Our county and its people : a memorial record of St. Lawrence County, New York, Part 104

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 104
USA > New York > St Lawrence County > Our county and its people: a memorial record of St. Lawrence County, New York > Part 104

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).

Soper, William, Hammond, was born in Theresa, January 15, 1858. In 1882 he married Emma Pierce. He followed steamboating for five years and then built his fine sash, door and blind factory, where he conducts a large and constantly increasing business. His father was Orrin Soper, and his mother Clarissa (Ward) Soper.

Stevens, Lewis E., Canton, proprietor of the Hodskin street boarding house, was born in Lowville, Lewis county, May 28, 1825. He is a son of Ashbel Stevens, a Bap- tist minister, who was the first white male child born in Lowville. He was a son of one of the first settlers of that county. Ashbel moved to this county on the county line and got together a church called the Antwerp and Fowler church. Lewis E. at the age of eleven years carried the mail from Summerville to Shingle Creek. Elder Ashbel Stevens preached three sermons on Sunday, and died on the Thursday after,

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PERSONAL SKETCHES.

March 17, 1842. He preach his last sermon in the house where he died. He left three children : Lewis E. and Caroline B. by his first wife, and Mary M. by his second wife, who was Polly Wilcox. His first wife was Betsey Morse. Lewis E. Stevens married Mary Smith, who died leaving three children : Martha, Henry and Elbert E. He mar- ried second Jennie Smith, a sister of his first wife, who died leaving two children : Jen- nie and Josie. He married third, Maria Griswold, widow of Leonard Frye. Lewis E. Stevens came to Canton and settled here in 1860, and established a large insurance bus- iness as an agent of the Agricultural Company of Watertown, N. Y. He was appointed recruiting agent for this district in 1862. He is a member of the Baptist church of Canton, and is a very earnest worker in the cause of temperance and established the Temperance Grove meetings here. Elder Ashbel Stevens was a son of Elisha Stevens, a native of Connecticut.

Simpson, Thomas, Waddington, was born in Waddington, November 13, 1850. His father, Samuel, was born January 3, 1818, and when a boy came with his parents to Canada. He came to Waddington and worked at the blacksmith trade. In 1840 he purchased the farm now owned by Thomas Simpson. He married Maria, daughter of George and Rosana Abbie, natives of England and early settlers of Waddington. Mr. Abbie was a farmer for the Ogdens for a number of years, and both he and his wife died in Waddington. Samuel Simpson and wife have had three children, of whom Thomas is the only one living. Mr. Simpson was a Republican, and he and his wife attended and supported the M. E. church. He died October 16, 1889, and his wife October 7, 1892. Thomas Simpson was reared and educated in Waddington, has always been a farmer, and now owns 250 acres of land. He keeps a dairy of twenty cows. Mr. Simpson is a Republican, and has always attended and supported the M. E. church November 28, 1875, he married Libbie Dawley of Lisbon, daughter of William and Hannah Dawley of England, early settlers of Lisbon. Mr. Simpson and wife had one daughter, Libbie L., living at home. Mrs. Simpson died July 10, 1877.

Storie, George D., Gouverneur was born in Rossie, February 5, 1858, and learned the trade of spoke manufacturer. In September, 1883, he opened a general store in Wegatchie and has since conducted it with great success, occupying spacious premises and carrying a large stock of goods. In 1880 he married Ella O., daughter of David Henderson, and they have one son, Ebert Storie. Mr. Storie's father was David M. Storie, a native of Scotland. Mr. George D. Storie is postmaster of Wegatchie, serv- ing his second term, and has been magistrate since twenty-one years of age.

Stephenson, A. Revis, V. S., Ogdensburg, was born in 1857 in Ontario, Canada. He was graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College of Toronto in April, 1878, and came to Ogdensburg in September, 1892. Dr. Stephenson is making arrangements to conduct a superior infirmary here. He possesses already every requisite facility and convenience, which combined with his well known skill has already brought him the leading patronage of horsemen of this locality.

Sawin, J. P., Stockholm, was born in Potsdam, April 25, 1845. His father was Philander Sawin, who came to Potsdam when a young man, and here married Esther, daughter of Anthony Thompson. To Mr. Sawin and wife were born two children : J.

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HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.

P., and Jane, wife of William C. Wait, of Stockholm. Mr. Sawin was a mechanic by trade. He died in August, 1847, and his wife August 8, 1877. J. P. Sawin was a mere child when his father died, and he was reared hy his grandfather, Anthony Thompson. He received a common school education, and early in life engaged in farm- ing, which he has since made his occupation, owning at present 250 acres in Stockholm. Mr. Sawin has been twice married; first to Anna A. Davis, a native of Stockholm and daughter of Bradley Davis. They had one child, Riley, who died aged nine years. Mrs. Sawin died July 2, 1874, and he married second Lois P. Munson, a native of Stock- holm and daughter of Henry Munson of that place. In politics our subject is a Repub- lican. He has held the office of highway commissioner over seven years ; is a mem- ber of the I. O. O. F., Winthrop Lodge No. 620, and of the P. of H., Stockholmn Depot Lodge No. 538. Mr. Sawin is a Universalist, and the family attend and support that church.

Spaulding, B. D., Fowler, was born in De Kalb, April 2, 1866. His father. Wilson M. Spaulding, was a farmer, and our subject learned the trade of cheesemaker, at which he continued for seven years. December 1, 1892, he started in mercantile busi- ness at Hailesboro, and is conducting a most successful establishment. In 1891 Mr. Spaulding married Maude M. Reed, daughter of Alpheus Reed, of Hermon. His an- cestors were among the early settlers of De Kalb.

Schwartzman, J., Gouverneur, was born December 25, 1864, and came to America in 1883. He has been engaged in the mercantile business continuously in this country, and with much success, starting in business in Gouverneur in February, 1892, as a dealer in ready-made clothing, men's furnishings, boots and shoes, etc. He now has one of the leading establishments in his line in Gouverneur. Our subject married Etta Jacobs, of Syracuse, January 10, 1893. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and is a popular business man of the place.

Spinks, Levi, Colton, was born in Hampton, Vt., June 10, 1816. His father was William, a native of the same place, born in 1790, a son of E. Spink, also of Vermont. William married Priscilla Wood, and they had seven children, all now deceased except our subject. At the age of eight years Levi came with his parents to Parishville, and in 1834 they moved to Colton, the father purchasing a farm on which he spent the re- mainder of his life. Levi worked with his father until the age of twenty-three, when he began for himself, working by the month on a farm. He married, February 15, 1841, Harriet, daughter of Henry Gibbons, of English descent, though a resident of South Colton. At this time he bought a farm of fifty acres, to which he later added 200. Mr. Spinks and wife have prospered, owing to industry and perseverance, and have experienced all the hardships and privations of pioneer life, but now they are en- joying the fruits of their early exertions. Two children have been born to them, but both have died, one of them in infancy, and the other, Philo, born March 10, 1861, mar- ried Tina Blanchard, daughter of Albert Blanchard, of Colton, and died May 19, 1888.

Smith, Robert W., Brasher, a farmer of Brasher Iron Works, was born June 13, 1823, at Fort Covington, N. Y., a son of Daniel S. and Mary (Mansfield) Smith. His father was a native of Connecticut, born in 1784. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, and

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died at the age of eighty four years. His mother was a native of Vermont, and died aged seventy-one years. Our subject's grandfather Smith was a soldier under Washing- ton, and spent a winter at Valley Forge. Amos Mansfield, an uncle, was a captain in the War of 1812, and served at the battle of Plattsburg. Robert W. Smith was reared on the farm, and at the age of twenty-one he bought his first farm in Brasher, to which he has added from year to year until he now owns nearly 1,200 acres. April 10, 1850, he married Emily J. Cooper, born October 3, 1830, a daughter of James and Jane (Kin- caid) Cooper, natives of Salem, N. Y., and Mr. and Mrs. Smith have had six children : Daniel H., born February 2, 1851, who married Carrie E. Holcomb, and owns part of the old homestead ; Deforest J., born October 4, 1853, married Addie C. Wells, and also lives on part of the old farm; Cora E., born July 8, 1859, wife of Charles C. Drake ; Wright A., born February 6, 1862, married Alice E. Holcomb, and he also lives on part of the old farm; Orvis O., born October 1, 1864, who lives at home; Lottie, born July 9, 1870, lives at home. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are both members of the M. E. church, and he is a Republican.

Smith, Frank L., Potsdam, was born in Mansfield, Cattaraugus county, N. Y., May 27, 1860. On the paternal side the ancestors were from Rhode Island, and were of English descent. On the maternal side they were of Scotch origin. The grandfather of our subject, Hezekiah, was a captain of militia and a native of this State. Lorenzo H., father of our subject, was born in Otsego county, followed farming and is now a resident of Cherry Creek, Chautauqua county. Our subject was one of a family of six, of whom Frank was the oldest son. His early life was spent in Cattaraugus county. He was educated in the common schools and assisted on the homestead until twenty years of age. In 1880 he was engaged as bookkeeper in the bank of Ellicottville, Cat- taraugus county, where he was employed until 1887, rising from one position to an- other until he became the head bookkeeper. In December, 1886, he came to Norwood for the purpose of starting a bank, and the project culminated in January, 1887, Mr. Smith taking the position of cashier. The State Bank of Norwood was opened for busi- ness May 1, 1887, and under the efficient management of Mr. Smith it has grown to be a financially successful institution, and a great benefit to the community at large. Mr. Smith is a member of Norwood Lodge I. O. O. F. He married in 1887 Carrie B. Arm- strong, of Mansfield, Cattaraugus county.

Smith, Carlton, Potsdam, was born on a farm in Potsdam, May 12, 1822, a son of Manassa Smith, who was a native of Vermont, one of the earliest settlers of the town, and a member of the union who settled the Ogden tract. Manassa Smith married Judith Walker, of Vermont, and they were the parents of six children, two now living : Silas. a farmer of Wisconsin ; and Carlton. Carlton was educated in the common schools and took up farming. He lived at home until he was twenty-three years of age, when he moved on his wife's farm in Bicknellville, where he made his home until 1883. Dur- ing this time he built and conducted an iron foundry in that village, which he still owns. In 1880 he bought a farm of 176 acres in Potsdam, and in 1883 moved and set- tled here. Mr. Smith is a Democrat and has held the office of road commissioner for three terms in the town of Stockholm. He married in 1844 Betsey A., daughter of

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HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.

Zebina Bicknell, a farmer of Stockholm, and they were the parents of four children : Mrs. Hannah Emery, of Norwood ; Eugene, a farmer of Stockholm ; George C., who lives on the homestead farm ; and one died in infancy. The farm of Mr. Smith is con- ducted as a dairy farm, with twenty-five head of cattle. His residence is one of the finest old places in this town, built over sixty years ago of field stone, and to-day is as staunch as when erected.

Smith, W. F., Gouverneur, was born in Gouverneur, May 20, 1863. He learned the art of cheesemaking, and has been following that business four years. He now con- ducts the Smith's Mills factory, with an annual output of 150,000 pounds of cheese. In the spring of 1893 Mr. Smith married Bessie, daughter of William Brown. His father was Chauncey Smith, who died in 1884. His mother was Helen (Griffith) Smitlı.

Spear, George, Colton, was born in Royalton, Vt., one of nine sons and three daugh- ters of John and Axie (Hibbard) Spear, who came to Parishville in an early day. George was educated in the public schools, and married, September 30, 1848, Clarissa Ellis, of Morley, N. Y., born June 11, 1825. Their children were : Henry, born June 1, 1851 ; James, born August 27, 1853; Fred, born February 9, 1856; Frank, born April 1, 1867 ; Amy, born October 20, 1862; George T., born February 17, 1864; Marion ; and Adele E. Mr. Spear died April 28, 1892, and his widow lives in Colton. Mrs. Spear is a daughter of James S. Ellis, a son of Ziba Ellis, of New Bedford, Mass., born June 29, 1774, who married Rhoda Nickerson and had eight children. James S. Ellis was born December 15, 1801, in New Bedford, Mass., and married Malinda Wilson, of Shoreham, Vt., by whom he had nine children. In 1825 he came to this State and finally settled in Colton, where he died March 1, 1870, and his wife June 7, 1871. Frank and George T., sons of our subject, formed a partnership in 1885 in the drug business in Colton and have since carried on a successful trade. Frank worked at the lumber business previous to 1885. August 4, 1883, he married Hannah Mahoney, of Colton, daughter of John and Julia Mahoney, of Ireland, who came to this country when young. Mr. Spear and wife have three children: Ernestine, Nettie, and Marion. George T. Spear married in 1886 Leora Little, of South Canton, by whom he has had two children : Muriel, who died aged one year ; and Maleska, aged four years. He has served as town clerk two years.

Southwell, Daniel, De Kalb, was born in England, July 14, 1840, and came to Amer- ica in 1868. He has resided in Richville four years, and conducts the milling busi- ness of the place. He married Sarah Miles and they have four children, one son and three daughters. Mr. Southwell is a Democrat in politics; an Odd Fellow, and an adherent of the Episcopal church.

Robinson, J. E., Hermon, was born in Gouverneur, April 10, 1868, and at the age of twelve years came to Hermon, where he was employed in the post-office for some time. In 1880 he began his mercantile career as clerk, and purchased a drug and stationery business in 1890, which he now conducts. He was appointed postmaster of his town November 5, 1893. He is an active and successful young business man and holds a prominent place among the Democrats of Hermon.

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PERSONAL SKETCHES.

Rider Family, The .- Robert Rider, sr., and Esther (White) Rider were natives of Ireland, who came to this country in June, 1812, and settled in Hebron, Washington county. Their original plan was to go to New York city, but on account of the war they changed their destination and went to Washington county, via Boston, Mass. Robert Rider was born near Ogdensburg, February 15, 1830, and his parents finally settled in Waddington, his father following the occupation of weaver in Washington county for two years, and operated a farm near Waddington for about ten years. Robert attended the public schools in Ogdensburg and was engaged in clerking after- wards for eight years. He also engaged in farming and through industry and frugality succeeded in amassing considerable property. He now owns 800 acres of land in this vicinity, besides quite an amount of city property. He and his brother William sup- ported their parent for many years prior to their deaths, his father dying in 1850 and his mother in 1869. Robert has now retired somewhat from active work, although he still manages his large property interests here. Mr. Rider is emphatically the architect of his own fortunes, possessing that strength of mind and character which almost always raises a man above the generality of his fellows. He resides in Ford street, Ogdens- burg, where he is a large tax payer.

Rutherford, John D., Waddington, was born in Waddington on the farm he now owns, October 13, 1811. His father, Richard, was a native of Scotland, who came to Waddington about 1801 with three other brothers, there being only one house in the town at that time. They purchased of the Ogdens a mile square, and lived and died farmers. Richard Rutherford married in Waddington, Margaret, daughter of John Dunn, and they had four children, of whom three grew to maturity. Mrs. Rutherford died in 1820, and Mr. Rutherford married a lady from Scotland, by whom he had three sons and five daughters. Mr. Rutherford and wife assisted largely in building the First Presbyterian church. Panthers, bears and wolves were plenty, and the subject of this sketch had a narrow escape from a panther when eight years of age. John D. was educated on the farm he now owns, and has always followed farming. He now has eighty-two acres and engages in general farming and dairying. He has cleared his own farm and erected all the buildings. Mr. Rutherford married in 1833, Mary, daugh- ter of John Hamiah of Lisbon, N. Y., and they had six sons and three daughters: Rich- ard, Thomas and William reside in Oregon, and John and James reside in Waddington ; Alexander died in San Francisco, Cal .; Elizabeth died in Waddington; Mary and Jane live in Waddington. Mr. Rutherford was a Whig in early life and later a Republican. He voted for William H. Harrison, and for his grandson twice. Mr. Rutherford died December 1, 1892.

Rich, S. D., Gouverneur, was born in Hailesborough in November, 1831. He learned the milling trade and followed it for many years. He enlisted August 12, 1862, in Co. I, 11th N. Y. Cavalry. His regiment was stationed at Washington from 1864 to 1865. Mr. Rich has been in the hotel business in Hailesborough twenty-one years and is widely known all over St. Lawrence county, both because of his life long residence here, his success and geniality, and also for his uncompromising political opinions, being an aggressive Republican. In 1856 he married Lucy Walde, and they have one daugh-

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HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.

ter, Mrs. F. N. Kilburn of Copenhagen. Mr. Kilburn owns one of the finest stud farms in America.

Ramsey, Isaac, Morristown, son of George and Lena (Elwood) Ramsey, was born in Morristown, October 13, 1852. His life occupation has been farming, at which he is very successful. In 1818 his father left England with his grandfather, Cuthbert Ram- sey. They settled in Canada, but after a short time came to Morristown and were among the earliest settlers in this part of the country.

Rutherford, R. Edward, Waddington, was born January 24, 1860. He is a son of William J., son of Rex, who was a son of George Rutherford. Robert R. was born in Scotland in 1793, and came to Waddington with his parents in 1801. He was a self- educated man and well informed. He married Ann Porteous of Scotland, by whom he had five sons and two daughters. He owned 450 acres in Waddington. He was killed by falling from a stage in going from the fair ground at Morrisburg, Canada, in 1872. William J. Rutherford was born in Waddington, August 4, 1832. He married Isabel, daughter of Adam Veitch, and they had six children, of whom five survive. Mr. Ruth- erford lived and died on the farm he owned. He was a Republican and was assessor three terms. He was an elder in the Presbyterian church for a number of years. He died July 21, 1887, and his wife is still living on the farm. R. Edward Rutherford was reared on a farm and educated in the common school and Eastman's Business Col- lege at Poughkeepsie, graduating in 1885. Mr. Rutherford has always been a farmer, and the estate has 222 acres, the principal business being dairying. The farm sup- ports twenty-five cows. Mr. Rutherford married, February 22, 1887, Florence Moul- ton, a native of Waddington, and they have had one daughter, Ann Isabelle. Mr. Ruth . erford is a Republican, and he and family are members of the Presbyterian church of Waddington.

Read, James C., Gouverneur, was born in Vermont, February 21, 1809, and came to Gouverneur in 1827. He was first a farmer and then a carpenter and joiner. In Jan- uary, 1837, he married Sarah E., daughter of Jabez Miller. Mr. Read's father, Will- iam, was a native of Vermont.

Rex, Joseph, Ogdensburg, was born at Lachine, Canada. August 22, 1844. His pa- rents moved here when Joseph was only eighteen months old, and as soon as he was able it was necessary for him to assist in obtaining a livelihood, and as a consequence he did not obtain the educational advantages most children obtain. At a very early age he entered the shingle mill owned by the Lyons and subsequently the factory of Mr. Pope, in which latter concern he commenced just before the war. In the spring of 1863 he enlisted in the 14th N. Y. Heavy Artillery, under Captain Oliver Flagg, and participated in thirteen engagement. He was mustered out at the close of the war, and returned to the employ of the Pope factory. When the fire occurred and these mills were burned, he went with Mr. Welch, father of Sylvester Welch, with whom he remained thirteen years, at the expiration of which time Mr. Welch died, and then Mr. Rex returned to the Pope mills, in which he has since held a very important position. Mr. Rex has been twice married and has one son. Besides his mill work Mr. Rex also owns a grocery store in this city, which is conducted by competent assistants.

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PERSONAL SKETCHES.

Rutherford, Alexander, Waddington, was born in Waddington, April 16, 1833. He was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools, and went to Cali- fornia in 1861 and spent five years there and in Nevada. Returning to New York he worked for his father about two and a half years, and then went to Wisconsin for about a year. Then, in company with his brother Duncan, he went to Cali- fornia and was there about two years, when he returned again to Waddington and a year later went to California, but on account of his father's death returned to Waddington. Mr. Rutherford then worked for his brother, Nelson, for six years and then purchased a farm of fifty acres in Canada, and there lived for five years, when he sold and came to Waddington on the farm he now owns. He has 127 acres and keeps a small dairy. Mr. Rutherford married in March, 1879, Eliza J. Johnson, a native of Canada. Mr. Rutherford is a Republican. He is inclined toward the Presbyterian church, but has freely supported other denominations.

Rutherford, James, Madrid, was born in Northumberlandshire, England, April 13, 1826, and came with his parents to this country in 1832. William, his father, settled on a farm in Madrid of eighty acres of uncleared land. The first residence was a log hut. The father and two sons cleared the land, and in a few years had made it a good average farm and had increased it to 164 acres. William Rutherford died on the old homestead July 4, 1878, aged seventy-five years. The mother of our subject, Vio- let Amos, was also a native of the same county in England, born in 1805. They had eight children, six of whom survive. The mother of our subject died in August, 1888. James, the oldest son, was educated in the common schools, and made the farm his home until twenty-seven years of age. He then married and rented a farm in Pots- dam, afterwards buying 174 acres, where he lived for ten years. In 1865 he bought a farm of 266 acres in Madrid, where he has since resided. Mr. Rutherford is a staunch Republican, and has been the town assessor in Madrid. He married in 1853 Sarah, daughter of Putnam Haskell, the first settler of this part of the town, and they had four children : Polly, wife of William Rutherford, of Madrid; William, who lives on the Haskell farm; Mary Rutherford, of Boulder, Col .; and one who died in infancy. Mrs. Rutherford died April 16, 1883, aged fifty-six years. William Rutherford was born on the old farm December 29, 1857, was educated in the common schools, and has always been engaged in farming. He married, September 7, 1880, Maggie, daughter of John W. Rutherford.

Rutherford, Andrew J., Madrid, brother of Deacon Thomas, was born on a farm in Potsdam, February 10, 1834, a son of James, who was a native of Scotland, born in Northumberland county, July 16, 1785, and came to this country in 1825. He took up a tract of 100 acres in Potsdam, where he spent the balance of his days. Andrew J. was the seventh son of this early settler, and was educated in the common schools, and assisted his father on the farm until he was thirty-two years of age. In the fall of 1866 he bought a farm of eighty-two acres in Madrid, where he has ever since made his home. He also owns twenty-eight acres on lot seventy-four. Mr. Rutherford has made many valuable improvements to this property, and has erected a beautiful resi- dence, large barn, etc., and it is to-dav one of the finest places of this section. He con- ducts a dairy with ten cows, finding a market at Boynton's factory adjoining. He has

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Our county and its people : a memorial record of St. Lawrence County, New York, Part 104

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