Our county and its people : a memorial record of St. Lawrence County, New York, Part 76

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 76
USA > New York > St Lawrence County > Our county and its people: a memorial record of St. Lawrence County, New York > Part 76

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).

Babcock, Sheldon, Gouverneur, was born January 27, 1817, and is one of the lead- ing farmers of Gouverneur. He came here in 1839 and in that year he married Lydia Mason, by whom he had three sons and one daughter, all deceased but one son, Frank. Mr. Babcock's father, Perry, was a native of Pittsfield, Mass., and his mother was born in Hartford, Conn., where his grandfather also lived. Our subject has been assessor of this town twenty-five years, and is the owner of 650 acres of fine dairy land.

Beach, James, Ogdensburg, was born in Canada, October 20, 1840. He received his early education in that country, after which he was located in Chateaugay for some time, and learned the shoemaker's trade. After the completion of this he returned to Canada where he worked at his trade, and in 1871 moved to Ogdensburg and engaged in following this branch of business, also gradually adding as circumstances permitted a line of boots and shoes. He married in 1865 Margaret Worsley, and they have four children. Mr. Beach is a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge, a staunch Republican, and is one of Ogdensburg's most energetic and worthy citizens.

Bailey, Joseph A. (deceased), Potsdam, was born on the Bailey homestead in Pots- dam, June 5, 1818, the oldest son of Ansel and Sarah (Akin) Bailey. He was educated in the old St. Lawrence Academy, and engaged in mercantile business in company with his consin, William S. Akin, in Cardinal, Canada. He was there eleven years and then returned to the farm where he spent the balance of his days. He died February 7, 1885. His wife was Margaret, daughter of Peter Adams of Canada, who still survives him. They had nine children, six living : Ansel, afarmer of Potsdam ; Sylvester, of the American House, Norwood ; Bertha, wife of Herbert Thompson of Potsdam; Hattie. wife of F. J. Higley ; Eva and Anna who live at home. Mr. Bailey always took b

HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.

an active interest in the Republican party, but never aspired to public office. The farm now conducted by his widow contains 160 acres of land, devoted to dairying.

Allen, Thomas, Hammond, was born in Hammond, January 28, 1839. He has been a farmer all his life and is to-day one of the largest land owners in the town. In 1867 he married Catherine Rodger, and they have two sons and two daughters : Horace, William, Mrs. Almon Chase, and Mrs. James McGregor. Mr. Allen is inter- ested to some extent in the breeding of Holstein cattle. He is a prominent member of the Presbyterian church. His father was William Allen and his mother Annie (Hoag) Allen. They settled in Hammond in 1818.

Allen, R. T., Gouverneur, was born in Gouverneur, May 8, 1859, and began as a clerk at the age of fourteen. This he continued until 1886, in which year he married Adelaide McAllister and became associated in business with his wife's father, J. E. McAllister. In 1884 Mr. Allen established a business in North Dakota, which he conducted seven years. In 1891 he returned to Gouverneur, and has charge of the dry goods store of J. E. McAllister & Company.

Brouse, Wesley, Norfolk, was born in Dundas county, Williamsburg, Canada W., May 30, 1837. His father, Peter, was a native of Iroquois, Canada, who married Mary Bouck and had six sons and five daughters. He was a sergeant in the regular army, and he and his wife died in Canada. Wesley was educated in the common schools and and married in Canada, Mary J. Henderson, a native of Ireland, and daughter of Isaac Henderson, who lived and died in Ireland. Mr. and Mrs. Brouse have had five children : John S., born in Canada, married a Miss Crander, and has two children ; Wellington, born in Norfolk, an engineer running from Yellowstone Park to Livingston; May A., who resides at home; Jessie and Hessie, twins. Mr. Brouse came to Norfolk in 1860, and purchased a farm in the wilderness, having only 180 acres of cleared land. He owns 2163 acres of land and is engaged in dairying and sheep raising, having twenty - four cows. Mr. Brousc is a Republican, and has held the office of trustee in the district. He has been a member of the Good Templars, and he and wife are members of the M. E. church at Massena.

Baum, Fred E., Potsdam, was born in Potsdam, January 5, 1861, a son of Joseph H., a native of this State, born in Columbus, Columbia county, July 24, 1833. He learned the trade of harness maker and moved from his native town to the village of Pamelia, Jefferson county. He was there several years and then moved to Potsdam, where he established a harness and boot and shoe store. About 1875 he gave up the harness business and gave his attention exclusively to the boot and shoe trade. He was an active member of the Universalist church, of which he was one of the founders. He was clerk of the board at the time of the building of the new edifice, and his reputation as a business man was of the best. Honorable and always courteous, he made for himself a large circle of friends, and always interested in every enterprise tending to improve the village. He was also a member of the Masonic fraternity. . Mr. Baum had four children, three of whom are living: May Elizabeth, wife of C. H. Kernan, of Orient, L. I .; Schuyler L., and Fred E., the oldest son. The latter has always made his home in Potsdam. He was educated in the Normal school, and in 1885 became a

PERSONAL SKETCHES.

partner with his father in the shoe business. Since the latter's death, April 4. 1890, he has conducted the business alone. He married in 1888, Genie S. Dayton of Potsdam, who died December 6, 1892. Mrs. Baum, mother of our subject, died December 23, 1882.

Berry, Jno. H., Gouverneur, was born in Canada, March 4, 1862, coming to the United States with his parents when two years of age. He is a practical cheese maker, having made cheese for twelve seasons, ten of which have been spent in the Sprague- ville factory, which he now operates. He has taught school fourteen terms, being principal of Spragueville Graded School for two years. In 1891, Mr Berry married Miss Isabelle N. Tenney of Spragueville.

Benson, S. Ellis, Potsdam, the subject of our sketch was born in Potsdam, November 12, 1855, on the farm where he now lives, was educated in common schools, and has spent his whole life, with the exception of one year, in Manchester, N. H., on the same farm, and was the son of Ellis Benson who also was born on the same farm, August 20, 1820, and lived with his father until he reached his majority, he left the old farm to start for himself. He worked as millwright twelve years erecting numerous mills in the forests of the Northwestern States and Canada, and in his own town. Then finally purchased the old homestead of his father, and settled down and gave his whole attention to farming, and in 1854 married Harriet P., daughter of Harvey Knox, of Canton; this union was blessed with four children: S. Ellis, the subject of our sketch, being the oldest; Edmee J., widow of S. O. Loucks; Hattie J., wife of F. E. Brand, of Findlay, Ohio, and Nettie J., the youngest; Ellis Benson, father of our subject, died October 20, 1883, in Algona, Iowa, while on a visit to friends. His widow survives him and still resides on the old farm with her son, who now has a farm of 200 acres devoted to dairying, at present there are thirty-one cows and five horses. He supports the Universalist church, but is not a member. He married in 1878, Miss Martha J. McCormick, daughter of Joseph McCormick, of St. George, New Brunswick, their union has been blessed with three children ; Harvey King, born June 29, 1879; Fred Charles, born May 28, 1883, and Edmee Genevieve, born July 29, 1885. Seth Benson, the grandfather of our subject, was a native of Benson, Vt., and was born in Benson, May 7, 1798. He married Sally King, daughter of Eli King, of Benson. He was married March 31, 1819, and came to Potsdam in 1820, took up a large tract of land which was a dense forest, but by hard labor and perseverance he cleared and cultivated, and by his hands and hard labor, and those of his son and grandson it has come to be one of the finest farms in the county, if not in the State.

Baldwin, Henry K., Potsdam, was born in Hinesburgh, Vt., August 4, 1825, a son of Frederick W., who was born in Connecticut in 1797. His parents moved to Vermont in 1800, where Frederick was reared and spent his life. He learned the tanner's and shoemaker's trades, which he followed a number of years and then added farming, at one time owning 700 acres of Vermont land. In 1844 he engaged in mercantile business, all three of which he followed until his death in 1876. He was thrice married; his first wife, the mother of our subject, was Amanda Bostwick. The early

HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.

life of Henry K. was spent in his native State. He was educated at Hinesburgh Academy and spent two years in partnership with his father in the mercantile business. In 1850 he moved to Potsdam, where for fourteen years he owned a farm in the eastern part of the town. In 1864 he sold this, and engaged in the grocery and meat trade in Potsdam, conducting a store for five years, and during this time gradually gaining a trade in the flour and coal business, which he made exclusive in 1869 by removing to his present location. Mr. Baldwin is an active member of the Baptist church, and has been trustee for about twenty years, being chairman of the board a good share of the time. He married in 1849, Constance A. Cobb, of Coventry, Vt., and they have had four children : Frederick W., a bookkeeper with the Standard Oil Co .; Minnie E., wife of E. B. Bayley, of Burlington, Vt .; Frank H., a partner with H. K. Baldwin & Co., and Charles E., who died very suddenly of rheumatism of the heart at the Niagara Falls House, Niagara Falls, N. Y., July 30, 1893, aged twenty-six years. He was a student of the Normal School up to the time the Potsdam sewers were put in, and having a taste and aptness for mathematics, left school to work under the engineers. From this on, promotion was rapid, and the future was hopeful. Since May 11, 1891, he worked for W. C. Johnson, now Johnson & Porter, and took charge of the engineering work, having the entire charge of the Niagara Falls sewers, electric street railways, N. Y. C. R. R. subway, and a pulp and paper mill at Niagara. Mr. Baldwin also made a survey and plans and estimates for the Buffalo Electric Light & Power Co's. plant, which is yet to be built. He had also recently made a survey of Buffalo harbor for an enterprise not yet developed. Frank H. Baldwin was born in Potsdam, June 19, 1862, was educated in the Potsdam State Normal School, and for six years was engaged in the dry goods business, three years with J. G. Cook, and three years with H. M. Story. In 1893 he joined with his father. In 1888 he married Maud L. Moore, of Potsdam, and they have one child, William M., now in his fourth year. Mr. Baldwin is one of the village trustees, elected in 1893 on the Union ticket. He is also a member of the Fire department, in the Hook and Ladder Company.

Babcock, A. A., Ogdensburg, was born at Felts Mills, Jefferson county, September 11, 1827. His grandfather, Jeremiah, settled early in the present century in Madison county, having removed there from Rhode Island, where A. A. Babcock's father was born. The latter's name also was Jeremiah, and he was engaged until his health and age prevented, in blacksmithing. With him A. A. Babcock learned the trade, at which he worked for a number of years. Mr. Babcock eventually drifted into the hotel business, conducting a house at Black River four or five years. He then removed to Rome, where he conducted a hotel until 1855, when he came to Ogdens- burg and engaged in the business of pump making, with which he has since been identified, being thoroughly acquainted with it in every department, having in his youth learned the trade of carpenter and joiner as well as blacksmith. Mr. Babcock married in 1849 Miss Sarah Treadway, and they had one son. His second wife was Miss Crittenton, and they have had seven children, five of whom are living. Mr. Bab- cock is a Master Mason, and enjoys the esteem of the community.

Buck, Alfred G., Potsdam, was born at Buck's Bridge in Potsdam, February 3, 1828. Isaac, grandfather of our subject and the original settler of this place, was a native of

PERSONAL SKETCHES.

Connecticut and eame to St. Lawrence county in 1806. He was then forty-three years of age. He took up a tract of 1,300 acres in the northwestern part of Potsdam, and built a saw-mill on the banks of the Grass River. He also started a store on the west side of the river and a potash establishment, clearing land and beginning the cultivation of the soil at the same time. Orrin Buck, father of our subject was the oldest son ; Isaac, died in 1841, aged seventy-eight years. Orrin always made his home at Buck's Bridge, after he came here with his father, 1806. He conducted a store here from 1838 to 1848, and then retired from mercantile business. He was born in Addison, Vt., in 1739. In 1868, Alfred established a general store on the east side of the river and in 1884, was appointed postmaster of Buck's Bridge. Mr. Buck has always been a Republican. He is a member of the Methodist church and is a steward and trustee of the society. Isaac Buck was a soldier in the Revolutionary war.

Batchelder, Benjamin F., Potsdam (deceased), was born in Danville, Vt., May 14, 1813. He was the son of a farmer, but at an early age learned cabinet making and worked in different places at his trade-St. Johnsbury, for Fairbanks & Co., at Bos- ton for the same company and at Woodstock, Vt., where he married in 1839 Mary Rugg. In 1841 he came to Potsdam and established a furniture manufactory in com- pany with M. Badlam, and they were the first to manufacture pianos in this part of the State. He was a Whig and afterwards a Republican, but never an office seeker. He was among the pioneers of business men of this town, and it is said of him he was too honest to become a wealthy man. He lost his buildings by fire many times, but in spite of that he prospered, and in that of more value than worldly good, the honor and respect of all who knew him. He was the father of eight children, five of whom are living. He died September 24, 1881. Henry C. Batchelder, second son of Ben- jamin, was born in Potsdam, October 13, 1844. He was educated at St. Lawrence Academy and taking up the trade of his father, became a partner in the business, and has charge of the manufacturing department. He is a strong Republican, but has never held political office. He married December 12, 1872, Frances A., daughter of Melissa D. Brown, of Potsdam, and they have three daughters: Mary T., Edith G., and Sue F. Mrs. Batchelder died May 14, 1892. Charles E. Batchelder, youngest son of Benjamin, was born in Potsdam, July 11, 1847. On leaving school he went into his father's factory. In 1865 he entered the employ of the Rome, Watertown and Ogdens- burg Railroad Company for six years, as conductor. In 1871 he went to Missouri, where he was conductor on the St. Louis and Iron Mountain Railroad, and was so em- ployed for three and one half years. Returning to Potsdam in 1874, he went into partnership with his father and brother in the furniture business and has ever since been a member of the firm, now having charge of the furniture store. He has served two terms as a trustee of the village, but is not an active politician. He has been treasurer of Raquette River Lodge F. & A. M., for seventeen years and of the St. Lawrence Chapter the same length of time. He is also treasurer of the Potsdam Fire Department. He married in 1876 Marion E., daughter of Norman Swift of Potsdam, and they have one son and two daughters : Anna L., Benjamin F., and Elizabeth Jane.

HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.

Bartholomew, Jerome, Madrid, was born in Waddington, November 10, 1848. The first ancestor of whom we find trace is Isaac, his grandfather, a native of Vermont, who came to this country when a young man, locating on a farm in the town of Wad- dington. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and one of the earliest settlers of the county. James, father of Jerome, was the oldest son. He was born in Waddington, June 11, 1820, and has always lived in this county. He followed the blacksmith's trade for a number of years in this section, and over a year in California during the gold excitement. He is now a resident of the town of Potsdam. He married in 1845 Polly, daughter of Zuran Wells of Morley, and they had four children : Oscar, a farmer of Canton ; Alma T., wife of Warren Mead of Potsdam; Mary Eugenie, and Jerome. The latter was about six years old when his parents moved into this town, and he has ever since been a resident here. He was educated in the common schools and as soon as he was old enough took up farming, which he has ever since followed. Helived with his father on the old place until twenty-four years old. In 1872 he bought a farm of 116 acres, on which he has made many valuable improvements, rebuilding the residence into a pleasant home, repairing the barns, etc. He conducts it as a dairy farm with fourteen head of cattle and selling milk to the butter factory. Mr. Bartholomew has always been an active Republican, and has been a member of the Scotch Presby- terian church of Waddington for ten years. He married March, 12, 1872, Susan, daughter of Robert and Mary (Todd) Fisher, and they have one son, George, a student of Potsdam State Normal School.

Butler, John F., Potsdam, was born in Stockholm, St. Lawrence county, October 28, 1861, a son of David, a native of Ireland, who came to this country about 1850, and died in 1883. He had six children, of whom our subject was next to the youngest. He was only three years old when his parents moved to Potsdam. He was educated in the common schools, and at eighteen years of age went with Mr. Welch to learn the jeweler's trade. In 1889 he attended Dr. Bucklin's School of Optics, graduating Octo- ber 29, 1889, and since that time has been at the head of the optical department of the store. At the present time he has full charge of both jewelry and optical business, Mr. Welch, his partner, having given the care of all the business over to him. Mr. Butler married in 1889, Etta A. Bradley, of Potsdam.

Benton, Knowlton, Stockholm, was born in Stockholm, September 15, 1858. His father was Elihu Benton, a native of Stockholm, and son of Warham Benton, a native of Connecticut, born May 4, 1781. Warham Benton when a young man went to Ver- mont, and there married Sarah Smith, a native of that State, and had two sons and one daughter. About 1813 Mr. Benton settled on a farm in Stockholm, where he remained a short time and then went on the farm now owned by subject. Mr. Benton and wife were members of the M. E. church. He died July 25, 1874, and his wife in 1869. Elihu Benton was born in Stockholm, March 4, 1822, reared on a farm and educated in the public schools. He followed farming, and owned 300 acres. Mr. Benton was twice married, first June 6, 1848, to Fannie Perkins, by whom he had one daughter, Fannie. Mrs. Benton died October 27, 1851, and March 25, 1856, Mr. Benton married Mary A. Arquit, a native of St. Lawrence county, one of eight children of Michael and Melinda (Chubb) Arquit, of Canada and Vermont respectively. Mr. Arquit died in

PERSONAL SKETCHES.

Stockholm July 18, 1875, and his wife in Dickerson in 1849. Mr. Benton and wife had two children : Knowlton E. and Elon W. Mr. Benton died June 12, 1868. Mrs. Ben- ton married for her second husband Amos Chubb, a native of Lawrence, N. Y. Mr. Chubb was a farmer and miner. He spent eighteen years in California, and died Jan- uary 9, 1881. Mr. Chubb and wife had one daughter, Agnes M., who married August 2, 1893, Frank Benjamin, of Stockholm. Knowlton Benton was reared on a farm and educated in the public schools. He is a general farmer and dairyman, and owns 300 acres of land. Mr. Benton has been twice married, January 16, 1878, to Kate Gary, by whom he had two sons : George S., born June 13, 1878, and Carlton G., born Septem- ber 14, 1880. Mrs. Benton died October 10, 1880, and May 2, 1888, Mr. Benton mar- ried Eva M. Fuller, a daughter of John and Justina (Perry) Fuller. Mr. Benton had two sons by his second wife, Gerald F., born August 10, 1889, and B. Lloyd, born April 9, 1891. Mr. Benton is a P. of I., Riverside Lodge, No. 166, and he and family attend and support the M. E. church.

Bristol, L. M., Ogdensburg, was born in De Peyster, July 12, 1848. He received his education at the schools there and at the Potsdam Normal School, General Curtis be- ing among his teachers. His earlier years were spent upon a farm, his family having originally moved into this vicinity from Vermont and taken up land. L. M. Bristol came to Ogdensburg in 1887 and went into the wood business, and in 1892 took into partnership Mr. Dorgan and added coal to the commodities handled. The firm pur- chased an entire block to add to their facilities for handling coal and wood, and have an elegant office up town at 5 Ford street. Mr. Bristol also owns a residence at No. 22 Congress street. He married in 1875 Mariah McRorie, of Lisbon, whose father pur- chased the Curtis farm from the author of this work, and they have one daughter. Mr. Bristol comes from a good old American family, and worthily sustains the honorable reputation of his ancestors.

Barrows, Aaron, Potsdam, was born in Dorset, Bennington county, Vt., August 23, 1806. The father of our subject, also Aaron, is a native of Connecticut, born in Mans- field, September 28, 1775, removed to Dorset, Vt., and in 1800 married Hulda Langdon, born at Fishkill, February 9, 1774, and died October 18, 1873. She was a descendant of the old Dutch settlers of Dutchess county. Solomon Barrows, father of Aaron, was a soldier of the Revolution and was in the battle of White Plains. Our subject was the third son of six children, all deceased but one sister, Lydia Rice, of Ohio, and our subject. February 25, 1816, his parents moved into St. Lawrence county, locating in Canton. After leaving school he taught for seven winters and in the summers worked at cabinet making, a trade he followed until 1849, when he engaged in mercantile business at Crary's Mills, where he has ever since conducted a store. For six years he bought produce for Proctor & Wood on joint account, and handled from twenty to twenty-seven thousand dollars worth of butter, cheese, etc., per year. He has been the Postmaster of Crary's Mills for thirty years and justice of the peace nine years, was also school inspector for several years and school commissioner. He was a Dem- ocrat until the war broke out, and has since been a Republican. He married, January 8, 1835, Emeline, daughter of William Boyden, of Canton, one of its eariest settlers. They have had three children, all deceased. Mrs. Barrows died December 25, 1892, at

HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.

the advanced age of 80 years. His oldest daughter, Amelia, married Russell S. Elmer, and died June 11, 1870, and they had one daughter, who died in 1869, aged seven months.

Bowhall, William, Canton, was born in Denmark, Lewis county, N. Y., February 6, 1815. He commenced the trade of miller at eleven years of age, and has been engaged in the business sixty-seven years. He came to the town of Fowler in this county in 1823, and ran the mill at Hailesborough. He next went into the mill at Marshville in the town of Hermon. He next came to Canton and ran the mill at Morley, and from there to the mill at Madrid and ran that mill sixteen years. He then came to Canton and ran a grist-mill three years for Lucius Moody, leased a mill at Norfolk one year, then sold out and went to Waddington on the St. Lawrence and ran those two mills seventeen years for Proctor & Wood and then came to Canton, and has run this mill for eight years. He married Phoebe Kinney, and they have had four children : Harriet, Caroline, Juliette and Ralph D., who died April 29, 1893.

Barker, Harvey, Canton, was born in the town of Gouverneur, December 30, 1827. He is a son of Nathan Barker who was born March 14, 1797, in the town Sandisfield, Berkshire county, Mass., and located in Gouverneur in 1825. He went into the woods and took up a wild lot, cleared and improved it, and lived there on that farm until 1860, then moved into the town of De Kalb where he lived until his death, August 14, 1880, aged 83 years and five months. He was a deacon of the Baptist church at Richville. Harvey Barker was a trustee of the Baptist church of Canton for twenty- four years in succession. He has been deacon of this church for about fifteen years. He married Jane Curriston, who died June 8, 1875, leaving seven children: Nathan C., Frank H., Emma M., Judson E., Edson I., Nellie J., and Ida B., Lella J. having died October 7, 1862. Edson I. died August 29, 1878, aged ten years. Harvey Barker married second, December 25, 1873, Mrs. Lydia J. Leach, daughter of Luther Drake. Nathan Barker married, September 11, 1822, Sally Wheeler, and they had ten children, of whom Harvey is the fourth child. Moses Barker is the fifth child, is a Baptist minister having served several churches in this State, among which are the Baptist churches of Adams, Friendship, Canton and Dannsville. He has now a position in the World's Fair. His wife, Ellen M. Barker, is one of the lady managers in the World's Fair. Matilda, the sixth child of Nathan Barker, was a teacher ten years in North Carolina, and a missionary there one year. She died on the field in Ralph, North Carolina, September 26, 1880, aged 49 years and six months.

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Our county and its people : a memorial record of St. Lawrence County, New York, Part 76

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