Our county and its people : a memorial record of St. Lawrence County, New York, Part 115

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 115
USA > New York > St Lawrence County > Our county and its people: a memorial record of St. Lawrence County, New York > Part 115

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).

Ashley, Joseph, Ogdensburg, was born in Canada, March 14, 1846, his parents mov- ing here when he was three years of age. He received a meager education, and early in life had to support his parents as well as himself. He labored faithfully, acquired some little money, and about twenty years ago started a small grocery ; this he sold to take a small farm near Lisbon, and after a time returned to Ogdensburg where he again started a grocery trade. He now conducts one of the leading groceries and meat mar- kets on the west side. Mr. Ashley has been twice married. His first wife was Emily Laberlie, by whom he had nine children. Mr. Ashley is a member of St. John the Bap- tist Society, and a staunch Republican.

Ayres, Stephen, Gouverneur, was born in Gouverneur, February 22, 1824, and has been a farmer all his life. He married Samantha Breese in 1853, and after her death he married Elizabeth Kendall, by whom he had these children : Arthur, Louise, now Mrs. Banker, and Nellie, a teacher in Danville, Ill. In 1881 Mr. Ayres married Mary,

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daughter of Barney Payne, of Massena. He follows farming, and both he and his wife are members of the M. E. church.

Anstead, George A., Potsdam, was born on a farm in the town of Parishville, No- vember 14, 1848, a son of John Anstead, a native of Herkimer county, born in the town of Manheim in 1816. He followed farming, and married after coming in to this coun- try Eliza, daughter of Gideon Crandall, of Pierrepont, and they were the parents of four children, of whom only George A. survives. Jacob Anstead died March 11, 1861, and Mrs. Anstead March 5, 1893. The early life of our subject was spent in the town of Parishville. He was educated in the common schools, St. Lawrence Academy, and a course at the Ogdensburg Business College. He was for three and one-half years engaged in George B. Swan's sash and door factory in Potsdam, and in 1870 bought a farm of ninety acres, where, in 1877, he built one of the finest residences in this part of the town. In 1874 he established a milk route in Potsdam, which the first year only demanded about seventy-five quarts per day, and now (1893) the average is 125 quarts per day. Mr. Anstead married in June, 1872, Flora A., daughter of George A. and Luceta (Smith) Loucks, and they have one adopted daughter, Maud Anstead.

Abell, Frank B., Gouverneur, was born in Canton, February 20, 1862, and has been in mercantile business since eleven years of age. He first clerked in Canton and was subsequently a partner with A. Kinney, of Gouverneur. He was also three years with Whitney & Son, grocers. November 10, 1892, the partnership of Abell & Har- vey was formed. Mr. Abell is a Mason and was a member of the Marble City Lodge of Foresters. His father was Charles C. Abell, of Springfield, Mass., and his mother was Roxanna Burde. Mr. Abell married Charlotte Dunley, and they had two daugh- ters and one son.

Ashley, Loren R., Potsdam, was born in the town of Stockholm, June 20, 1841. The earliest ancestor we find of this family is the great-grandfather of our subject, Enoch, who was a native of Vermont, born in New Haven, May 11, 1759. He married Anna Treat, also a native of Vermont, and they had three children : Sarah, Zenas, and Harry. Harry was born in New Haven, Vt., January 2, 1794, and always made his home in his native State. He married Betsey Warren, and they had six children, of whom Norman, father of our subject, was the oldest. Norman was born in Vermont, April 11, 1816. He was reared in his native State, educated in the common schools and St. Lawrence Academy, and taught one or two seasons. He afterward followed farming for a few years. He married in 1839 Rosalie Doud, of Vermont, and the same year moved to St. Lawrence county, settling on a farm in Stockholm. In 1852 he engaged in mercantile business in Stockholm and after a few years came to Pots- dam, being engaged in a store in the village of Norwood, of which business he be- came the proprietor of later, and followed the balance of his life. Mr. Ashley was an active church worker, and was trustee at the time of the establishing of the Congregational church at Norwood. He died April 11, 1889. Norman was the father of two sons: Loren Rolton and Henry. Mrs. Ashley, mother of our subject, is still living. When subject was thirteen years of age his parents moved into Potsdam, where he was educated in the common schools, old St. Lawrence Academy, and Cowansville

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Academy in Canada. After leaving school he was engaged in his father's store, enter- ing into partnership when twenty-three years of age, and the firm of L. R. & H. Ash- ley succeeded N. Ashley & Son, and has ever since held a partnership in the business. In the spring of 1886 Mr. Ashley formed a stock company, consisting of L. R. Ashley, president; Henry Ashley, secretary ; H. H. Day, superintendent ; with the officers, William McEchiron, of Glens Falls, and F. L. Day, of Glens Falls, forming the board of directors, under the name of Norwood Manufacturing Company, previously the Nor- word Lumber Company. Mr. Ashley is also the vice-president of the State Bank of Norwood, and is a member of the School Board of the Union Free School, and is the vice-president of the Norwood Loan and Savings Association. Mr. Ashley married in 1863, Angeline, daughter of M. Valley, of Norwood, and they have five children.

Ashley, Frank, Ogdensburg, was born in Ogdensburg in 1837. After learning the meat market business he established himself in that branch of industry here, conduct- ing establishments in different parts of this city. Prior to establishing his present first class meat market, adjoining Howard's grocery store, he conducted a meat business over the bridge. Mr. Ashley is a staunch Catholic, a member of St. John the Bap- tist Society, and is much respected in the city. He is married and has three chil- dren.

Adams, Milo, Parishville, was born in Dumerston, Conn., September 28, 1821, a son of Clark, son of Nathan Adams, a native of Ireland, who early in life came to Dumers- ton. He was the father of thirteen children. Clark Adams was a native of Dumerston, and married Leafy Stephens, whose father was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. They had six children. Clark lived in Brandon for eighteen years, then removed to Hopkinton, where he died. Milo Adams was reared on a farm, and at the age of six- teen started out as traveling salesman, in which business he continued for twelve years. In 1840 he bought the farm in Hopkinton originally owned by his father, and in 1865 he came to Parishville, where he bought and sold produce until 1874. He then engaged in the mercantile business in partnership with Frank Clark, which firm continued six years. Mr. Adams then engaged in partnership with his son, F. C. Adams, for six years, and then with Orlando Capell one year. Two years later he formed a partner- ship with his son, Henry Adams, and they carried on the business till 1893, at which time the senior member retired, the firm being now known as Adams Brothers. Milo Adams has been twice married, his first wife being Zada Lee, a native of Hopkinton, by whom he had two sons : Fred C. and Henry A. The former is engaged in business in Colorado, and married Lula Cook, daughter of Samuel Cook, of Potsdam. Henry A. is one of the firm of Adams Brothers of this town, and married Clara Sargeant, of Bangor, N. Y., by whom he has one child, Milo Adams, jr. After the death of his first wife Mr. Adams married second Dana Hayden, of Parishville, by whom he has two children : Clark F., one of the firm of Adams Brothers ; and Grace. Mr. Adams has always been a Democrat, and has held the offices of constable and collector in Hopkinton. He is a member of Amber Lodge No. 395, F. & A. M., and St. Lawrence Chapter No. 24, R. A. M. Henry A. Adams was born July 24, 1863, in Hopkinton, was educated in the Potsdam Normal School, and entered the mercantile trade in Bangor, N. Y. He is a

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member of Amber Lodge No. 395, F. & A. M., and he and wife attend and support the Baptist church.

Allen, F. D., M.D., De Kalb, was born in Antwerp, February 24, 1860. After a course of study in the Gouverneur Academy he took a medical course in the Univer- sity of the City of New York, graduating in 1885. He also took a course of study at Burlington, Vt., and after graduating he began practice in Spragueville, but removed to Gouverneur, and finally to Richville in 1888. In 1886 Dr. Allen married Anna J. Todd, of Edwards. The doctor's father was Lorenzo D. Allen, and his mother Mary (Cum- mings) Allen.

Bancroft, William, Russell, was born at Monterey (at present called De Grasse), this county, February 8, 1871, a son of Samuel Bancroft, born at Detroit, September 29, 1811, whose father came from England to serve in the Indian wars. He was also a soldier in the War of 1812. Samuel, father of William, first married Mary Rude, by whom he had eleven children. His second wife was Phebe Cummings, born in Canada West, May 2, 1830, a daughter of Daniel and Sarah Cummings, both of Canada. Her father was a ship timber contractor on the Ottawa River. He served in the Canadian militia in 1812, and was present at the battle of Chrysler's Field. Samuel, father of William, was a cartman in Prescott, Ont., for some years, but moved in 1859 to Mon- terey, where he bought 100 acres of land in the woods, cleared a place for his house, moved in and worked there the remainder of his life. He died September 26, 1885. By his second wife Mr. Bancroft had three sons and one daughter : Daniel, born August 6, 1862 ; Loren, born December 23, 1863 ; Sarah E., born October 6, 1867 ; and William, our subject, who was educated in the common schools of Russell and the Union School of Hermon. He taught school for some time, thirty-four weeks in all, and then en- gaged in mercantile pursuits in De Grasse, where he is now located. He carries a first- class trade, making a specialty of the hardware line. The parents of our subject were members of the M. E. church. William, the oldest son of Samuel Bancroft, was in the late war and was killed at the attack on Fort Steadman in 1865.

Wilder, William D., Lawrence, was born in Ellis Village, Jefferson county, December 16, 1835, a son of William S., whose father was Francis. William S. was born in Jef- ferson county in 1811, and married Mary A. Whipple of Jefferson county, by whom he had a son and four daughters. He was a miller by trade, and his death occurred in 1876. Our subject was reared in Dexter, Jefferson county, and remembers seeing the Harrison log cabin. He received his education in the common schools, and learned tlie trade of his father, with whom he worked until 1872, in Louisville, this county, then rented the mill and operated it until 1878. Then he came to Lawrenceville and bouglit the Lawrenceville mills, where he has had a very successful business, doing mainly cus- tom work, until 1893, when he put in four full sets of rollers, and now annually manu- factures 4,500 bushels of wheat into flour for custom, and about 2,000 for shipping, besides a large business in feed, making in all about 300 tons. He is also engaged in the manufacture of lumber, sawing about 200,000 feet yearly. He also owns a farm of 175 acres in the town of Lawrence. In 1858 he married Maria C. Carpenter of Louis- ville, by whom he has had two children : Eva G., and Josephine A., wife of Frank Kenan of Lawrence, who died June 13, 1891 The latter had one child, Ray W. Kenan.

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PERSONAL SKETCHES.

St. Lawrence County Bank, Canton, was incorporated under the laws of the State of New York, May 1, 1881. The officers are : W. H. Kimball, president; M. D. Packard, vice-president ; S. D. Kimball, cashier ; F. W. Scribner, assistant cashier. The bank's capital is $50,000, the surplus $21,000, and deposits amount to $175,000.

Packard, M. D., Canton, was born in Madrid, St. Lawrence county, November 17, 1828. He was educated in the public schools and at the Canton Academy. He then entered mercantile life, going to school in the winter, clerking in the summer. He set- tled in Canton and embarked in business for himself in 1854 and continued in business for thirty-three years. In 1862 he was elected supervisor and held the office five years. He was again elected in 1871 and served five years more. On January 1, 1876, he became county treasurer and filled that position nine years. His father was John A. Packard and his mother Elizabeth Durand.

Gannon, J. H., Canton, was born in Washington county, June 3, 1842. He was en- gaged on public works and canals for six years previous to the war and for four years after. The Canton Lumber Company was established in 1883 with Mr. Gannon as manager, and has been conducted successfully to date. In 1874 Mr. Gannon married Helen A. Rice. They have one son and three daughters. Mr. Gannon was supervisor of Fort Ann, Washington county, and was postmaster there from 1884 to 1888.

Priest, Henry, Canton, was born in Vermont, May 5, 1847. He was educated at Tuffts College and graduated in 1874. He taught in Goddard Seminary nine years and then came to Canton as professor of mathematics in St. Lawrence University. In 1882 he married Flora E. Eaton. They have two children, Alice Eaton and Ward Curtis Priest. Professor Priest is dean of the faculty of the college, and was twice returned to the Legislature in Vermont. He is a strong Prohibitionist.

Rice, D. S., Canton, was born at Fort Ann, January 12, 1870, and has been con- nected with the Canton Lumber Company since 1885. He has been treasurer of the company since 1890. He married Gertrude Folsom, July 16, 1891.

Lee, Rev. John Stebbins, Canton, was born in Vernon, September 23, 1820. He was educated in schools at Brattleboro, Deerfield, Shelburne Falls, Mass., and Amherst College, from which he graduated in 1845. He taught in various schools and semin- aries, and was pastor of some congregations and societies prior to coming to Canton in 1859 as principal of the college department of St. Lawrence University. He has been connected with the university ever since. In February, 1848, Mr. Lee married Elmira Bennett. They have five children living : Leslie A., John C., Frederick S., Florence J. and Lulu G. L. Lee.

Wells, R. T., Canton, was born in South Canton, August 19, 1849. Early in life he embarked in the lumber business, and has followed that and dealing in real estate up to the present time. Mr. Wells married Ella Miles, daughter of Stephen Miles, in Sep- tember, 1869. They have a family of one son and three daughters. Mr. Wells is a trustee of the village of Canton and vice-president of the Agricultural Society. His father was Dr. Abner Wells and his mother Permelia Thomas, a native of Massechu- setts.

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HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.

Atwood, L. D., Hopkinton, one of Hopkinton's progressive farmers, was born in Bethel, Vt., July 28, 1825, was educated at Mt. Cæsar Seminary, Swanzey, N. H., and taught school for several years in Vermont, New Hampshire, and New York. He came to St. Lawrence county in 1848, where he has since resided, with the exception of two years in Wisconsin. On August 29, 1864, he enlisted in Company E, Forty-third Regi- ment Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and served until the close of war. On January 1, 1850, he married Cordelia A., daughter of W. S. and Laura Phelps. To them were born two children : Leona A., born April 20, 1851 ; and Arthur A., born May 1, 1854. Mrs. Atwood and daughter Leona died in March, 1865, in Fayette, Wis. On December 7, 1865, he married Paulina S., a sister of Cordelia A., and to them was born a daughter, who died in infancy. In politics a Republican he has served his town for nine years in succession as assessor and justice of the peace. Arthur A. Atwood was born in Hop- kinton, educated at Potsdam Normal School, and taught in common schools for six years. For six years more was engaged in creamery work. In 1881 he, with our sub- ject, bought the farm where they now reside, one of the most productive in the town. They have an excellent dairy of thirty-five cows, making a specialty of winter dairy- ing. Both are active grangers, having served as Worthy Masters of Fort Jackson Grange for two and three years respectively. Arthur A. has filled acceptably some minor town offices, and in 1894 was elected supervisor without any opposition. Decem- ber 3, 1879, he was married to Olivia M., daughter of T. S. Simonds, of Lawrence. They have two children: Leon R., born July 6, 1882, and Carl W., born September 4, 1889.

Sanford, Darwin E., Nicholville, was born in Lawrence, St. Lawrence county, N. Y., November 17, 1847, and is a son of Henry B., mentioned in this work, and was brought up on a farm, receiving his education in Potsdam and Lawrenceville Academies. At the age of seventeen he left school and enlisted in Company F, One Hundred and Ninety-third N. Y. State Volunteer Infantry, for one year during the war, and was commissioned first sergeant of his company ; the regiment doing detached service along the Shenandoah Valley, Company F being stationed at Cumberland, Md., most of the time. Was discharged at Harper's Ferry, Va., January 18, 1866, by reason of expira- tion of term of service. On returning from the war he commenced his career at mill- ing, but in 1870 abandoned this work and commenced farming. December 25, 1872, he married Julia E. Leary, daughter of Thomas Leary, one of the first settlers of Brasher, where he lived and died. Our subject continued farming until 1882, and lias since been in the creamery business, owning for some time a one-half interest in the Deer River and Eagle creameries, but now only in the Eagle, where he resides, making about 45,000 pounds each season. In politics he is a staunch Republican. Mr. San- ford is a member of Sanford Post No. 473, G. A. R., in which he has always held an important position, being two years its commander. The post being named after his grandfather makes it an organization any one would be proud to belong to. A father and grandfather, making three generations, all in the war at the same time and fighting for the same cause. Also grandfathers on both sides in the War of 1812. Mr. and Mrs. Sanford have four children: Harrison D., born November 14, 1877; Scott W., born

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PERSONAL SKETCHES.

April 13, 1885;" Jonah, born December 10, 1887 ; Erwin, born May 10, 1889; all of which are now living.

McEuen, Carlton J., Lawrence, was born in Lawrence, December 5, 1847, a son of George R., whose father was Carlton. George R. was born in Hinesburg, Vt., April 9, 1821, and came here in 1825 with his parents. He married Maria A. Kelsey, of Har- risburg, Lewis county, N. Y., born August 23, 1818, a daughter of Joseph Kelsey, one of the pioneer settlers of that county. They had two children who grew to maturity : Wealthy C., who died aged nineteen years; and Carlton J. George R. died March 29, 1890, and his wife July 15, 1889. Our subject was educated in the district school and Lawrenceville Academy. He follows farming, owning 142 acres, the old homestead, cleared by his father, and keeps a dairy of eighteen cows, Ayrshire and Jersey. Mr. McEuen is a member of P. of H., Deer River Lodge No. 702. He has been twice mar- ried, first, September 25, 1873, to Clara D., daughter of Charles and Susan (Gibson) Weller, of Hopkinton. She received her education in Lawrenceville Academy and Potsdam Normal School, and was a teacher in the county. She died in 1878, and April 26, 1882, he married Mary E., daughter of John E. and Eliza M. (Giles) Chapin. She is a native of Uxbridge, Mass., as were also her father and grandfather. The family trace their descent to Samuel Chapin, who came to Boston in 1641 from Lancashire, England. Mrs. McEuen was educated in the common schools and Mt. Holyoke Seminary, and followed teaching in Rhode Island and Massachusetts for eleven years. Mr. and Mrs. McEuen have two children : Bessie C., born February 1, 1884; and Clara C., born October 1, 1889.

Converse, Horace J., Stockholm, was born in Stockholm, July 9, 1853. He is a son of Elijah, a son of Josiah, who was a native of Middlesex, Vt., who emigrated to Crown Point in an early day, where he died. Elijah was born in Middlesex, Vt., March 3, 1792, and came to Crown Point with his parents, removing to Stockholm in 1819 and settling on the farm now occupied by our subject. He was three times married ; first to Rhoda Wilson, by whom he had six daughters ; second to Mrs. Betsey Hutchins Dewey, by whom he had five children; and third to Almeda Peck, whose maiden name was Scott. They were married in 1849 and had two children, our subject and one daughter. Mr. Converse was a leading farmer in Stockholm, where he owned 400 acres of land. He was a Republican and was assessor twelve years. He died November 4, 1879, and his last wife December 19, the same year. Horace J. was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools. He owns 183 acres of land where he resides and 185 acres of woodland. In 1885 he established the Southville Creamery, and the output is 100,000 pounds of butter annually. He keeps a dairy of thirty cows and follows general farming. He has also made a specialty of breeding horses of the Wilkes strain of Hambletonian horses, and now owns an interest in the far-famed Defendant Wilkes. Mr. Converse is a Republican, a member of Amber Lodge No. 395, F. & A. M. of Par- ishville and of P. of H. Potsdam Lodge No. 39, and P. of I. Eureka Lodge No. 162. December 8, 1875, he married Louisa, daughter of John P. and Peninah (Becdy) Trask, natives of Vermont. Mr. Trask and wife had twelve children. He came to Stockholm in an early day, and there died, September 1, 1890. Mr. and Mrs. Converse have three children : Lou A., Era E. and Iva L.

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HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.

Irish, Albert H., Lawrence, was born in Hinesburg, Vt., June 5, 1829, a son of Lem- uel Irish, born in Vermont in 1796, whose father was Joseph, a farmer of Vermont, who was twice married having by each marriage nine children. Lemuel came to the town of Lawrence in 1838, where he settled on a small farm, also working at his trade of shoemaking. In 1824 he married Lydia, daughter of Asa and Mary (Lake) Nara- more, the former a soldier in the Revolution. Mr. and Mrs. Irish had two sons and a daughter. He died January 18, 1854, and his wife March 12, 1879. A. H. Irish was educated in the common schools of Vermont and Lawrence, and began work on his father's farm. He has always worked the old homestead which he now owns, and to which he has added about forty acres. He carries on general farming and dairying, keeping about thirteen cows. He also has a small sugar bush. In 1856 he married Clara A., daughter of Abner and Abigail (Goodwin) Car, both of Amesbury, Mass. They had two sons and four daughters, only two of the children now living. Mr. Car died September 5, 1846. and his wife September 18, 1866. Mr. and Mrs. Irish had one son and one daughter, the latter dying in infancy. Olin L. was born June 24, 1850, and now works the farm with his father. December 23, 1884, he married Frankie Slo- comb of Lawrence. Mr. Irish is a Republican, and he and wife are members of the M. E. church of Nicholville.

Sanford, Edwin D., Lawrence, was born in Hopkinton, January 24, 1845, a son of Henry B. Sanford, mentioned elsewhere in this work. He was reared on a farm and educated in the public schools. In 1864 he enlisted, and served until the close of the war receiving a bayonet wound, however, on account of which he was forced to spend some time in the hospital. Returning to Nicholville after the war, he has since fol- lowed blacksmithing. He is a Republican and a member of Elk Lodge No. 577, F. & A. M., Deer River Chapter No. 197, and of Sandford Post No. 473, G. A. R. April 26, 1866, Mr. Sanford married Lydia A., daughter of Rev. Silas and Lydia (Goodell) Pratt, early settlers of Lawrence, and to Mr. Sanford and wife have been born six children : Edwin Wade, born May 14, 1867, who was educated in Law- renceville Academy and at St. Lawrence University, from which latter he graduated in 1891. He followed teaching a short time, but now has charge of the store of W. E. Thomas, also reading law with Mr. Stacy. He married Evaline J. Thomas, and they have one child, Lester Edwin, born October 12, 1893. Velma A. was born November 25, 1869. Frank B., born May 12, 1871, was educated in the Lawrenceville Academy, and received an appointment to the Naval Academy at Annapolis. He graduated from the medical department of Union University in 1893, and is now a practicing physician located at Morley. Silas J. was born September 26, 1874, educated in St. Regis Falls Academy, and graduated from Spencer Optical Institute, New York city, in 1893. Jen- nie C., born October 5, 1876, and Eugene B., born June 22, 1878, reside at home.

Hawley, J. Goodwin, Colton, a son of Phineas and Esther (Dunning) Goodwin, na- tives of Connecticut, was born in that State, February 27, 1825, and was one of nine children. At an early age he removed to New York State, where he received a com- mon school education. In 1848 he married Sabrina D. Devereaux, a daughter of Henry and Sabrina (Goodwin) Devereaux of Schoharie county. Later Mrs. Hawley's father moved to East Creek, Herkimer county, whose name was changed to Devereaux in his

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Our county and its people : a memorial record of St. Lawrence County, New York, Part 115

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