Our county and its people : a memorial record of St. Lawrence County, New York, Part 73

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 73
USA > New York > St Lawrence County > Our county and its people: a memorial record of St. Lawrence County, New York > Part 73

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).

His social and family relations have always been the most pleasant and commend- able.

On January 5, 1842, he married Sarah A. Collins, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Sel- den Collins, of Lewis county. On January 5, 1892, General and Mrs. Judson cele- brated their golden wedding, upon which occasion they were the recipients of many fervent congratulations. To commemorate the occasion, General Judson's son, Sel- den C. Judson, designed a very pretty souvenir invitation card, having the photo- graphs of the celebrants as they appeared when first married at the top, and their pic- tures as they were at their golden wedding beneath. The design was unique, beau- tiful, and probably without a parallel in America,

The children of General and Mrs. Judson are Capt. Selden C. Judson, who com- manded a company in the 106th Regiment during the Rebellion; Winslow Judson, a celebrated railroad attorney, who died in St. Joseph, Mo., April 7, 1890. He was an able and eloquent advocate and orator; Frank R. Judson, of St. Joseph, Mo .; and John J. Judson, of Salt Lake City. They also had one daughter who died in infancy.

To-day there is probably no better known man in St. Lawrence county than Gen- eral Judson. He is universally esteemed for his integrity of purpose, his genial disposition and his untiring zeal in support of every worthy project, while he is ad- mired for his sterling patriotism and genial disposition that even now at his advanced age is as bright and cheerful as ever. He has always been an active temperance man and has delivered many orations in this cause.

CURTIS.

WILLIAM CURTIS was born in Essex county, England, in 1595. He married Sarah Eliot, sister of Rev. John Eliot, who came over to Boston in 1631, to labor with the Pilgrims in christianizing the natives, and became widely known as the "apostle of the North American Indians."

BIOGRAPHICAL.

William Curtis with his wife and four children came over in the ship " Mary Lion," and landed in Boston, in October, 1632. He settled in Roxbury, where four more children were born to them. The English family "coat of arms," under Puri- tan influences, was not continued by his descendants. His homestead was inherited by his youngest son, Isaac, and was occupied in 1858 by Isaac Curtis, the fifth gene- ration, who also had a son Isaac.

John, the eldest son of William Curtis, at his majority settled in New Bedford, where he and four generations of his family were engaged in the whaling industry. John's eldest son was named Jonathan, and the eldest son for six generations in succession bore the same name.

Jonathan the sixth was born in Raynham, Mass., January 13, 1788. He left home in 1807, lived one year in New Hampshire, one in Vermont, and went to Essex county, N. Y., in 1809. He married Phebe Rising, January 13, 1811, and soon after moved to Chateaugay, Franklin county. He served in the war of 1812, was in the battle of Plattsburg, and was one of Captain Tilden's company captured in the blockhouse at French Mills, now Fort Covington.

In May, 1822, he with his wife and family, consisting of four children-Milansa, Miranda, Albern and Sabrina (two sons and a daughter having died in infancy)- moved to St. Lawrence county, and settled in the southerly part of Oswegatchie, now Depeyster, where five more children were born to them-Gates, Susan, An- drew J., Pamelia L., and N. Martin. His principal occupation, except a few years in lumbering, was farming.

At the organization of the town in 1825 he acted as chairman, and afterwards held several offices of trust, as the town records show. He died at Depeyster, March 20, 1861. Phebe, his widow, died at the home of her daughter, Pamelia Flack, in Og- densburg, September 20, 1868.

Milansa married Ira Washburn, May 22, 1831, to whom were born six children- Curtis, Ann, Gilbert, Ruby, Adelia and Gates. She died October 5, 1890. Miranda died August 8, 1834. Albern was born October 4, 1817. He married Angeline Hare, October 19, 1847, and to them were born three children-William H., Alfred B. and Millie. Albern enlisted as an artificer, September 12, 1861, in Company C, 1st Mich- igan Engineers; he was present with his company from date of enlistment until mustered out of service October 31, 1864, at Atlanta, Ga. Sabrina died February 7, 1849.

Gates was born October 17, 1822. Having a natural inclination for mechanism, in the spring of 1848 he established himself in the foundry business, and manufac- tured plows and threshing machines in Bertheir, Canada. Here he married Roxana J. Clement, March 12, 1849, and where Albert J. and Amelia R. were born. In 1855 he with his wife and two children returned to the old homestead in Depeyster, and engaged in farming, and where Cora A., their youngest child, was born.

In the spring of 1867 he with his family moved to Ogdensburg. He is the invent- or and patentee of several models of steel plows; a turbine water wheel and shingle machine, which with agricultural implements he manufactures in connection with a general foundry business.

Susan married Horace N. Clark, April 8, 1851. She died at Depeyster, September 5, 1854, leaving a daughter, who died in childhood.

HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.

Andrew J. was born August 8, 1827. At his majority he went to Vicksburg, Miss., where he engaged in the grain and milling business. He returned to Depeyster, and died at his father's residence, July 5, 1858.

Pamelia L. married George W. Flack, June 12, 1866. They have one child, Ella P. C.

N. Martin was born in Depeyster, May 21, 1835. He was educated in the district schools and Gouverneur Wesleyan Seminary. On the surrender of Fort Sumter he raised a company and was mustered into the United States service, May 15, 1861, as captain of Company G, 16th N. Y. Infantry. He was prontoted to the lieutenant- colonelcy of the 142d Infantry, October 27, 1862, and to the colonelcy, January 21, 1863. He married Emelinc Clark, of Springfield, Il1., March 23, 1863, while on leave of absence. He was promoted to brevet brigadier-general, October 27, 1864, brigadier- general, January 15, 1865, and brevet major-general. The last two promotions were for gallantry displayed in leading the troops in the capture of Fort Fisher, January 15, 1865, where he lost his left eye. He was several times wounded previous to this date.

The Legislature of New York passed resolutions, April 5, 1865, thanking General Curtis and the officers and men of his command (who were all New York troops) for their achievements on that occasion. At the close of hostilities General Curtis was assigned to the district of Southwestern Virginia with headquarters at Lynchburg, Va., where he was mustered out of service January 15, 1866.

On his return to civil life he was appointed, August 14, 1866, collector of customs for the District of Oswegatchic, and March 4, 1867, special agent, Treasury Depart- ment. He was chosen to represent the First District of St. Lawrence county in the State Assembly, in 1884, and served seven years in succession. In 1890 he was elcet- ed to represent the Twenty-second Congressional District in the LIId Congress, and is now a member of the LIIId Congress. Mrs. Curtis died August 4, 1887, leaving four children-E. Phebe, Mary W., Florence R., and Eliza C., two having died in infancy.

RT. REV. DR. HENRY GABRIELS.

HENRY GABRIELS was born at Wannegem-Lede, in the diocese of Ghent, Belgium, in 1838, and was educated in the colleges of Audenarde and St. Nicholas. He made his theological studies in the seminary of Ghent and the University of Louvain. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1861, and was one of the four Belgian priests, who, with two American priests, founded St. Joseph's Provincial Seminary in Troy, N. Y., in 1864. In that year he received the degree of Licentiate in theology from the Uni- versity of Louvain with Bishop Spalding, of Peoria. From 1864 to 1871 he was pro- fessor of dogmatic theology in the seminary, and since 1871 was president of that in- stitution and professor of church history and Hebrew. In 1882 he received from the University of Louvain the honorary degree of Doctor of Theology. He was one of the secretaries of the Third Plenary Council of Baltimore in 1884. He was also one of the vicars-general of the Dioceses of Ogdensburg and Burlington, diocesan exam-

BIOGRAPHICAL.

iner for the Archdiocese of New York and the Diocese of Albany, and one of the dio- cesan consultors of the Diocese of Albany. For nearly thirty years Bishop Gabriels lived in Troy, doing in a very quiet and unobtrusive manner a work that has made him celebrated throughout the Catholic world. So modest has he been in his bear- ing, so retiring in his methods, that a great many people will be surprised to learn that in the highest and most scholastic circles of his church Bishop Gabriels is re- garded as a profound theologian and an authority on intricate ecclesiastical law prob- lems. In general knowledge his attainments are wide and varied. Master of several languages, a writer with the simplicity of erudition, acquainted with many branches of science and still eager to learn, he is regarded by those who are privileged to know > him as a marvel of knowledge. Living in retirement from the ambitions of the world, seeking no promotions, Bishop Gabriels believed that his life work was at St. Joseph's Seminary. Neither his own acts nor ambitions, but the work that he has done in preparing young men for the priesthood, not only as an instructor, but as ex- amplar in simple living and lofty faith, brought about his elevation to the episcopate as a successor to the late lamented first bishop of Ogdensburg.

On the 5th of May, 1892, Bishop Gabriels was consecrated in the cathedral at Al- bany, by Archbishop Corrigan, of New York, in presence of twenty-four archbishops and bishops of the United States and Canada, and about six hundred clergyman and seminarians.

He was solemnly installed in his cathedral at Ogdensburg, May 11, 1892, in pres- ence of all the priests of the diocese and a large concourse of the laity.

He held his first diocesan synod, October 26, 1892, at which were present about seventy priests of the diocese.

He made his first visit ad limina to Rome in November, 1893, on which occasion he had several audiences with Leo XIII, who inquired carefully into the state of re- ligion in Northern New York.

The elevation of Bishop Gabriels to the Diocese of Ogdensburg has proved to be a wise step for the church. The diocese is composed of two different races-English speaking and French speaking. By birth and education Bishop Gabriels is in sym- pathy with the latter, while having become thoroughly American in ideas and adher- ence to our national institutions, he is respected and reverenced by the former.

JAMES S. BEAN.

JAMES S. BEAN was born October 6, 1824, at Meriden, N. H. In 1848 he engaged in the mercantile business in his native town, and continued the same until the spring of 1853, when he came to Ogdensburg, N. Y., as an agent for John G. Prentiss & Co., in the flour and grain trade. Shortly after Mr. Bean started in the same business for himself and successfully continued the same for nearly twenty years.

On March 17, 1858, he married Mary A. Deane, of Weathersfield, Vt.

In December, 1875, Mr. Bean became associated with the Ogdensburg Bank. His connection with this institution, of which he was vice-president and the chief busi- ness manager, continued until his death, which occurred July 10, 1883.

HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.

In the course of his active business life Mr. Bean had acquired a large fortune, which made him intimately interested, and an important factor in the financial affairs of the city. He won, by his honor, integrity and good judgment, the confidence of the young business men of the community, whom he was always ready to assist, either by his means or counsel. He possessed those qualities which were pre-emi- nently required of a man in the position which he occupied. Of kindly manner, a pleasant man to meet, with interests interlocked with many of the institutions of the city of his home, he merited and won the kindliest feelings of all with whom he came in contact.

Mr. Bean possessed a charitable disposition, giving in a quiet way freely to worthy objects and to the deserving poor. He donated liberally towards the erection of a church in his native town in New Hampshire, one in Virginia, also to the various church organizations of this city; but more especially to the Presbyterian church of which his wife is a member and which he attended, and in which held the office of trustee for many years.

Mr. Bean was not a politician, though he held clear views on political economy, which always governed his action in the matter of right and wrong, and led him to speak his mind freely on all matters of importance.

Mrs. Bean survives her husband, and has endeavored to carry out his wishes in all things as far as possible.

WILLIAM RICHMOND WEED.

WILLIAM R. WEED was born at Glens Falls, Warren county, N, Y., July 5, 1860, and received his education at a district school and at the Glens Falls Academy. At the age of sixteen he entered the First National Bank of Glens Falls as a clerk, where he served for five years, when he accepted a position as bookkeeper in the First National Bank of Saratoga Springs, which he held for two years.

He then formed a partnership with Mr. William Waterbury at Saratoga Springs in the hardware business, conducting a prosperous and enterprising establishment for several years.

Mr. Weed is a grandson of Augustus Sherman, the millionaire lumberman who died at Glens Falls in December, 1884, leaving large luinbering interests in several places and notably at Potsdam. In March, 1886, Mr. Weed moved with his family to Potsdam, and with his brother Frederic, took Mr. Sherman's late interest in the extensive lumber business conducted by the A. Sherman Lumber Company, which is now one of the largest and most important lumber companies in Northern New York.

Mr. Weed at once took an active interest in all the affairs pertaining to the busi- ness, social and religious success of his adopted town, and has been ever found ready to help with his time and his money any enterprise for the benefit of the village of Potsdam. He is a thoroughly public spirited man and is prominently identified with most of the larger business enterprises.

He has been secretary of the Potsdam Electric Light and Power Co. since its organ- ization ; he is a director in the Thatcher Manufacturing Co., a flourishing concern man_ ufacturing butter color and milk dealers' supplies; he is a director in the High Falls

3. W. Baber12.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

Sulphite Pulp and Mining Company, one of the most thoroughly equipped plants of its kind in the country ; he is a member of the Local Board of the State Normal School at Potsdam, an institution of learning in which he takes great pride; a prominent member of the Fire Department and of the Masonic organization; and as an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church, he is enthusiastic in all church and re- form work.

He is a great fancier of blooded cattle, and with his father and brother owns the Raquette Valley Stock Farm, on which is raised some of the finest high bred regis- tered Jerseys to be found in the State.

Mr. Weed's interest in lumbering led him to acquire a large amount of valuable knowledge and information of the vast Adirondack region, and in April, 1893, he was appointed by Governor Flower a member of the State Forest Commission. He is heartily in favor of the establishment of a great State Park, and since his appoint- ment to the commission has devoted a large amount of time and energy to the work of the commission in caring for the State s interests in the great wilderness.

Mr. Weed is a thorough and enthusiastic Republican, and although he has held no political office, he enjoys the aequaintanee and personal friendship of all the prom- inent representatives of the other party. He is not a candidate for any office, but is most energetic in the political arena of his town and county, and his work and vote are always for the best element and the purest government.

In 1892 he was an alternate delegate at large to the National Republican Conven- tion at Minneapolis which nominated Harrison and Reid.

Mr. Weed is always active, genial, courteous and generous, his sympathies can al- ways be enlisted in any worthy cause, and his heartiest co-operation is ever ready for the assistance of worthy enterprises.

He is quick in resources, fertile in expedients, ready, open hearted and willing to act-traits which make him one of the most prominent and popular men of the com- munity in which he resides.

On March 29, 1883, he was united in marriage to Miss S. Ella Waterbury, daughter of his former partner, and now has two bright children, Hazel and Woolsey. His home, although of modest exterior, is a model of taste and elegance, and his friends have frequent occasion to accept the genial hospitality of his handsome home and in- teresting family.

Z. W. BABCOCK.

Z. W. BABCOCK was born in the town of Russell February 15, 1830, and learned the trade of carpenter and joiner and cabinet maker with his father. In 1852 he left home and sailed for California, eallod at Rio Janeiro, went through the Straits of Magellan and visited nearly all the principal seaport towns on the western coast of North and South America. He left California for Australia, touching the Society Isl- ands on his way. He remained in Australia until 1859, and came home by way of England. In 1867 he married Nellie Acres and their living issue is two children; Juan A. and Murray A. Mr. Babcock is regarded as one of Hermon's representative

HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.

men. He was supervisor six years, member of the Board of Education nine years and justice of the peace six years, and is now secretary and treasurer of the Hermon Cemetery Association and is interested in every project that helps to build up and benefit the town.

J. W. MUSGROVE.

THE subject of this sketch was born in Ottawa, Ont., July 1, 1867. He was edu- cated in the Ottawa High School and in the Pennsylvania College of Dental Surgery, Philadelphia. He graduated from this college with the degree of L. D. S. in 1890.

Dr. Musgrove first began practice in Toledo, but came to Ogdensburg in 1892, and has rapidly advanced to be the leading dentist of the city, making specialties of crowning and bridging.

Dr. Musgrove is a member of several of the leading social orders; is a Mason, a member of the I. O. O. F., and of the Encampment of that order, as well as of the Canadian Order of Foresters, and several other organizations.

In 1888 Dr. Musgrove married Carrie Dunn Haynen. They have one son, Milton Musgrove. Dr. Musgrove's father, John M. Musgrove, is a professor in the Inter- national College of Toronto, Ont. His grandfather was Rev. James Musgrove, a Methodist minister and also a Canadian. His mother was Charlotte Thackery, of Cobourg, Ont.

DAVID H. LYON.

DAVID H. LYON was born in the city of Brooklyn, October 21, 1845. When he was about three years of age his parents came to Ogdensburg, and here he was educated in the public schools and by private tuition. On October 27, 1861, he enlisted in Company C, 60th N. Y. Vols., and served with his regiment until after the battle of Lookout Mountain in 1863. He then re-enlisted for three years more, December 24, 1863, and served till the close of the war, participating in twenty-six general engage- ments and being wounded once.

After the war he took a course in Eastman's Business College, and in 1866 went into partnership with his father in the lumber and saw mill business. In 1871 he sold out his interest in this business, and formed a partnership with C. S. Phillips in the old Furness mill.

In 1874 he disposed of his share in this enterprise and went into the steamboat business, of which he has made a signal success. He purchased the steamer New York on the ferry at Ogdensburg, and gradally extended his operations, until in 1886 he organized the Canadian Pacific Car and Transfer Company, of which he was manager until 1893, when he resigned, retaining the office of managing director. This company has facilities for transferring 780 cars every twenty hours, and they keep the transfer going in winter as well as summer, keeping the ice cut and an un- interrupted traffic the year round.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

Captain Lyon is also interested in farming, real estate, woolen mills, and manu- facture of agricultural implements here and in Brockville, and in cotton mills in Can- ada. He is also a stockholder in the Carthage National Bank.

In 1866 Captain Lyon married Ella M. Potter, of Philadelphia, a niecc of Bishop Potter. They have one son, Charles Potter Lyon, who is secretary of the Transfer Company.

The Lyon family dates back to the Lyon's Farms Settlement, near Morristown, N. J., formed in the early part of 1700. Several of them were charter members of the Presbyterian church organized in Morristown in 1743. John Lyon and wife united with that church in 1776. He and family came to Ogdensburg with Nathan Ford in July, 1796. Charles Lyon, grandson of John and father of David H., was for many years a prominent business man of Ogdensburg and held several offices of trust. He was commissioned by Governor Marcy in 1832, lieutenant in the 89th Regiment Infantry, and in 1834 paymaster in the Third Brigade of Cavalry ; also, in the same brigade he was commissioned hospital surgeon.

HON. DANIEL MAGONE.

DANIEL MAGONE, born in Oswegatchie, St. Lawrence county, N. Y. was educated at the Ogdensburg Academy, and taught school and studied law from 1850-53; he was admitted to the bar in 1853. He began the practice of his profession in Og- densburg in 1854. He has always been a staunch Democrat.

Mr. Magone has been prominent in his party. He was chairman of the Democratic County Committee of St. Lawrence for many years; a member of the Democratic State Committee, and its chairman in 1875-76; delegate to the Democratic National Convention at St. Louis in 1876, and to the Chicago Convention in 1884, when he was on the committee that nominated Samuel J. Tilden; he was appointed by the Legislature a member of the committee to investigate canal frauds. He was super- visor of the town of Oswegatchie, 1882-83. From 1886-89 he was collector of the Port of New York; and was appointed by the secretary of the treasury a member of the Commission to investigate the methods of doing business in the New York Custom House in 1894. In 1892 Governor Flower appointed him a member of the Commission to revise the Statutes of the State of New York, and he is still a member of that commission.

THOMAS SPRATT.

THOMAS SPRATT was born in Rossie, St. Lawrence county, December 12, 1848. He received a thorough education in the schools and academies of this county, after which he commenced the study of law in the office of Foote & James, and later on was admitted to the State bar, from the office of Hon. Daniel Magone (about 1870). Shortly after Mr. Spratt was admitted to practice in the District and Circuit Courts

HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.

of the United States, and in 1886, before the Supreme Court of the United States. He has always been actively engaged in his professional duties, and is one of the foremost lawyers of the State. Mr. Spratt was a member of the Democratic State Committee from 1884 to 1885; a delegate to the Democratic National Convention which nominated Grover Cleveland at St. Louis in 1888, and has held other impor- tant public offices.

He married Emma J., daughter of Nathan J. Lytle.

GUSTAVE S. DORWIN.

GUSTAVE S. DORWIN, son of S. A. Dorwin, was born in Hammond, St. Lawrence county, June 26, 1862. When fifteen years of age he entered the State Normal School at Potsdam, N, Y., and after three years' attendance, taught school for one year, after which he entered Union College from which he was graduated in 1886. Having decided to enter the legal profession, Mr. Dorwin studied law for a year in the office of Hon. Daniel Magone, at Ogdensburg, and after taking a course in the Albany Law School was admitted to the bar May 15, 1888

He then entered the law office of Hon. J. M. Kellogg, county judge, and in 1890 opened an office alone in Ogdensburg, where he has ever since practiced his profess- ion. In 1889 he was elected Recorder of the city on the Republican ticket, and was re-elected in 1890 by the largest majority ever given for Recorder. Mr. Dorwin takes great interest in political matters and has taken an active part in every cam- paign since 1888.

He is also interested in the commercial affairs of Ogdensburg. He is a director in and attorney for the St. Lawrence Wholesale Grocery Co., president of the Mann Mfg. Co., and attorney for and a stockholder in the Co-operative Builders' Bank, and is interested in other minor business operations. Mr. Dorwin is at present vice- president of the Ogdensburg Club and a Knight Templar and a member of the 40th Separate Co. of the N. G. S. N. Y. Mr. Dorwin's family is of English origin and his ancestors came to America in 1789 and settled on Long Island. June 19, 1889, Mr. Dorwin married Mary L. Allen, daughter of the late W. B. Allen of Ogdensburg and has one son.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Our county and its people : a memorial record of St. Lawrence County, New York, Part 73

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