Our county and its people : a memorial record of St. Lawrence County, New York, Part 75

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 75
USA > New York > St Lawrence County > Our county and its people: a memorial record of St. Lawrence County, New York > Part 75

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).

HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.

clerk in E. D. Brooks' and M. Ives' store in Potsdam for a short time, and his father's health failing, he came back on the farm which he now has the contract of, and con- ducts a dairy farm with about twenty-four cattle. He married in 1879 Annie, daughter of John T. and Jane A. (Harder) Lee, of Syracuse, formerly of Troy. They had three children : Frank Lee, born March 30, 1882; William Edward, born May 29, 1886; and John T. Lee, born November 6, 1892.

Ames, Fisher F., Norfolk, was born in Keene, N. H., June 6, 1814, a son of Jacob Ames, also a native of Keene, N. H., where he lived and died. His wife was Martha (Woodcock) Farnsworth, widow of Moses Farnsworth, by whom she had five daughters and three sons. Mr. Ames and wife had one child, our subject. Mr. Ames was a harnessmaker by trade and had a large business in Keene, N. H. He spent his last days on a farm and died in 1816, and his wife and family came to Norfolk in 1823, and lived with her son Joel Famsworth until her death. Fisher Ames was educated in the common schools, and was nine years of age when he came to Norfolk with his mother. He and his half brother, Joel Farnsworth, worked in the saw-mill and grist-mill for Mr. Culver. After five years the family settled on a farm and the boys cut the first tree and built a log-house. They cleared the farm and afterwards built the house that now stands on the farm and is owned by Mrs. Harris and Frank Farnsworth, niece and nephew of Silas J. Farnsworth, a noted civil engineer of St. Lawrence county. The family kept hotel for several years. Mr. Ames remained on that farm until twenty- three years of age, when he went to Michigan, Illinois and Wisconsin, and worked in mill and lumber business, and after two years returned to Norfolk. He purchased fifty acres of land which he still owns. He first lived in a log-house, but soon built a good frame building, and there resided until 1877, when he built the finest residence in Norfolk. He added to his real estate until he now has about 600 acres of land. Dairying is his principal business, keeping fifty cows. Mr. Ames married in 1838 Lucina Johnson, a native of Vermont and daughter of Leland Johnson, who at one time resided in Norfolk. He went to Cotou, Canada, where he died. Mr. Ames and wife have had three sons: Allen F., a farmer of Norfolk; Alonzo L., married Annie Baker, a native of Canada; and Silas T., who married Ella Farnsworth, a native of Norfolk, and they have one child, Fisher. Mr. Ames has always been a Democrat in politics, and was assessor one term. He is a member of the Congregational church of Massena, and his wife was also a member.

Aust, Henry A., Ogdensburg, was born in England, September 25, 1842. He came to this country in 1856, and worked at the machinist trade for two years. He then learned the dying business at which he was employed until the outbreak of the war, when he enlisted in Company G, One Hundred and Forty-ninth Regiment N. Y. Vol- unteers, and participated in numerous engagements. He was at the battles of Chan- cellorsville, at which time he received a very severe wound in his right arm, causing a compound fracture, from which Mr. Aust now suffers. After the war he returned here and engaged in the tin, glassware and jewelry business, in which industry he re- mained for over fifteen years. After a visit to Europe Mr. Aust again entered business circles, this time establishing a grocery store in State street, which he is still conduct- ing. He married in October, 1861. His wife died in 1892. Mr. Aust is a prominent

PERSONAL SKETCHES.

member of the G. A. R. and A. O. U. W., of which he is Past Master. He has one son, Jesse S., who was born in Philadelphia in January, 1865, and who is a machinist by trade, also has one grandchild.

Austin, S. A., Gouverneur, was born in Lewis county, April 28, 1815, and has always been a farmer. He lived fifty-three years in Fowler and settled in Gouverneur in 1892, retiring from active life. In 1840 he married Eliza M. Hazleton, who died in 1890. His children are : Anna E. Kelley, Simon H. Austin, Lyman L. Austin, Viola I. Griffin, Rosalie M., and Allora E. His father was Isaac Austin, a native of Massachusetts, and one of the early settlers of Lewis county.

Abbott, Rev. Henry Crounce, M.A., Potsdam, was born in the town of Gallopville, Schoharie county, November 23, 1830, a son of Henry, who was a farmer and native of Schoharie county. Subject was only four years old when his parents moved to Clay, Onondaga county, where Henry received his education. He afterward attended Falley. Seminary at Fulton, from which he graduated in 1854. In 1855 he entered Wesleyan University at Middletown, graduating with the degree A. B. in 1859, and immediately entered the conference of the M. E. church. His first charge was at New London, Oneida county, N. Y., where he was located for one year, and has since been located at Constantia, Florence, Sandy Creek, Rodman, Turin, Butler, Fleming, Hannibal, Heuvelton, Buck's Bridge, Massena, Black River, Hermon, Butler Centre, Norfolk, Lis- bon, and was appointed in 1892 agent for the St. Lawrence County Bible Society, and is serving his second term. He has been twice married. His first wife was Mary Fletcher, daughter of Rev. Thomas Newman of the New York Conference. Mrs. Ab- bott died February 2, 1874, and he married second, in 1877, Leonora Norton, of Can- ton. He is the father of seven children: George Irving, a general clerk in Kingsford Foundry at Oswego ; Anna Laura, wife of Hugh Flack, a leading clerk in Manchester, R. I ; Grace Mary, of the town of Van Buren, Onondaga county ; Dora Norton, Leon Charles, Lou. Doucolion, and Lena Newman, students of Norwood Academy. Mr. Ab- bott is a staunch Prohibitionist.

Archer, William, Morristown, is the third son of David Archer, who was born at Negorton, Scotland, August 17, 1803. He was a descendant of an ancient " clan," or family, who obtained the name by being skilled in the use of the bow. In early life he was employed in guarding cows, and later as a weaver, which occupation he abandoned for the farm and became an expert plowman, a skill inherited by his sons. At his ma- jority he emigrated to the States and took up a farm in Pennsylvania, but soon returned to Scotland and engaged with the Earl of Knooul, serving him seven years as carter at eighteen pence per day. In the meantime he married Miss Ceciall Cuthbert, of Methven, April 4, 1834. He worked a farm for a few years, which gave small returns, when he emigrated to America with his wife and four children, as follows: David, jr., Ceciall, John and Cathrine. They landed at Quebec about the Ist of June, 1843, and proceeded up the river by way of Ottawa and Kingston, thence down to Oak Point, and settled on the shores of Chippeway Bay. At this place William and Anna was born. After remaining some four years he removed to Morristown. His effects consisted of a few household goods, two yoke of steers, and seven dollars in cash. He took a contract of

HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.

106 acres of land, to which he afterwards added 167 acres more. At the homestead Agness, Ellen and James were born. About 1857 the family circle was broken by David marrying and leaving home. Ceciall died November 9, 1860; Cathrine died April 21, 1864; the mother followed April 30, 1881; and the father was called January 28, 1887 ; also John d'ed at Manitoba, January 21, 1892. Mr. Archer, from small be- ginnings through a long life of industry and frugality, brought up a large and respected family, besides accumulating a handsome property, and died at the ripe age of eighty- four years in the faith of a Christian's hope.

Ames, Frank W., Morristown, was born in Morristown, July 24, 1864. September 9, 1885, he married Vira, daughter of Edward Russell, and they have two sons. Mr. Ames' father was Jeremiah Ames, his grandfather was of the same name. They came to Morristown from the Mohawk valley. Mr. Ames, although a young man, has for some time been prominent in Morristown. He is a staunch Democrat, has been inspec- tor of elections, served on the Democratic town committee, and May 22, 1893, was ap- pointed deputy collector and inspector of customs at Morristown. He keeps some fine horses and is interested in the French Coach Horse Company of Hammond and Morris- town, N. Y.

Adams, Charles F., Potsdam, was born in the town of Stockholm on a farm February 17, 1840. Washington Adams, father of our subject, was a native of Vermont, born in 1804, and came to St. Lawrence county about 1830, and bought a farm of seventy-five acres in Stockholm, where he made his home. The first residence was a log-house, which in 1855 was superseded by a frame house. He died in 1882. The mother of our subject, Sabria Streeter, was also a native of Vermont. She died in 1867, aged sixty years. Charles F. was the third son in a family of nine children. He followed farming until he was twenty-six years of age. In 1867 he came to Potsdam, locating in Norwood, where he engaged in the meat business, which he followed until 1876, and then engaged in stock dealing, about 1887 going into the horse trade. The present trade is the importing of horses from Canada into this section, where he finds a ready market among the farmers. He is the most extensive dealer in horses in Northern New York, handling at least 300 horses per year. Mr. Adams moved to Potsdam in 1869, where in 1886 he purchased the old Joseph H. Sanford homestead on Elm street, which was built in 1842. He married in 1866 Sarah Heard, of Alleghany county, and they had three children, all deceased. Mrs. Adams died in 1872, and he married sec- ond, in 1873, Ellen Hawley, of Potsdam. and they had two children, both deceased. They have an adopted son, Earl Adams, and an adopted daughter, Mildred.

Allen, Freeman H .. Potsdam, was born in Copenhagen, Lewis county, October 22, 1862, a son of Dr. Ebenezer Allen, now in his eightieth year. Dr. Allen has been practicing medicine in Copenhagen for over forty years. During the life of Dr. Lyman Stanton they practiced together. The mother of our subject was Susan, sister of Dr. Lyman Stanton. Dr. Allen has had seven children, five of whom are now living: Al- bert D., at one time principal of Ilion and later of Trenton High Schools, now a com- mercial traveler; William, formerly a teacher, also on the road; John E., who served as paymaster sergeant in the regular army, discharged on account of having suffered a

PERSONAL SKETCHES.

stroke of paralysis, is now living retired .at Copenhagen ; E. Stanton, the youngest brother, conducting a garden farm at Martinsburg, Lewis county ; and Freeman H. Our subject was educated in the common schools and Potsdam Normal School, gradu- ating from the latter in 1885. After his graduation he accepted a position as teacher in the Normal School. He is a member of the State Teachers' Association, and has been of the National Association. He is a member of the Baptist church of Potsdam, of which he is clerk and leader of the choir, a Mason, and a member of the Rechabites and Temple of Honor. He married in June, 1890, Rose, daughter of Capt. Luther Priest, of Potsdam.

Atwater, Edwin H., Norfolk, was born in Norfolk, April 30, 1834. His father, Hiram Atwater, a native of Williston, Vt., was born January 1, 1802, a son of Jonathan and Saralı (Badger) Atwater, natives of Connecticut, who settled in Vermont in an early day. In 1828, at the age of twenty-six, Hiram came to Norfolk and taught sev- eral terms of school. He then went to Vermont, and February 8, 1830, married Han- nah Miner, a native of Williston, by whom he had three sons: Henry M., Edwin H., and Lucius L. Henry M. went to California in 1881, and died in April, 1883. Lucius L. died in his home in Norfolk, September 11, 1892. In 1830 Mr. Atwater returned to Norfolk, where he spent the remainder of his days. He engaged in the lumber busi- ness in connection with farming and mercantile business until 1856, when he built a tannery. In 1863 he retired from business, and died June 23, 1871. He has witnessed all and borne a part in many of the local improvements of the last half century. He served in nearly every position of honor and trust in his town. In business matters he was honest, reliable and straightforward, and was a man of strictly temperate habits and liberal Christian sentiment. His son, Edwin H., was reared on a farm and edu- cated in the common schools. At sixteen years of age he engaged as clerk for a short time. His father starting in business in 1851, the son engaged as clerk for him until 1856, and then entered the mercantile business for himself, in partnership with his brothers, and in 1863 this partnership was dissolved and another formed with G. E. Holbrook. In 1865 this was also dissolved and the business sold to Sayles & Sumner. In 1867 Mr. Atwater formed a partnership with A. E. Sayles, which has been con- tinued to the present time. He is interested in real estate in Norfolk and adjoining towns. He is independent in politics, and was justice of the peace for several years, supervisor nine years, and was also supervisor in Ogdensburg for one year, having resided in that city from 1886 to 1889. October 22, 1860, Mr. Atwater married Lavina C. Yale, a native of Norfolk, and a daughter of Lloyd C. Yale of that town. They have had three children : Horace G., Grace Y., and Lucia H.

Abernethy, Cyrus C., Madrid, was born in Waddington, February 22, 1339. His father, Calvin, was the eldest son of Cyrus and Sallie (Doolittle) Abernethy, natives of Vermont, who emigrated to Madrid in 1802, and here spent the remainder of their days. Calvin Abernethy was born at Cornwall, Vt., in 1797. He was five years of age when his parents came to Madrid. He was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools. He engaged in farming, first purchasing a farm on Grass River, where he lived a short time, when he located in Waddington on the farm our sub- ject now owns. In 1821 he married Lura, daughter of John McKnight, a native of

HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.

Massachusetts. Mr. Abernethy and wife have had these children: Sarah, Levi O., Susan H., Monroe, Helen, Pauline and Cyrus C. Monroe enlisted in Company G, One Hundred and Sixth N. Y. Infantry, and died at Martinsburg, Va. Mr. Abernethy was formerly a Democrat, but in later years a Republican and held the office of highway commissioner two terms. He and wife were members of the Universalist church in Madrid. He died March 1, 1890, aged ninety-three years. Mrs. Abernethy died June 7, 1876. Cyrus C. was reared and educated in Waddington. He has always been engaged in farming, and at present owns 116 acres of land and follows general farm- ing. In 1860 he married Samantha, daughter of Stowell Brigham, a native of Ver- mont, who came to Madrid, and then removed to Canton, where he died in 1873. Mr. Abernethy and wife have had one son, Warren, who has spent eleven years of his life railroading in Illinois, but at present is engaged in farming at Waddington. He mar- ried Ida Esslinger, a native of Ohio, and they have one daughter, Dawn. In 1864 Mr. Abernethy enlisted in Company I, Ninety-first N. Y. Infantry, and served until the close of the war. In politics he is a Republican, has held the office of assessor thirteen years, and is one of the present assessors. He and wife are members of the Univer- salist church of Madrid.

Allen, Peter, Hammond, was born in Hammond, October 15, 1841. His father was William Allen, a Scotchman by birth, who came to America in 1818, and settled on the Bay road, Hammond. In 1865 Mr. Allen married Emma Hicks, and they have five children : William H., Erwin P., Anna E., Nellie J., and Ada R. William H. married Laura Hewitt. Mr. Allen gives intelligent attention to stock breeding in Jersey cattle, Oxforddown sheep, Cheshire hogs, and Clydesdale horses, White Plymouth Rock and White Leghorn fowls. Fine separator butter a specialty.

Allen, Alexander, Hammond, was born in Hammond, January 22, 1846. He was educated at Gouverneur Seminary, and taught school four years. He has been in mer- cantile business twenty-two years. Mr. Allen has been three times married, first, in 1871, to Elizabeth Battell, by whom he had three children : Roy G. and W. Clyde. In 1880 he married Elizabeth Kenyon, and in 1884 Hattie Higby, who has three children: Stephen Alexander, Emma Maude and Harold Beckwith. Mr. Allen was appointed postmaster at Chippewa Bay in 1880, and held the office until 1893. His father was William Allen, a native of Scotland, who came to America in 1818. His mother was Anna (Hoag) Allen.

Amo, Alexander, Ogdensburg, was born in Canada, October 4, 1839. He came to Ogdensburg when about fifteen years of age and engaged with Thomas Atchinson, with whom he remained two and one-half years; then for two summers he was in the em- ploy of M. Page, father of the present firm of Page Bros., brick makers, and then for nineteen years following he faithfully served the C. L. & C. railroad. He worked in Rosseau for two years in an iron foundry, at the expiration of which he bought a farm in St. Lawrence county, which he conducted for four years, and then came to Ogdens- burg and started a grocery store and began speculating in cattle, etc., which occupation he followed for a number of years. Two years ago, 1891, he built the hotel which he is now conducting with the assistance of his son. Mr. Amo has four children living.

PERSONAL SKETCHES.

He has been a prominent member of St. John the Baptist Society for the past twenty- five years, and is much respected and esteemed.

Aitchison, Robert, Waddington, was born in Scotland, November 24, 1829. His father, James, was a native of Scotland, and there married Ellen Robson, a native of Scotland, by whom he had six sons and two daughters. In 1831 Mr. Aitchison and family came to Waddington, settling on the farm where the family of George Aitchison now resides, and there they lived and died, he October 18, 1842, and his wife May 22, 1884. Robert Aitchison was an infant when he came to Waddington. He was reared on a farm and at twenty years of age learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed most of the time, but for the last fifteen years he has been a farmer. He now owns 190 acres in Waddington and twenty acres in Madrid. His principal business is dairy- ing, and the farms are carried on by his son-in-law, Frank Stearns, and son James. Mr. Aitchison married February 4, 1858, Mary A. Fisher, of Madrid, a daughter of Robert Fisher, and they have had two children : James and Mary E. He is a Republican and has been assessor three years. He was elected highway commissioner in 1893, also held that office one term previously. Mr. Aitchison, with John McDowell, were the commissioners to build the town hall in Waddington. He is a member of the Scotch Presbyterian church of Waddington. Mrs. Aitchison died in March, 1881.

Anstead, Alvin, Parishville, was born in Manheim, Herkimer county, August 10, 1830, a son of Jacob, a native of the same place, born June 6, 1791. The latter was a soldier under General Burgoyne in the British army, and-the father of the latter- was taken prisoner at Saratoga. He then enlisted in the American army and served three months, for which he received a pension. In 1841 Alvin Anstead came to Par- ishville with his father, and settled on the farm now owned by our subject. He mar- ried Elizabeth Wolever, who was born March 14, 1794, and they had seven sons and two daughters. He died September 17, 1877, and his wife March 18, 1885. Alvin was reared on a farm and educated in the St. Lawrence Academy. He was ten years old when he came to this town. His farm consists of 330 acres of fine land, and he keeps about fifty-five head of cattle. Mr. Anstead has been thrice married, first in 1869 to Lucy A. Cox, by whom he had three children : Herbert, Edna and Lucy A. Mrs Anstead died in 1869, and he married second Mrs. Lovica Gleason, who died in April, 1889. His present wife was Mrs. Cornelia Timerman, a native of Lisbon, and a daughter of Samuel McCrea, a native of Essex county, and an early settler of Lisbon, who was in the war of 1812. Mr. Anstead is a Republican, and has been assessor six years, and for the past five years has been highway commissioner. He is a member of P. of H., No. 542, of West Parishville, and he and his wife are members of the Free- will Baptist church of that place.

Bonney, George W., Potsdam, was born in Hadley, Mass., November 23, 1825. His father was Oliver Bonney, a native of Hanover, Mass. George W. received an aca- demic education, and at the age of about twenty went to New York to study painting. He became an artist of considerable repute. In beginning his work as a painter he first spent three weeks at Northampton, Mass., with an artist by the name of Billings, and then painted an excellent portrait of his mother, which is the original of all the

HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.

pictures of her now in the possession of the family. He spent three seasons painting in the Southern States, and in 1849 removed to Vermont, where he followed his profes- sion till 1853. He then removed to Potsdam, and there did some painting and also conducted a boot and shoe business. After a few years he sold the latter and engaged in the clothing trade, which he conducted but a short time. Early in the sixties he es- tablished a market for the wholesale dealing in oil (the business now known as the Standard Oil Co.), and continued in this until his death April 9, 1887. He married in 1851 Helen S., daughter of Horace Wilcox, of Pawlet, Vt., and they had two children : Arthur L., cashier of the Standard Oil Company's station at Potsdam, and Mrs. Frank P. Matthews.

Baird, Robert J., Stockholm, was born in Lawrence, N. Y., November 25, 1856. He is a son of Henry Baird, who was born in Ireland in 1826. The latter emigrated to Burlington, Vt., and after two years settled on the farm in Lawrence now owned by subject. In 1872 he bought an adjoining farm in Stockholm, and there spent the re- mainder of his life. Mr. Baird was twice married, first to Margaret Baird, a native of Ireland, by whom he had one son and two daughters. She died in June, 1869, and he married second Sarah J. Robinson, of Madrid, N. Y., who at present resides in Stock- holm with her son. Mr. Baird died November 23, 1891. Robert J. was educated in the common schools, and is a progressive farmer, owning 265 acres in Stockholm and Lawrence, and keeping thirty-five cows and six horses. He has on his farm two silos, holding fifty tons each. He makes a specialty of breeding improved Chester white swine. In politics he is a Republican, and at present holds the office of assessor. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., Winthrop Lodge, No. 620, and P. of H., of Winthrop. In 1881 our subject married Ettie A. Meacham, a native of Stockholm, and they have one child, Ernest H. Mrs. Baird is a member of the Freewill Baptist church of Ft. Jackson, N. Y. She was a school teacher, and taught eight terms before her marriage.

Ballou, Hiram H., Stockholm, was born December 12, 1845, in Stockholm. His father was Amos Ballou, a native of Crown Point, Essex county, born December 24, 1811. Amos married Delia Chilcott, a native of Crown Point, born August 1, 1812. They reared nine sons and five daughters. In 1844 Mr. Ballou and family came to Stockholm with an ox team, and settled on the farm now owned by Hiran H. Mr. Ballou was a man of great energy. He cleared his own farm, and assisted in clearing farms for his neighbors. He was a Republican in politics. His death occurred Jan- uary 26, 1876, and that of his wife March 31, 1884. Hiram H. Ballou was reared on a farm and educated in the public schools. His principal occupation has been farming and dairying. He owns 2123 acres and keeps twenty-five cows. When a young man Mr. Ballou went to Wisconsin, and there followed carpentry for a short time. He spent seven years in that State, where he married November 23, 1874, Jennie E. Fos- ter, a native of Stockholm, N. Y., and daughter of Henry Foster (son of Henry Fos- ter, one of the early settlers of Stockholm). Mr. Ballou and wife have six children : George, Frank W., Vernie H., Hattie M., Addie D. and Ettie M. Mr. Ballou is a Re- publican. He is a member of P. of I. of Buckton lodge, No. 226, and he and wife are Universalists,

PERSONAL SKETCHES.

Brown, A. P., Fowler, was born in Pitcairn, September 16, 1846, and began cheese- making in 1884, which occupation he still follows. He had previously been a farmer. He owns the factory at Litt'e York with adjoining lands, and operates the factory him- self. Mr. Brown has been twice married, first to Manie Clelland, and second to Sarah Grant. He has one son, Sherman, by his first marriage, and three children, Manie, Rose and Harold, by his second wife. Mr. Brown is of Scotch-American descent.

Bergeron, J. B., Ogdensburg. The subject of this sketch was born in Canada, Janu- ary 4, 1855, and received a thorough rudimentary education in the French schools of his native place. In 1872 he came to Ogdensburg and wasemployed for two years at the depot. He then clerked for Gibbs about seven years and for Wilson about six years and in all of these positions acquired the confidence and esteem of his employers and gave evidence of that energy and business ability which characterize him in the conduct of his own business, in which he embarked in the year 1889. He conducts a general mercantile business at No. - Ford street, and is highly popular with his cus- tomers and the public generally. In 1882 Mr. Bergeron married Maggie Amo, and they have two bright children. Mr. Bergeron is a member of the order of St. John the Baptist, and was one of the organizers of the Ogdensburg Democratic club, of which he is a staunch supporter. He is what might fittingly be called a thorough rep- resentative of the younger circle of Ogdensburg's enterprising and leading men.

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Our county and its people : a memorial record of St. Lawrence County, New York, Part 75

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