Our county and its people : a memorial record of St. Lawrence County, New York, Part 112

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 112
USA > New York > St Lawrence County > Our county and its people: a memorial record of St. Lawrence County, New York > Part 112

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).

De Lack, John, Morristown, was born in Ogdensburg, February 1, 1840. He was for some time engaged in steamboating. In 1861 he enlisted in Co. G, 16th N. Y. Regi- ment, under Captain (now General) Curtis. He afterwards re-enlisted in Co. A, 14th Heavy Artillery. Since the war he has been engaged in farming. He married Cor- nelia R. Schofield in 1866, and they have a family of three sons and one daughter. Mr. De Lack takes an active interest in educational matters, and has been school trustee. His father was Lewis P. De Lack.

Daniels, John, Morristown, was born in Oswegatchie, May 14, 1844, and has fol- lowed farming since the war. He enlisted in 1863 in the 14th N. Y. Heavy Artillery, Co. A, and served at Petersburg, Richmond and all the actions of the 9th Army Corps during the last two years of the war. His service extended over two years and twenty- six days. He is a member of H. I. Hooker Post. His father was Charles Daniels. Mr. Daniels married Lucy A. Thomas, April 9, 1884. She has done much to assist him in the affairs of life, and is a most estimable woman.

Dunnery, F., Ogdensburg, was born in this State, and has lived in Ogdensburg for the past twenty -three years. For fourteen years he had charge of the filing and grind- ing departments in H. D. Northrop's shop. He married, February 22, 1878, Catherine

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HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.

Friel of this city, and they have one daughter. Mr. Dunnery is one of Ogdensburg's must energetic business men. His business is rapidly increasing and he numbers among his patrons the leading families of Ogdensburg.

Dawson, Asa, a farmer of Brasher Falls, was born in Grand Isle, Vt., October 16, 1818, a son of John and Elsie (Babcock) Dawson. His father came to America from Scotland during the last years of the Revolution, and was a British soldier under Lord Cornwallis, was taken prisoner at Yorktown, and then joined the Continental army. The mother's people were of English birth and came to America when she was a child. Asa was the thirteenth of fourteen children, all but one, his younger brother John, of Rochester, being deceased. In early life Mr. Dawson was a sailor on the lakes, then a sawyer for about thirteen years in this county. He bought his farm in 1853, where he has since resided, a fine place of eighty-five acres, under a good state of cultivation. He married first in October, 1839, Sally A. Hall, by whom he had eight children, six of whom grew to maturity : Thomas, Hannah, Marion," Ellen, Emery, and Ethan. Mr. Dawson was a Democrat in early life, but has been a Republican for the last thirty years. His first wife died in December, 1877, and he married second in February, 1882, Mrs. Mary Halcomb Hill, widow of Nelson Hill.

Barnett, Michael J., Colton, was born in Ireland, November 24, 1852, a son of Jere- miah and Catharine (Driscoll) Irish, mentioned elsewhere in this work. Mr. Barnett engaged in farming three years, then moved to the village, where he was engaged in teaming for some time. He was street commissioner three years in Potsdam, where he lived eleven years. He next moved to South Colton, where he bought the Riverside House in 1888, of which he has since been proprietor. This place is pleasantly located on the south bank of the Raquette River, and has a good livery in connection, with a a stage running to and from Potsdam daily, affording excellent accommodations for travelers. Mr. Barnett married at Potsdam, February 22, 1876, Ellen Culhane, a native of Ireland, by whom he has had nine children : Kittie, who died aged eleven years ; John T .; George B .; Joseph F., who died aged four years; Mary A., who died in in- fancy ; Leslie, also died young; Blanch E. ; H. Grace, and Kittie B. Mr. Barnett is a Republican in politics, and he and family are members of the Catholic church.

Bowen, William C., Colton, was born in Canada, August 6, 1844, a son of Nathan Bowen. His wife was Clara Pike, of Vermont, and they resided in Canada many years, coming to Colton in 1854. They finally moved to Massachusetts, where they died. They were the parents of fourteen children, of whom our subject was the young- est. He was raised on a farm, educated at the public schools, and worked at farming and carpentry for about twenty years. He has been engaged in a saw mill also. Jan- uary 3, 1866, Mr. Bowen married Druzilla G. Wait, of South Colton, by whom he had seven children : Clara, Carrie, Effie, Ruby, Mira, Mabel, and Carroll. Mr. Bowen is a Republican and has been assessor three years. He enlisted in Company H, Thirteenth N. Y. Cavalry, in 1864, serving till the close of the war. He is a member of the Wait Post, G. A. R., of Colton, and has always been an active worker in the cause of temper- ance.

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PERSONAL SKETCHES.

Butler, Edwin H., Colton, was born in Fletcher, Vt., March 8, 1820, a son of John and Clarissa (Davis) Butler, the former a native of Connecticut and the latter of Can- ada. They came to this county about 1850 and settled in Colton, where the father died in 1863. They had ten children. Edwin H. started in life by working on the farm by the month, and has made his own property. In 1839 he came to Colton, and after working on a farm for several years engaged in milling for six years, then in the mer- cantile business, in which he had a successful career for twenty years, retiring in 1882. He married first Charlotte E. Hopburn, by whom he had three children. Mrs. Butler died in 1851, and he married second Ellen M. Campbell, of Vergennes, Vt. Mr. Butler is a Republican and has served as supervisor five years, justice of the peace nearly forty years, and was one of the first constables of Colton.

Beckwith, Hon. M. D., Colton, was born in Oppenheim, Fulton county, August 24, 1829, a son of Ira Beckwith, of Connecticut, one of Fulton county's early settlers. Our subject was educated at the Little Falls Academy and Fairfield Seminary, and read law with Wells & Dudley, of Johnstown, and Josiah Miller, of Seneca Falls, and was admitted to the bar in 1859. He was school commissioner of Herkimer county from 1864 to 1866, when he moved to this town, where for several years he had charge of the local office of George Parish. From 187] to 1876 he was justice of the peace, and from that time till 1882 was supervisor. In the latter year he was elected to the As- sembly, where he served two terms. He practiced law in Colton twenty-five years, and in 1890 moved to Canton and formed a law partnership with P. R. McMonagle, and here he resided until his death March 9, 1892. He married in 1861 in Herkimer county Sarah H., daughter of William Doyle, a native of Ohio, who died when Mrs. Beckwith was an infant, and she was adopted by John A. Barrett, of Salisbury Center, Herkimer county. The wife of Mr. Doyle was Eliza Nicholas, who spent her last days with Mrs. Beckwith, and died April 5, 1883. Mr. and Mrs. Beckwith adopted one son, Herbert M.

Clark, Thomas, of Brasher Center, was born in Stormont, Ontario county, March 31, 1824, a son of Francis and Eliza (Bass) Clark, the former of Canada and the latter of Vermont, both of Scotch ancestry, their parents having come to America when young people. The grandfather, Francis Clark, was a soldier in the Revolution, and after- wards lived at Fort Covington, where he died aged seventy-five. Francis, father of Thomas, died aged seventy-four years, and his mother at the age of seventy-six. Our subject has always followed agriculture. He bought in 1869 a fine farm of 135 acres, where he now lives. In 1845 he married Julia A. Clark, a cousin, of the same lineage, and they have had ten children : Charles, of the State of Washington; Benoyer P., Eleanor, Franklin, Melvin, and Rhoda, besides four who died. Benoyer P. was born in Brasher, May 8, 1850. He married, February 7, 1874, Nancy Wright, born August 7, 1855, a sister of Mrs. L. Curtis of this town. She was appointed postmistress of Brasher Center in July, 1893, although the family are Republicans, there being no Democrat in the district to accept the office. Mr. and Mrs. Clark have four children : Grace, David, Jennie, and Vera B. Mr. Clark is a Free Mason. His brother Hugh was in the Civil War, where he lost his life.

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HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.

Chamberlain, Worth, Canton, was born in Canton, May 23, 1850. He was educated in the college of Canton, and entered the law department of the University of Michigan, being admitted to the bar in Michigan in 1872 and to the bar of New York in 1875. In this year he opened a law office in Canton, where he has remained ever since. He has held several public positions, has been justice of the peace three years, special surro- gate for a term, and was made member of assembly for three years, from 1879 to 1882. He has also been president of the village of Canton. In 1884 he married Emma J. Dezell.

Colborn, Benjamin, Ogdensburg, was born near North Augusta, Canada, and was for a great many years identified with the leading interests of that vicinity. He was divi- sion clerk of the courts of Leeds and Granville for seven years. Besides this he was an extensive owner of mill property there, which he unfortunately lost. Mr. Colburn then moved to Gouverneur, St. Lawrence county, and engaged in carriagemaking for a few years, and then moved to Ogdensburg and established business on Lake street, where he is assisted by his two sons. Here he does a general work and iron business, includ- ing carriagemaking, etc., besides a general repairing business. He married in 1855 Harriet Earl, and they have eight children.

Close, John, Colton, was born in Canada in May, 1837, one of eight children of John and Catharine Close, natives of Ireland, who came to Ogdensburg in an early day, and thence went to Canada, where they died. John Close was reared on a farm and edu- cated in the public schools. In January, 1864, he married Margaret Brown, a native of Canada, born in 1837, and they had nine children : Sarah, Mary, Catharine, Samuel, Rose, Margaret, John (deceased), and two who died in infancy. Mr. Close came to Col- ton in 1863, and in 1869 went to Parishville and settled on the farm he now owns of 381 acres, keeping a dairy of thirty-five cows. In politics he is a Democrat, and he and wife are members of the Catholic church of Colton.

Casey, L. B., Colton, was born in Parishville, September 29, 1841. His father was Thomas, a native of Ireland, born in 1810, who came to Canada when a young man, and there married Ann Fallon, also of Ireland, and widow of John Fallon, by whom she had five children. Mr. Fallon was killed in 1853 by the falling of a tree. About 1837 Mr. Casey came to Parishville, and after four years to Colton and settled on the farm now owned by our subject, where he died in 1864 and his wife in 1868. They had nine children. Mrs. Casey had five sons, one son-in-law and a brother in the late war. L. B. Casey enlisted in July, 1863, in Company I, One Hundred and Seventy-sixth N. Y. Volunteers, and served until the close of the war, participating in the following battles : Under General Banks up the Red River; under Sheridan in Shenandoah Valley ; and was color bearer at Cedar Creek, Winchester, and Fisher Hill, after the latter battle be- ing promoted first lieutenant. At the close of the war he returned to Colton and in 1867 went to Michigan, where he married Pauline Mead, whose maiden name was Lamb, by whom he has had one son, Lee E., and they have one adopted daughter, Josie. In June, 1870, Mr. Casey came to Colton, where he has since resided. He owns a farm of 140 acres, also an interest in the Wildwood Cheese Factory. He is a Democrat and has been twice assessor and served as excise commissioner two terms.

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PERSONAL SKETCHES

He is a member of Ward Post No 581, also of High Falls Lodge No. 128, F. & A. M., of which he was master for five years. Mr. Casey is a member of the M. E. church.

Currier, L. S., Colton, was born in Lowell, Mass., December 4, 1846, a son of L. W. and Margaret (Shipley) Currier, the former a native of Massachusetts and the latter of New Hampshire. They had three children. The father was a railroad conductor for many years, and his early life was spent as a stage driver. He died in 1867, and his wife lives in Howell, Mich. L. S. Currier was reared as a railroad man and for seven- teen years worked for the Boston and Lowell Railroad Company. He was clerk, yard- master, and for some time sold tickets in Boston. In 1875 he married Helen M. Leon- ard, of Canton, a daughter of Hiram Leonard, the first male child born in that town. He was a son of Peter R. Leonard and Annie Rich, Very early settlers there. Mr. and Mrs. Currier have had two daughters : Margaret H., who is a student at St. Lawrence University, and Hilda L., who lives at home. Mr. Currier is a Republican. In 1876 he came to Colton and two years later engaged in the mercantile business. He carries Cry goods of every kind, notions, millinery goods, ladies' and children's shoes, rubbers, wall papers, curtains, etc.

Desmond, John, Brasher Falls, proprietor of the Riverside House at Brasher Falls, was born May 1, 1843, a son of Daniel and Johanna Desmond, natives of Ireland, who came to this country soon after their marriage. They were farmers and had a family of six children, all of whom grew to maturity. The father died aged forty-eight years and the mother aged sixty. John grew up on the farm and at the age of twenty-five years engaged in the grocery business for several years and in the hotel business, where he still continues, having also a livery in connection. He married Ellen O'Connell of this town July 3, 1867. She was born May 6, 1845, a daughter of Cornelius and Mary (McCarthy) O'Connell, both natives of Ireland, County Cork, who came here when young people. Mr. and Mrs. Desmond are members of St. Patrick's church. They have three children living : Mary Elizabeth, John Francis, and Gertrude Ann. Mr. Desmond traces his ancestry back to the Earl of Desmond in Ireland. He is a Demo- crat.

Dousey, Dr. George H., of Brasher Falls, was born in New Orleans, La., December 12, 1864, where he was educated in the public schools and also at Potsdam Normal School. He studied medicine with Dr. S. W. Close, of Potsdam, and Dr. A. M. Larkin, of Norwood, and attended lectures at the University of the City of New York, also at Bellevue Hospital College, and graduated at the former place in March, 1892. He at once entered on the practice of his profession at Brasher Falls, where he has been very successful. His father, Joseph Dousey, was a native of this State, and his mother Anna S. Hesse, was a native of Galveston, Texas, of German ancestry. The doctor is a member of the St. Lawrence County Medical Society, and also a Free Mason and an Odd Fellow.

Dunn, Robert F., Waddington, oldest living son of John Dunn, mentioned in this work, was born June 28, 1831. He was reared and educated in Waddington, and has been one of its most successful farmers. Starting in life a poor boy, he now owns 160 acres of land and keeps a dairy of twenty cows. December 31, 1857, Mr. Dunn mar-

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HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.

ried Jane Veitch, of Madrid. She was born September 2, 1835, a daughter of William, Veitch, a native of Scotland, and Jane Grahamn, of Ireland. Mr. Veitch and wife early in life came to Madrid, where they lived and died. They had seven daughters and two sons, all now living. Mr. Dunn and wife have the following children : John L., Will- iam C., Sarah S., Thomas A., and Mary A. Mr. Dunn is a Republican, and he and wife are members of the Presbyterian church of Waddington.

Covey, H. M., Parishville, was born in Parishville, March 21, 1854, the only son of John L. and Elizabeth (Lewis) Covey, the former a native of Parishville, born August 4, 1828, and the latter of Franklin county, born October 27, 1829. The father of John L. was Levi, a native of Vermont and an early settler of Parishville, where he died in 1864. He married Balinda Lewis, by whom he had six children. John L. was reared on a farm and owns 215 acres of fand, keeping twenty cows. He is a Republican in politics and a spiritualist in religion. His first wife died December 1, 1858, and he married second, June 17, 1861, Victoria Wilcox, by whom he has one daughter, Eliza- both, wife of David Russell, a farmer of Parishville. H. M. Covey was educated in the common schools and Lawrenceville Academy, and for the past nine years has carried on his father's farm. February 22, 1882, he married Juliet L. Thomas, a native of this town, and a daughter of Harrison Thomas and Mary J. Richardson. Her grandfather, Reuben Thomas, was a native of New Hampshire, and one of the first settlers of this town. Mr. and Mrs. Covey have had two children : Milton H. and Pearl M. Mr. Covey is a Republican in politics and a member of P. of H. No. 549 of West Parish- ville.

Covey, David M., Stockholm, was born February 23, 1824, in Stockliolm, on the farm settled by his father, Samuel, a son of Joseph Covey. The latter was born on the Del- aware River about 1760, from which place his mother and family were driven by the Indians in Revolutionary times. Joseph settled in Windham county, Vt., and there lived and died. Samuel Covey was born in Windham, Vt., in 1798. In 1822 he came to Stockholm and settled on the farm of thirty acres now owned by subject. Here he spent his life, becoming a prosperous farmer, and at his death owned 240 acres of land. His wife was Roxsena, daughter of Joseph Franklin (who was a second cousin of Ben- jamin Franklin). The mother of Mrs. Covey died in Vermont when the latter was but twelve years of age. Joseph Franklin was twice married. He spent his last days with his daughter in Stockholm, where he died in 1840. Mr. Covey and wife had seven children, four of whom survive. He died in 1886, and his wife in 1850. David M. was born on a farm and received a common school education. He follows general farming and dairying, keeps eighteen cows and owns 160 acres of land on lots 99 and 100 of Stockholm. The wife of Mr. Covey was Laura A. Dustin, who was born in Potsdam, and a daughter of Parley Dustin, one of the early settlers of Stockholm. Mr. Covey belongs to the People's party. He has been a student and is a spiritualist in re- ligion, having for many years been an investigator of that subject. Mis. Covey died October 21, 1889.

Coates, T. A., Edwardsville, was born in Morristown, July 3, 1854. In 1876 he married Addie Breckenridge, and they have four children. Mr. Coates's father was

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PERSONAL SKETCHES.

T. H. Coates. His mother was Lucy Ann (Castle) Coates. Although quite a young man Mr. Coates is looked upon as one of the representative farmers of Morristown.

Rogers, Clark, Brier Hill, was born in Morristown, August 6, 1864. He is one of the progressive men of the town to day and a successful farmer. In 1886 he married Ecta Potter, and they have two children, Vera and Ethel. Mr. Rogers's father was David Rogers, and his mother Christie (Haggart) Rogers.

Colnon, J. W., Ogdensburg, was born in Brownsville. He moved from Potsdan to this city in 1886, and purchased his present flour and feed mills. Prior to this time he had conducted for thirty years an important and successful business in Potsdam, with the exception of two and one-half years when he was in Vermont. Mr. Colnon mar- ried Miss Hamett Perkins of Watertown, by whom he had three children. Some time after her death he married second, Margaret Lynch, and had two children. Mr. Colnon employs a number of experienced millers and his flour and feed, graham and buckwlieat flour, etc., reach all parts of this county. More especially is his trade devoted to the city where he contracts a greater portion of patronage. Mr. Colnon is an affable, agreeable and thorough business man of fine physique, and is much esteemed in this county.

Carswell, John, Ogdensburg, was born in Oswegatchie, Jnne 14, 1846. His father settled near Montreal early in life, and soon afterward went to Oswegatchie. The sub- ject has resided in Ogdensburg and conducted a boot and shoe business for the past twenty years, and for five years prior to that time was situated at Lisbon in the same business. He married in 1873 Martha Seyer and they have four children living. Mrs. Carswell is one of a very respectable and old family of this county. Her brother is Ransom E. Seyer, the baker and confectioner of this city, and her father resides near Ogdensburg, where he possesses considerable land and property.

Clark, M. W., Stockholm, was born in Stockholm, June 19, 1824. He is a son of William P. Clark, a native of Bristol, Vt., born in August, 1796. He was reared on a farm, but early in life learned the blacksmith's trade, which he followed as a life occu- pation. · About 1816 Mr. Clark came to Stockholm, where he followed his trade more than forty years. He married Hannah Perrin of Potsdam, by whom he had eight chil- dren, of whom two daughters and three sons grew to maturity. Mr. Clark, in com- pany with Aberon Buttolph and Fred P. Sprague, manufactured pitch-forks, being the first manufacturer of these articles in this part of the country. Mr. Clark was also a real estate owner, having thirty-five acres, which is now owned by our subject. In politics Mr. Clark was always a Democrat. He died in May, 1856. M. W. Clark was reared a blacksmith until twenty-four years of age. He then engaged in farming, and with the exception of two years spent on the railroad, has followed that occupation. Mr. Clark has become one of the leading farmers of Stockholm. He owns 135 acres of land, and also a half interest in the Bicknellville woolen mills. Mr. Clark married Lovice P. Stafford of Parishville, who in an early day came to Stockholm with her parents. The children of our subject are Corydon, Xenia and Bertha. In politics Mr. Clark is a Democrat, but he has never aspired to public office. He is a member of P. of I. of Sanfordville.

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HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.

Church, Jonathan, Pierrepont, was born in Camden, April 24, 1840, a son of Hiram Church, a native of Dorset, Vt., born June 15, 1799. The wife of Hiram was Huldah Madison, a native of the same place, born September 20, 1800. They had seven chil- dren. In 1840 Mr. Church and family settled on a farm in Camden, and in 1842 went to Pierrepont, where they died in 1870 and 1875 respectively. Jonathan was educated in the common schools. He has always been a farmer and now owns 163 acres of land and keeps twenty cows. May 9, 1867, he married Ellen Colton, a native of Vermont, and daughter of Zebina Colton, mentioned elsewhere in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Church have had two children : Lelia, a teacher ; and Lola. Mr. Church is a Republi- can in politics and liberal in his views on religious subjects.

Carpenter, Robert Byron, Potsdam, was born on a farm in Potsdam, January 11, 1820. The grandfather of our subject, William, was a native of Massachusetts, born in Charlestown in 1752, where his whole life was spent. He served in the American army in the war of the Revolution, and was at the battle of Bunker Hill. Before en- listing he had emigrated to New Hampshire, and at the close of the war he returned to New Hampshire, married while in the service and settled in Swansea. His wife's inaiden name was Lucina Sumner, and they had these children : Clement, Guy, Will- iam, Sarah, Ralph, George Samuel, Joseph, James and Ezra. Clement, the oldest son, and father of our subject, was born at Keene, N. H., October 10, 1781, and came to this county with his father in the spring of 1807. Clement lived there but a short time when he sold and bought 150 acres where he made his home until 1827, and then bought 100 acres. He married in New Hampshire. Elizabeth Gilman, a uative of that State, and they had ten children: Eliza, who married Anson Dickenson, died in 1845; Emily, married Henry B. Webb, died in 1859 : Sarah, married Jacob Clark, died in 1890; Guy, died in 1849; Mary Ann, married Morris Pierce, died in 1858; David, died in December, 1891 ; Joel, died in January, 1891; Zelinda, married Henry Wy- man, died in 1873; Martha, married Preston H. Carpenter died April 15, 1893; and Robert B. Clement died May 1, 1860. Mrs. Carpenter died March 20, 1863. The whole life of our subject has been spent on this farm, which he has increased to 350 acres. He was educated in the common schools and the old St. Lawrence Academy. He is a staunch Republican. His whole life has been devoted to farming. He still conducts the homestead farm at the age of seventy-three years. He married in 1845, Arvilla, daughter of Isaac and Elizabeth Bannister, and they have had eight children : Martha, wife of Henry E. Shaw, a railroad claim agent, Spokane Falls, Wash; Mary, married N. J. Abernathy, a farmer of Madrid; J. Guy, station agent, Marion, Ind .; Sarah, married Alexander McKnight, died in 1889; James, died in 1890; William, a farmer of Seabeck, Wash .; David, a lawyer of Helena, Mont; and Clement, in the railroad office at Spokane Falls, Wash.

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Our county and its people : a memorial record of St. Lawrence County, New York, Part 112

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