Our county and its people : a memorial record of St. Lawrence County, New York, Part 105

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 105
USA > New York > St Lawrence County > Our county and its people: a memorial record of St. Lawrence County, New York > Part 105

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).

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HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.

also five horses and young stock. Mr. Rutherford is a staunch Republican, and was for a number of years trustee of the school. He is a member of Norfolk Grange No. 541. He married, February 2, 1865, Isabelle, daughter of John Mowitt, of Louisville, and they have two children : Mattie B. and Ella M.

Rodger, John T., Hammond, one of the leading business men of Hammond, was born in this town July 4, 1864. His father, Rutherford Rodger, is one of the best known farmers in Hammond. At twenty-three years of age Mr. Rodger embarked in mercan- tile business. He conducted a store at Edwardsville for some time, and has been in Hammond since September 1, 1892. In 1890 he married Ella E. Smith. Mr. Rodger is a member of the Order of Foresters, and is a Republican in politics.

Rhodes, Harlow, Fowler, was born on the farm where he now resides in Fowler, January 11, 1849. He married in December, 1870, Mary L. Hitchcock, and they have one daughter, Carrie L. Mr. Rhodes's father was Beloved Rhodes, and his grandfather Aaron Rhodes. Mr. Rhodes is a Democrat in politics, and is a successful and enterpris- ing farmer.

Riggs, Philo P., Stockholm, was born in Stockholm, May 21, 1847. His father was John, son of John G. Riggs. John Riggs was born in Cornish, N. H., June 8, 1811. He was nine years of age when he came with his parents to Stockholm, and was there reared and educated. His wife was Lucina Sheldon, a native of Hopkinton, N. Y., born September 1, 1814, and they had three daughters and one son. Mrs. Riggs died May 10, 1852, and he married second Marion Sheldon, sister of his first wife. Mr. Riggs was a farmer and a Republican. His death occurred November 21, 1884, and that of his wife June 25, 1893. Philo P. Riggs is a general farmer and dairyman, and owns 115 acres. He has made a specialty of breeding "Phil Sheridan " stock, and Wilkes strain of Hambletonian stock. In politics he is a Republican. He is a member of I. O. O. F., Winthrop Lodge No. 620, and P. of H., Stockholm Depot Lodge No. 538. In 1868 Mr. Riggs married Lorette A. Palmer, a native of Lincoln, Vt. She came with her parents to Hopkinton, N. Y., when a child. Mr. Riggs and wife have these children : Bert F., born September 11, 1869; Leslie E., born February 6, 1874; and Ettie A., born December 30, 1879. The sisters of subject are : Adaline M., born September 3, 1837; Louisa, born September 11, 1842; and Lucina S., born May 4, 1852.

Sweatt, Charles A., Hopkinton, was born in New Hampshire, August 18, 1835, a son of John and Susan (Putnam) Sweatt, of New Hampshire, who came to the town of Hopkinton in 1844 and settled on the farm now owned by Mrs. Sweatt. They went to Iowa in 1864 and there lived and died, he in 1883 and his wife in 1882. Charles A. was educated in the public school and engaged in farming. He owned the home- stead, to which he added eighty acres, making 160 acres in all. He was a Repub- lican and served as assessor six years. His father was a farmer and minister, preach- ing in the Free Will Baptist church of Hopkinton, which he founded, and which his son always attended and supported. Mr. Sweatt married in 1854 Cornelia Kimpton, a native of Vermont, and a daughter of Josiah and Jerusha (Nay) Kimpton, of Ver- mont, who came here in 1844, where they have since lived. Mr. and Mrs. Sweatt have

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had one daughter, Lora J., wife of Charles Brown, of Stockholin, and they have one son, Floyd S. Mr. Brown resides with his daughter on the old homestead. He was a clerk in Bicknellville for a number of years, and also clerked for Miller & Ober some time at Fort Jackson.

Rowell, George W., Ogdensburg, was born in St. Lawrence county, February 18, 1848. He was educated in the common schools at Black Lake, and came to Ogdens- burg eighteen years ago, where he has been engaged in the manufacture of sash, doors, etc., and is also conducting an undertaking business here. 1Ie married March 18, 1859, Elizabeth Nichols, and has a son and daughter. Mr. Rowell is a member of the Pro- hibition party, and of the Masonic Order. His family were of New England stock, and some of his ancestors upon both his father's and mother's side participated in the Revo- lutionary War.

Roach, E. W., Colton, was born in Pierrepont in 1851, a son of Morris Roach of Ire- land, who was born in 1811 and married Joanna O'Kief, by whom he had eleven chil- dren, four sons and two daughters now surviving. In 1845 Mr. Roach and family came to Potsdam, and he worked on the Northern railroad for several years. He then worked on a farm, and also rented farm land. About 1848 he came to Pierrepont and settled, owning now a place of 140 acres. E. W. Roachi was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools. He early engaged in farming and now owns 137 acres in Colton, besides two houses and lots. He was for a time engaged in the lum- ber business, and was also proprietor of the Stark Hotel at Stark Falls for aboat three years. In 1889 he came to this village and has since been engaged in the restaurant business. He married in 1887, Kittic Clohosey, a native of Pierrepont, and daughter of Edward Clohosey, a native of Ireland, who came to America with his parents. Mr. and Mrs. Roach have three children : Vernice, Grace E. and Leo. Mr. Roach is a Democrat, but has never aspired to office. He and family are members of the Catholic church.

Russell, S. K., Colton, was born in 1814, a son of Abram Russell, a native of Rhode Island, born March 17, 1789. From there he went to Vermont and in 1835 came to New York State, settling in Parishville, but soon after removing to Dickerson. He was one of the first settlers of the town of Colton. He married Mercy Kenyon, and had four daughters and one son. Mrs. Russell died in 1855, and in 1870 he also passed away. S. K. Russell was reared on a farm and educated in the public schools, and at the age of twenty-one he came to Colton, where he has since resided. He mar- ried Caroline Rawson, a native of Potsdam, by whom he has had ten children, five sons and five daughters. Mrs. S. K. Russell died in March, 1889.

Russell, William H., Potsdam, was born on a farm in the town of Pierrepont, May 8, 1852, a son of Benjamin B., born in Malone, Franklin county, February 3, 1819. He moved to Pierrepont when twenty-five years of age. Here he conducted a farm until 1882, when he came to Potsdam where he died, December 25, 1890. The mother of our subject was Nancy Wilkinson, a native of Plattsburg. She is still living at the age of sixty-seven years. They had two children : Lorinda, married Alonzo P. Raymond, died October 25, 1875; and William H. The latter lived with his parents until he was

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HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.

eighteeen years of age. He was educated in the common schools and at eighteen started for himself. After working one year on a farm he engaged in the meat busi- ness in partnership with Nelson Belding. This partnership lasted nine years, and afterwards he had different partners in conducting a meat market and fruit and vegeta- ble store. In May, 1890, he sold out his business and bought a farm of 220 acres in Potsdam, where he now resides, and which is devoted to dairying. He keeps thirty cows and thirty sheep. He married in 1870, Mary E. Drury of Pierrepont, who died November 2, 1875. Mr. Russell married second, August 26, 1876, Eva T. Kelsey of Stockholm, and they have two children : Ina Belle and Delos Leslie.

Runions, Oscar, Pierrepont, was born in Lisbon, this county, February 7, 1857, a son of J. N. Runions of Canton. Oscar was reared on a farm, educated in the public schools and at seventeen years of age came to Crary's Mills, where he learned the car- penter's trade. He afterwards rented a saw mill of J. V. Harper and in 1888 bought the mill and has since been engaged manufacturing lumber, sawing 600,000 feet yearly. November 28, 1891, the mill burned, and Mr. Runions has since rebuilt it, his new mill being 135 feet long, equipped with new machinery, and capable of handling dimension timber of any size and length, both hard and soft wood. He manufactures lath, shin- gles, etc., and has a grist mill to grind coarse feed and crush corn in the cob. The machinery is run by steam and water power. In 1884 Mr. Runions married Mabel Stinehour, a native of Crary's Mills, by whom he has had four children. In politics he is a Democrat.

Popple, William J., Hermon, was born in Heuvelton, August 11, 1861, and has been in the hardware business since the age of sixteen. He began first as a tinner with his brother in Heuvelton, following this trade for ten years. Five years ago he came to Hermon and established his present hardware business, in which he has been very suc- cessful. In 1889 Mr. Popple married Florence McCallum of Hermon. Heis a member of both the Foresters and the Masons. The father of our subject was Lorenzo Dow Popple, and his mother was Ann Ireland, a native of England.

Potter, Edsou, Colton, was born in Essex county, March 18, 1842, a son of Philip Potter. Our subject was six years old when he came to Colton with his parents. He was educated in the public schools of that town, and at the outbreak of the war en- listed in Co. K, 106th N. Y. Infantry, and served three years. He participated in twenty-eight battles, and was with Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley. In 1866 Mr. Potter married Mary Read, a native of Morley, this county, by whom he had four chil- dren : Mary, Alvira (deceased), Philip (deceased) and Myra, wife of Frank Cushing. Since the war Mr. Potter has been engaged in farming. He is a fine violinist, having been a pupil of Prof. C. D. Lyons of Boston, and John Esputa of Washington. He has been engaged in musical affairs for thirty years, and during the war serenaded the lead- ing generals in the army during winter seasons. Mr. Potter is a Republican and has been constable for twenty years and deputy sheriff two years. He is a member of the High Falls Lodge No. 428, F. & A. M. He is commander of the G. A. R., Warren B. Wait Post No. 581 of Colton.

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PERSONAL SKETCHES.

Phillips, D., Ogdensburg, established his furniture and second hand store here in 1889, and has since, through hard work and strict attention to business, built up a large trade. His store in located at 266 Ford street, and in it may be seen everything usually pertaining to this line of business, including furniture, household goods, crock- ery, ironware, jewelry, etc. Prior to establishing business here Mr. Phillips peddled goods in St. Lawrence county and along the borders of Canada. He is married, has a family of four children and is a bright, hard-working and energetic man.

Parr, William, Stockholm, was born at Brasher Iron Works, N. Y., October 9, 1842. His father was Moses S., son of Thomas Parr, the latter a native of Vermont, where he married a Miss Sweet, by whom he had nine children. Mrs. Parr died in 1836, and he married second a Miss Truebell. In an early day Mr. Parr went to Bombay, Franklin county, and there died in 1854. Moses S. Parr was born in Vermont, March 27, 1800, and came to Franklin county when a young man. His wife was Sarah Babcock, a nat- ive of Vermont, born December 10, 1804, and they had four sons and two daughters. In an early day Mr Parr and family went to Helena, St. Lawrence county, and after- ward to Brasher Iron Works, where they resided until 1857, when they went to Brasher Falls. Mr. Parr was a Republican in politics and held the office of constable for twenty years. They spent their last days in Stockholm with their son, subject of sketch, Will- iam Parr. The latter received a common school education, and previous to the war he worked as a machinist, also at farming. He spent a short time in a pail factory at Bicknellville and in a shingle mill at Brasher Iron Works. He was at the latter place when the war broke out. July 21, 1863, he enlisted in the Fourteenth N. Y. Heavy Artillery, Company A, but served in the infantry. He was in the following battles : Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Weldon Road, before Petersburg and Fort Steadman. At the close of the war he received his discharge and returned to Brasher Falls, where he spent two years in the machine shop, since which time farming has been his occupation. November 12, 1867, he married Ellen Morris, a native of Can- ada, born October 28, 1849. She was one of nine children of Hugh and Sarah (Thomp- son) Morris, natives of Ireland, who emigrated to Canada and later settled in this coun- try, in Brasher, where Mr. Morris died in 1886, and his wife in 1891. He was in the battles of Fair Oaks, Seven Days before Richmond, and at Yorktown. Mr. Parr and wife have five children : Fred, Lavina S., Willie H., Hugh, and Lottie. He is a Repub- lican, and he and wife are members of P. and I., Banner Lodge No. 160. He is also a member of P. of H., Winthrop Lodge. Mrs. Parr is a member of the Catholic church. Subject has but one brother (Joel) now living. He resides at Brasher Falls. He also has a sister, Mrs. Eliza E. Dustin, who resides at Brasher Falls. Amanda, his oldest sister, married Sylvester Rich, and they had three children, all of whom are dead. Newell Parr, a brother, was in the Mexican War and died at Vera Cruz.

Proctor, Charles Davis, Ogdensburg, was born in New Hampshire, February 22, 1856. He received a common school education, and followed farming for about twenty years, then came to this city and engaged with his brother, H. I. Proctor, as foreman and gen- eral manager of yards in the lumber business. He married in 1880 Miss A. Alden, and they have two children, a son and daughter. He is a member of the Baptist church, and one of Ogdensburg's most respected citizens.

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HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.

Paige, J. W., Ogdensburg, was born in Ogdensburg, March 27, 1841. He received his education in the schools of this city, and has since been identified with the brick- making business, which was inaugurated by his father, the late Smith Paige, in 1830, and which is now owned and conducted by himself and his elder brother, A. A. Paige. Mr. Paige married in 1869 Elizabeth Hewett, and they have two sons and two daughters. He is a high degree Mason, takes especial interest in historical and literary matters, and is highly regarded as a gentleman of superior attainments and ability.

Perrin, Walter W., Gouverneur, of the firm of Dewey & Perrin, druggists, was born in Potsdam, November 27, 1864, he being one of three children of Philander and Louise (Fay) Perrin. The father spent his early life in Vermont, coming to Potsdam when twenty-five years of age, where he has since remained. The mother's ancestors were also Vermont people. Walter W. was educated at the Potsdam Normal School. He learned the drug business with Mr. Thatcher of that town, and in 1889 came to Gouv- erneur, and in company with A. W. Dewey purchased the drug store of William Whit- ney, where they are doing a large and successful business. Owing to their enterprise and thorough knowledge of their business they stand notable among the younger ele- ment of Gouverneur business men.

Phelps Family, The, Potsdam .- In tracing the ancestry of this family we find that in 1826 two brothers, George and William, came to this country from England with a party of seventy in a sailing vessel under the leadership of Joseph Mygatt, a Presby- terian minister. The party founded the town of Litchfield, Conn., and the descendants of William Phelps are the subjects of this sketch. Benajah Phelps, the great-grand- father of our subject, was a resident of Massachusetts. He was the father of fourteen children, of whom Abel, the grandfather, was the oldest son. He was born in Massa- chusetts, April 28, 1774, and married in that State Mary Pelton. In 1801 they immi- grated to Vermont, locating in Alburg, Franklin county, now Grand Isle county. Abel Phelps took up a tract of 400 acres, and in connection with its tilling conducted a ferry between Alburg shore and the head of Grand Isle. He was the father of four sons and two daughters: Benajah, Samuel Mix, Marcellus, Algernon Sidney, Olivia, and Mariaette. Abel died April 16, 1859, and Mrs. Phelps October 20, 1860. Samuel Mix, the second son and father of our subject, was born at Alburg, Vt., March 25, 1806, where he was educated and made his home until twenty-nine years of age. In March, 1835, he moved into St. Lawrence county and located in the village of Norfolk, where he conducted a hotel until 1851. The fall of that year he went to California, and was four years engaged in mining and mercantile business. Returning to St. Lawrence county he engaged in dealing in stock for the Montreal market, a business he fol- lowed until the time of his death, February 17, 1856. The mother of our subject, Katherine A. Hoxie, was of Scotch ancestry, and she married Mr. Phelps in Vermont, March 11, 1831. They had seven sons and two daughters, five still living. Hanson Colson Phelps was born at Alburg, Vt., August 10, 1834. His early life was spent in the town of Norfolk. He was educated in the common schools, and the year of 1850 he spent in Malone and Fort Covington Academies. He was one year a clerk in a Madrid store, taught school one winter, and then went to Wisconsin, where he spent

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seven months, and taught school the following winter in Madrid. The spring of 1854 he went to Chicago, where he was employed until July 1, 1858, as chief clerk in the office of the M. S. and Northern Indiana Railroad. He then returned and was for two years bookkeeper for Carpenter & Hall at Raymondville. In 1860 he engaged in the manufacture of shingles at Kent's mills in the town of Norfolk, running six ma- chines with a capacity of 60,000 per day, and was engaged in this business sixteen years. In 1876 he removed to Norwood and for nine years was employed as a com- mercial traveler for a clothing firm. November 16, 1885, he was appointed postmaster of the fourth class office at Norwood. In 1888, by the efforts of Mr. Phelps, this office was raised to the third class, and Mr. Phelps was appointed by President Cleve- land postmaster for four years, but was removed by President Harrison, March 1, 1890, one year and ten months previous to the expiration of his term of appointment. He returned to the business of commercial traveler, which he followed until January 1, 1892, and is now in the employ of the Norwood Elevator Company as bookkeeper. Mr. Phelps has been a member of the Masonic fraternity. thirty-four years. He mar- ried, October 18, 1859, Louise H., daughter of William Kent, a native of Vermont, and they had five children. The eldest son, William Kent Phelps, was killed on the rail- road when twenty-two years of age. A daughter, Mabel L., died at nine years of age. Samuel Mix Phelps is cashier of the Buffalo & Gladstone steamship line at Gladstone, Mich. Fred G. is a traveling salesman for a hat and cap house in New York city. Charles H. is a clerk of the Elevator Company at Gladstone, Mich. Sidney Roland Phelps was born in the town of Norfolk, July 28, 1838. He lived in his native town and attended the common schools until 1855. That year he conducted the Empire Ex- change Hotel at Colton, and in 1856 he was the steward of the steamer Jenny Lind, plying between Ogdensburg and Montreal. The spring of 1857 he went to Chicago, where he was in the employ of the M. S. and Northern Indiana Railroad until July 5, 1858. He was from that time until October, 1858, engaged as conductor on the first street car ever run in that city. After his return he was for several years in the live stock trade, and October 15, 1866, purchased the Whitney House at Norwood of Ben- jamin Whitney, where he has ever since been the landlord. Mr. Phelps is a model hotel manager. He has been rewarded for his faithfulness to the business by the ac- cumulation of a large property, enjoying the distinction of being the most popular land- lord in St. Lawrence county. The house is always filled with guests, and some of the greatest men of our time have been entertained here. Mr. Phelps is an ardent Demo- crat, and in 1892 represented his district in the National Convention at Chicago. He married in 1870 Emma Louise, daughter of Allen D. Calkins, a native of Clinton county, now living at Norwood, and they have three children : Jesse Louise, Sidney Prentice, and Ilarry Benton; all live at home.

Wells, George K., Hopkinton, was born in Lawrence, March 28, 1842. His parents were Robert and Mary A. (Bacheller) Wells, and the former came to this county when a boy, and with his savings bought a farm in Lawrence, which he sold after- wards, and in 1855 came to Hopkinton and bought the farm of 302 acres, part of which is now owned by Mrs. Wells, widow of our subject. He had three sons. Mr. Wells died July 31, 1890, and his wife October 20, 1890. George K. was edu-

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HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.

cated in the Lawrenceville Academy and followed farming, doing also an extensive business in the manufacture of lumber, shingles and lath. He built the shingle mill at Fort Jackson, a large steam mill in Hopkinton and a blacksmith shop at Fort Jackson. September 21, 1863, he married Caroline P. Adams of Lawrence. She was a daughter of Daniel H. and Irene (Bishop) Adams, the former a native of Providence, R. I., and the latter of Hindsburg, Vt., who came to Lawrence in an early day, where they died. They had three sons and seven daughters. Mr. Adams died July 14, 1877, aged seventy-seven years, and his wife October 1, 1893, aged ninety-two years. Mr. and Mrs. Wells had one child, Cora A., wife of Frank C. Locke of Stockholm,' by whom she has one daughter, Hazel B. Mr. Wells died October 5, 1887.

Perrin, Byron (deceased), Potsdam, was born in Potsdam, October 21, 1821, a son of Noah Perrin, a native of Vermont, who was a son of Asa Perrin, one of the earliest settlers of this town, who came here and settled on a farm in Potsdam, where he reared a family of eleven children, of which Noah was the third son. Noah learned the tan- ner's trade, which he followed most of his life. After active business life was over he was ordained a minister. He died October 15, 1875. He was twice married. His first wife, and mother of our subject, was Paulina Lindsley of Potsdam, and they had two children. Pamelia, the daughter, died at thirteen years of age, Byron was edu- cated in the St. Lawrence Academy, and learned the tanner's trade, which he followed most of his life. In 1855 he came to the farm where he spent the remainder of his life. He died January 9, 1891. He married in December, 1845, Amarilla, daughter of Eleazer and Philena (Wright) Emery of Potsdam: They were the parents of four chil- dren, only one of whom is now living, Noah Byron Perrin, born July 11, 1847. He was educated in the old St. Lawrence Academy, and after finishing his schooling trav- eled very extensively through the west, and after returning home learned the mason's trade, which he has ever since followed. After his father's death he came into posses- sion of the farm where he now resides. He married, August 10, 1876, Jennie, daugh- ter of Patrick and Margaret (Sullivan) Devlin of Canton.

Pratt, Henry W., Waddington, was born in Waddington, January 19, 1817. His father, Amasa Pratt, was a son of Capt. Elias Pratt, who commanded a company of volunteer militia during the Revolutionary War, and served until peace was declared. Captain Elias was born November 16, 1763, at Oxford, Mass., his father having come from England at a very early day. Amasa Pratt was born in Oxford, May 7, 1787. He spent his youth in Worcester county, Mass., where he learned the hatter's trade. Coming to Ogdensburg he worked at his trade for Sylvester Gilbert. In 1810 he re- moved to Hamilton, now Waddington, and engaged in the mercantile business in con- nection with his former trade. June 12, 1814, he married Fannie Conner, daughter of James Connor of Amsterdam, N. Y. She was born October 18, 1793, and they had five children : Emmeline J., Henry W., Miriam, Amasa and Eleanor. Three of them are living : Emmeline J. of Waddington ; Eleanor, wife of W. L. Rutherford of Wad- cington ; and Henry W. Mr. Pratt was lieutenant in the State militia, and was a member of the first Masonic lodge in Madrid. He died May 27, 1830, and his wife April 11, 1873, Henry W. Pratt received his education in the common schools at Wad-

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dington, and at sixteen years of age went to Ogdensburg and learned the hatter's trade, serving four years with Field & Robbins. He returned to Waddington and en- gaged in his trade, which he abandoned after two years, when he lost his right arm while firing a salute on Washington's birthday, 1839. Mr. Pratt served three years as deputy sheriff of St. Lawrence county, was postmaster under William H. Harrison and Fillmore, and was justice of the peace fifteen years. He has also been a member of the town board several years, and of the board of education, in which latter he has always been deeply interested. At the breaking out of the Rebellion Mr. Pratt took an active part in recruiting volunteers to fill the quotas of his town. In 1877 he was appointed collector of customs and inspector at Waddington port, which position he held nine years. He was at one time a member of the I. O. O. F. In 1852 he married Sylvia A. Pratt, daughter of John M. Pratt of Dudley, Mass, and of English descent. Mrs. Pratt has been for many years a member of the Presbyterian church, and especially Interested in Sabbath school work.

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Our county and its people : a memorial record of St. Lawrence County, New York, Part 105

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