at Pittston, and in 1891 came to Clifton, N. Y., and took charge of the land and lumber interests of Clark & Thompson, of New York city. They furnish the Canton Lumber Co. 6,000,000 feet of spruce annually, also furnishing large quantities of pulp wood to the High Falls Pulp Co. In 1871 our subject married E. Grace, daughter of Nelson Underwood, and they have had one son and two daughters, all now attending the Normal School at Potsdam: Iva, born October 6, 1872. A. Lewis, born August 5, 1875, and E. Jeannette, born March 20, 1878, the youngest pupil admitted to the Nor- mal School. Mr. Compton is a G. A. R. man, belonging to the Pittston Post. He is a Republican and he and family are members of the M. E. church.

Robertson, Alexander M., Colton, was born in Louisville, this county, June 22, 1838. His parents, Alexander and Jane (Martin) Robertson, were Scotch, though the latter was a resident of the north of Ireland, and came to Canada when young. Here they were married, and later moved to St. Lawrence county where they lived a number of years. Mr. Robertson, sr., died in Canada August 12, 1887, and his wife September 1, 1892. Alexander M. came to Colton in 1863 and there learned the cabinet maker's trade, which occupation he followed till 1870. Subsequently he worked as a carpenter eight years, and for four years occupied the position of clerk and bookkeeper for the St. Lawrence Tanning Co., then three years at carpentry. In 1885 he built for H. J. Goodwin the veneer mill which is now owned by S. D. Goodwin, and took charge of the finishing department till 1889, since which he has been manager until January 1, 1894, when he became a partner with a half interest in the business. Mr. Robertson was a Republican, but has been a Prohibitionist since 1884, and has been collector of Colton three years. He is a member of the First M. E. church of Colton, and a mem- ber of High Falls Lodge No. 428, F. & A. M. March 10, 1869, he married Jennie Fos- ter, and they have two children : Nennie I., the elder, is a graduate of St. Lawrence University, and is the wife of Rev. F. G. Mason, pastor of the First Universalist church at Oakland, Me., and Hattie E. the younger is now a student at the St. Lawrence Uni- versity.

Smith, R. G., Russell, was born in Russell, April 1, 1849. His father, John T., was a son of Rollin Smith, a native of Blandford, Mass., born October 24, 1788. December 2, 1817, he married Olive Gibbs, who was born February 28, 1791, and they had six children, four now living : Mrs. Edmond Clark, of North Russell ; Mrs. Ansil Doolittle, of Russell ; Mrs. Samuel Moore, of Russell; and Mrs. Zenas Squires, of Canton. Mr. Smith came to Russell about 1813, and here spent his life, teaching the first school in

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Russell village. He was quite a conspicuous figure in the early history of this town, having served eight terms as supervisor, and was also justice of the peace. He died in 1866 and his wife in 1881. The father of Rollin was John Smith, who lived and died in Massachusetts. Our subject was born and reared on a farm, and his father dying when he was nine years old, he was in early life thrown on his own resources, and be- ing the oldest son he had much responsibility thrust upon him in caring for the family. He was educated in the common schools, and spent several years in teaching school, beginning at the age of seventeen. He also attended the Canton Academy, and at the age of twenty-four took a course in penmanship and telegraphy at Eastman's Busir ess College, graduating in 1873. He next went to northern Wisconsin and taught for some time and in 1874 took a course in the Oshkosh Business College, and taught one year after that. In 1875 he returned to Russell and engaged in farming, but his health failing he organized a select school of sixty pupils in Russell and taught one term. February 29, 1876, he married Elizabeth, daughter of Hugh Miller, of Russell, and they have had four children : Roy L., John L., Grace, who died aged seven years ; and Goldia. In 1877 Mr. Smith and brothers John C. and Eugene L. engaged in the hard- ware business in Russell, but our subject soon sold out to John C., and later repurchased the entire stock and has since had a very successful business, carrying all classes of hardware and tinware. For several years he has also dealt in butter tubs, and has handled real estate also. He is a Republican, has served as justice of the peace two terms and is now filling his third term as supervisor. He is a member of Russell Lodge No. 566 F. & A. M.

Moore, Samuel, Russell, was born in Remsen, Oneida county, December 20, 1825. a son of Samuel M. Moore, whose father, King Moore, was a native of Wales, and an early settler of Connecticut, where he died. Samuel M. was born in Connecticut Feb- ruary 25, 1794, was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools. He came to Remsen when a young man and there married Uruslia Young, a native of Steuben, born February 12, 1797, by whom he had six children. They came to Russell in 1838 and settled on a farm where our subject now resides, and here he died in 1883, and his wife in 1871. Samuel Moore came to Russell when twelve years of age and has here since resided. He owns a place of 131 acres and follows general farming and dairying. In 1851 he married Clarissa C. Smith, born April 3, 1826, a daughter of Rollin Smith, and they have had six children : Chauncey L., of Russell, who married Attie E. Foster and has two children, Foster L. and Lela M .: George A., of Pierrepont, who married Lillian M. Farmer and has six children, Floyd E., Gertrude L., Rollin E., John, Bessie and Roy H .; Hattie L., wife of Elgin D. Owen of Russell, who has two children, Jerm B. and Donna O. ; Eliza, who lives at home; Carrie J., wife of Joseph F. Gray of Canton ; and Sidney A., at home. Mr. Moore is a Democrat and in religious belief a Universal- ist. Olive Gibbs Smith, mother of Mrs. Moore, traces her ancestry back seven genera- tions to one William Gibbs of Lenharn, Yorkshire, England, who obtained a grant of land four miles square in his town for signal services.

Merriman, Fred J., Madrid, was born in Somerville, St. Lawrence county, July 9, 1856, a son of Lyman Merriman, a farmer of Gouvernour. His mother, Caroline H. daughter of Oren Freeman. The boyhood of our subject was spent in the towns of

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Our county and its people : a memorial record of St. Lawrence County, New York, Part 101

Author: Curtis, Gates Publication date: 1894 Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason Number of Pages: 1328

Author: Curtis, Gates
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason
Number of Pages: 1328