Our county and its people : a memorial record of St. Lawrence County, New York, Part 77

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 77
USA > New York > St Lawrence County > Our county and its people: a memorial record of St. Lawrence County, New York > Part 77

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).

Barnes, E. S., Gouverneur, was born in Gouverneur, December 24, 1814. He was educated in the Gouverneur Academy and taught school for twenty-five terms, including district, graded schools, and academies. Mr. Barnes has spent about fifteen years in mercantile lines. He married Lucretia Allen in 1842, and their children are : first, Erwin H. Barnes, (deceased), after whom Barnes Post, G. A. R., of Gouverneur, is named. Erwin H. Barnes belonged to Co. D., 16th N. Y. Vols. ; was wounded at Gaines Mills near Richmond ; taken a prisoner to Libby prison and died six weeks after of his wound in Philadelphia hospital, having been exchanged two weeks previous ; second, Lucretia M., (deceased), wife of Geo. P. Taitt; third, Celia E., wife of A. E.

PERSONAL SKETCHES.

Smith ; fourth, Louisa Anna, (deceased), wife of Frank L. Cox, Mr. E. S. Barnes has been school commissioner and superintendent of schools for a number of years. His father, Rockwell Barnes, was one of the pioneers of this part of the country and was a commissioned officer in the war of 1812, and was a leading mechanic in his day.

Barber, Luman M., Canton, dairy and grain farmer, owns 103 acres of land, and also keeps an apiary, shipping his honey to the Boston market. He is a son of Col. Henry Barber, who was sheriff of St. Lawrence county, also deputy United States marshal eight years. He was recruiting officer during the Rebellion. He was born in Bark- hamsted, Litchfield county, Conn., in 1805 and came with his father and settled here in 1807. He was a member of the assembly in 1847. His father, Zimri Barber, married Thankful Wilcox, and their children were: Zimri, jr., Lucy, Vastie, Violet, Jason, Gideon and Henry, who was afterwards member of assembly. He married Eunice White, and they had these children : Silas W., Luman M., Clarrissa and Henry Barber jr., Thomas, H. B., Eunice M., and Mary A., of whom only Luman survives. Luman M. Barber married Flora L. Clark, and they have these children : Thomas H., Osman L., Carlton J. and Stanley Barber.

Barber, Ira, Canton, was born in Canton, a son of Gideon Barber a native of Con- necticut, who settled in this town with his father, Zimri Barber, in 1806. Gideon Barber married Lovina White, and they had these children : Alvin, Darius, Mary, Ira, Cornelia and Betsey. He married second Polly Morrill, and had two daughters, Alice and Ella. Ira Barber married Sarah A. Wilson, who died October 1, 1886. Mr. Barber has made a specialty of bee keeping, and ships his honey twenty pounds in a case. He began this business in 1852 with four colonies and in 1857 had 120, all from the four swarms with which he commenced. He keeps at present about 150 swarms of Italian bees. He has been one of the town auditors for two years. He is known among the bee fraternity of this country and Canada as the high temperature winterer of bees, and was the first to demonstrate to a certainty that bees can be wintered in a temperature of heat from 65 to 90 degrees, and come out in spring in the best possible condition, after a confinement of five or six month in cellar.

Bailey, Hollis Hovey, Potsdam, was born in the town of Irasburg, Vt., January 14, 1843, a son of Levi Bailey, who was a native of Massachusetts, born in Newburyport in 1800, and immigrated with his parents to Vermont when only a lad. He died in Vermont, in 1845. The mother of our subject, Margaret Achsah Ainsworth, was also a native of Vermont, and they had four children, of which Hollis, is the second son. The early life of our subject was spent in his native State. He was educated in the common schools and at twenty-two years of age took up bookkeeping, being employed in a lumber office two years. The spring of 1867 he went west for the Fairbanks Scale. Co., traveling one year through Michigan and Indiana, and was nine years the bookkeeper in their branch office at St. Louis. In 1877 he came to this county, locating in the village of Norwood where he was in the employ of the Norwood Lum- ber Co., and at the assignment of the company in 1883, he was appointed manager by the receiver, and when the Norwood Manufacturing Co. took possession he remained with them. February 17, 1890, he was appointed by President Harrison postmaster at

HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.

Norwood, a position he still holds. Mr. Bailey served in the war of the Rebellion, en- listing August 6, 1862, in Company F, Eleventh Regiment Vermont Infantry, and served until the close of the war. His regiment was with the Army of the Potomac and was at the great battles of Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, and Petersburg. At the last named in June, 1864, Mr. Bailey was taken prisoner while with a detail of fifty men, forty-eight of whom were taken prisoners and only seven lived to reach home. As one of this number Mr. Bailey served six months in Andersonville and other prisons, and on his return March 16, 1865, was made second lieutenant of his company. Mr. Bailey has been a member of the Masonic fraternity twenty-seven years, and a member of the I. O. O. F., six years. He married in 1865, Julia K., daughter of John W. Mason of Iras- burg, Vt., by whom he has had thirteen children, seven now living. He is also a member of Luther Priest Post, No. 167, G. A. R., past commander.

Bowen, David H., Ogdensburg, was born in Chester. England, April 4, 1827. He re- ceived an education in the schools of Chester, and came to this country in 1842. Possessing a musical temperament he cultivated it and soon became identified with nu- merous musical enterprises and organizations, and besides following his regular occupa- tion, painting, was leader of the Ogdensburg band, etc. August 29, 1863, he became leader of the Brigade Band, Third Brigade, Second Division, Twelfth Army Corps, and served until the end of the late war. He was mustered out in Bladensburg, Maryland, June 12, 1865. Returning to Ogdensburg he again followed painting and became also, professor of dancing, having during the past forty-six years conducted the leading dancing schools of St. Lawrence and adjoining counties. Professor Bowen married in 1847, Miss C. Sharpstein, by whom he has two sons, both living. In 1869 he married second Mrs. G. A. Turnbull. Mr. Bowen is one of the oldest Knight Templar Masons in St. Lawrence, Jefferson and Franklin counties. He is also an Odd Fellow, member of the G. A. R., etc. He has served as alderman of this city for four years, and as mayor pro tem.

Berry, William C., Ogdensburg, was born in Ogdensburg, July 12, 1857. After leaving school he was engaged in the grocery and meat business for a number of years and in 1887 became identified with the liquor traffic, and now possesses the most ele- gant establishment engaged in this branch of commerce in this city. Mr. Berry's family are among the oldest residents of this State, having settled at Keysville near Plattsburg over half a century ago. He is a member of the Catholic church. Mr. Berry is one of Ogdensburg's most respected young business men.

Brown, N. E., Gouverneur, was born in Vermont in 1852, and came to Gouverneur in January, 1878. He began as a clerk for seven years, was a partner in the business firm of Gaddis & Brown five years, and on May 1, 1891, the partnership of Brown & Beardslie, still existing, was formed. In 1878 Mr. Brown married Lepha J. Martin. He is an Odd Fellow, and a member of the Baptist church, and a prominent Mason.

Barnes, George, B., D. D. S., Gouverneur, was born in Fowler, August 13, 1854, and began dentistry in 1874. He graduated in 1879, and began practice here in the same year. In 1880 he married Anna M. Cushman. Dr. Barnes' father was Franklin Barnes, also a native of Fowler. His mother was Belinda Picket. The Pickets were also an

PERSONAL SKETCHES.

old family in the town of Fowler. Dr. Barnes and his wife are members of the Methodist church, and he is a Prohibitionist.

Billings, A. B., Gouverneur, was born in Vermont, March, 15, 1825, but has resided in Gouverneur for thirty-five years. He has been connected with farming all his life, and owns 240 acres of land. In 1849 he married Ann, daughter of Nathan Hills, of Gouverneur. After marriage they settled in the wilds of Wisconsin for six years ; then returned to this place, Gouverneur, and settled on a farm in the north part of the town. At this time they reside in the village of Gouverneur. The Billings family were among the first settlers in Connecticut, and came over in the Mayflower. Mr. Billings' father took part in the war of 1812.

Bliss, Oliver, Potsdam, was born in Wilmington, Essex county, August 20, 1838, a son of Ezra, a native of Vermont who came to this State. The paternal ancestry has been traced back to the tenth century. The mother of Oliver, Harriet Boothe, was also a native of Vermont. They were the parents of six children, five now living. Ezra died May 4, 1892, aged eighty-one years. Oliver's parents moved to this county and located in Pierpont. After leaving school he worked as clerk until 1862. Sep- tember 12, 1862, he enlisted in the Ninety-second N. Y. Vol. Inf., and served until June 18, 1865, being in the battles of Cold Harbor, siege of Petersburg and siege of Fort Anderson, Newburn, N. C., March 14, 1863. The last two years of his army service were as steward for the Medical Department of the Ninety-second Regiment and in Officers Temporary Hospital, Point of Rocks, Va. After his return home he spent a few months clerking, and then began the study of dentistry with Dr. W. W. Best, with whom he studied and practiced for three years. In April, 1868, he opened an office for himself, and has now been twenty-five years engaged in dentistry ; for seven years in Hermon, and the balance of the time in Potsdam. The doctor is a member of the Universalist church, of which he is trustee and deacon. He married in 1869 Cornelia A. Turner, of Potsdam, and they have one daughter, Anna Lillian.

Brouse, Jacob, Norfolk, was born in Williamsburg, Canada, in 1831. His father was Peter Brouse. Jacob came to Norfolk when a young man, and married Sarah, daughter of Julius Grant, by whom he had four sons and a daughter. J. Peter was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools. He and his brother John now own one hundred acres of land, and keep a dairy of eleven cows. John W. was born in Norfolk in 1860, was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools. He married Alice, daughter of Alonzo Gibson, of Norfolk. Mr. Brouse and brother are both Republicans, and John W. is a member of P. and I, No. 167, of Norfolk. The third child of Jacob Grant was Benson J., born in 1862, and at present living in Agawam, Mass. He is engaged with the Weston & Smith Gun Works. Sarah J. Brouse died aged two years, and one son died in infancy. Jacob Brouse was a lum- berman in an early day, but his chief occupation was farming. He owned 130 acres of land, and was a Republican in politics. He and his wife were members of the M. E. church.

Bradish, John, Ogdensburg, was born in Ogdensburg, January 8, 1859. He learned the trade of cigarmaker, and has for the past two years conducted a manufactory de-

HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.

voted to that branch of industry, giving employment to four or five assistants. His goods reach all parts of this county. Mr. Bradish married Miss C. Egan of this city, and they have four children.

Bonney, Oliver E., Potsdam, was born in Hadley, Hampshire county, Mass., Decem- ber 7, 1823, a son of Oliver, a native of Hanover, Plymouth county, Mass. The grand- father, Oliver, was also a native of Plymouth county. The father of our subject was born in June, 1790, and served in the war of 1812. He learned the cabinetmaker's trade, and also worked at house and bridge building, and during the latter years of his life was a farmer. He represented his town in the Lower House of the Massachusetts Legislature in 1832 and 1833. He married Betsey F. Hayward, of West Bridgewater, Mass., and they had eleven children, only two of whom are living. Dr. Franklin Bon- ney, of Hadley, Mass., (where he has practiced medicine for forty- five years,) is a grad- uate of Dartmouth Medical College. The early life of our subject was spent in his native State. He learned the printer's trade at Amherst, Mass., and at twenty-two years of age had charge of a printing office in Boston, but his health failing, he took to agriculture. He was in trade from 1859 until 1865 in different towns in Massachusetts, and in 1865 moved to Potsdam, where he established a crockery and grocery store on the corner of Market and Elm streets. He was fourteen years in that location, and in 1879 moved to his present place on Market street, where he has continued in the same trade and added the buying of butter and cheese. He also deals in coal. Mr. Bonney is a staunch Republican. He has been an elder of the Presbyterian church for many years. He married March 5, 1850, Lucy A. Judd, of South Hadley, Mass., and they have two children : Edmund J., who is in the insurance business at Watertown, N. Y. ; and Joseph P., a partner in the store at Potsdam. One other child, Joseph P., died in Massachusetts before their removal to New York State.

Buttolph, James S., Potsdam, was born on a farm in Potsdam, January 9, 1838, He received his education in common school and St. Lawrence Academy. Son of Abyram, a native of Vermont, born in New Haven, April 24, 1803. His early life was spent in his native State. He was educated in the common schools, and married October 15, 1826. Immediately after his marriage he moved into St. Lawrence county, first set- tling on a farm in the town of Hopkinton, when that town was a wilderness. He lived there but a few years and then bought a farm of 175 acres in Potsdam. In 1840 he moved to West Stockholm, where he engaged in the maunfacture of forks and hoes, employing from thirty to forty hands. He found a market for the product through Northern New York and Canada, and shipped large quantities to Ohio, Indiana and the west. He was engaged in manufacturing about fifteen years, and gave it up to return to farming. He had previously, in 1844, bought a farm, where he then moved and by purchase increased the size to 200 acres. Mr. Buttolph was a Republican, and a member of the Congregational church. His wife was Betsey, daughter of Gideon Sprague, a native of Connecticut, but at that time residents of Vermont, and they had five children, of whom only our subject survives. At the breaking out of the war he was the earliest to enlist. October 10, 1861, he enlisted in the Ninety-second Regi- ment N. Y. Vol., was first lieutenant Company C., and served with them ten months, being through the Peninsula campaign. He resigned on account of poor health, Aug-

PERSONAL SKETCHES.

ust 1, 1862, and returned to the farm. In 1879 he was elected highway commis- sioner of the town and filled the office two years. He is a member of Chapter Luther Priest Post G. A. R., No. 167, and also Potsdam Grange, No. 39. He has been twice married. November 1, 1864, he married Martha J. Burnham of Potsdam, daughter of James and Hannah (Gillett) Burnham, and they had two children : James A., and Linnie May. Mrs. Buttolph died July 24, 1883, and he married second in 1888, Kate E., daughter of John and Jane (Tiernan) Barry of Massena. They have one child, Azel Mary, born November 20, 1890.

Baldwin, G. S., Lisbon, was born in Oswegatchie, March 12, 1843. He was liberally educated in the schools of Ogdensburg, after which for nine years he was engaged in mercantile pursuits. In 1884 he was elected on the Republican ticket to the office of town clerk of Lisbon, to which he has since been continuously re-elected. He is also secretary and treasurer of the Lisbon Center cheese factory. Mr. Baldwin married in 1876 Amelia Armstrong, and they have three children : Stella, aged sixteen; Mabel aged eleven, and Merrill, aged six. Mr. Baldwin is a thoroughly energetic, unobtru- sive and liberal gentleman, who enjoys the marked respect and esteem of the entire community.

Among the pioneer families who settled in Lisbon town, prominent mention must be accorded to the Baldwins. Eleazer Baldwin, a native of Bennington county, Vt., came to Lisbon in 1802, and took up 260 acres of land near Lisbon Center. There he lived to a good old age, engaged in agricultural pursuits. His son, Thomas Baldwin, kept the old farm and followed the same occupation. George Baldwin, subject of sketch, was a son of Thomas, and inherited from him 100 acres of land, a part of the old homestead. He was born in 1811, and has always been engaged in farm- ing up to his retirement, and he still owns the old farm. He has been twice married. His first wife was Alma Byington, whom he married in 1841, and sometime after her decease he again married (1866) Margaret Gara. He has no children. Mr. Baldwin has always been a prominent factor in the material welfare of the town, and has held several local town offices, as also did his father and grandfather. He is among the very few old residents of Lisbon who were born in this town and always lived here, and at- tended a dinner at Lisbon Center in 1893 in honor of the dozen or so remaining oldest living " Lisbon Boys," at which meeting he suggested that the occasion be perpetuated by an annual jollification so long as there were remaining members. He is much esteemed and respected by all. His father, Thomas Baldwin, was a surveyor and did the surveying for the people settling in the town of Lisbon for many years ; he was also captain of the militia in the year 1812; he was called in the draft that was made in that year or the next to protect the city of Ogdensburg.

Benton, Joseph, Heuvelton, father of the subject of this sketch, was a native of Vermont, where the Benton family lived for many years. He came to St. Lawrence county in 1842, and located at Canton, when his son was a child, and engaged in con- tracting and building. He also owned the saw-mills near the brick shops, and after ward purchased a farm. He raised a family of ten children, eight of whom are living. S. S. Benton was born in Vermont, October 14, 1838. After leaving the farm he taught

HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.

school for twenty-nine terms, after which he engaged in mercantile business, with which he is yet identified, owing a general grocery establishment in Heuvelton.

Blodgett, James B., Fowler, was born in Fowler, March 5, 1836, and has resided in that town nearly all his life. He married Amanda M. Kitts, daughter of Archibald A. Kitts, and their children are Jennie L., Jessie B., and Maude A., also Frank B. and Fred E., who died in early childhood. His father was F. J. J. Blodgett, his grandfather, Samuel Blodgett. Mr. Blodgett enlisted in the regiment known as Scott's 900, after- wards known as Eleventh New York Cavalry, in 1862, and served until close of war. He is a member of Barnes Post 156, G. A. R. Mr. Blodgett has for many years taught vocal music in his own and neighboring towns. His present occupation is farming.

Brown, Le Roy S., Lisbon Centre, was born at Wells, Hamilton county, March 11 - 1854. He received an education in the schools of that vicinity, after which he clerked for Wm. Burnhams & Sons, seven years. He then entered the establishment of E. Spalding, of Boston, as book-keeper, with whom he remained one year, and was also in the same position for a like period in the house of Thos. E. Proctor, of Boston. He then established a mercantile concern in Colton in conjunction with E. Butler, which he conducted for two years, and finally in connection with S. D. Butler established his present store in Lisbon Centre about eleven years ago, and during the past seven years has been sole proprietor. He was appointed postmaster of the village under President Harrison, which position he still occupies. Mr. Brown married in 1881 Anna L. Mc- Gary, and they have three.children.

Baum, James N., Potsdam, was born in the town of Manheim, Herkimer county, April 20, 1836. Jacob Baum, the father of James N., was a native of Herkimer county. He was one of a family of ten children, born in 1802. He was reared in the county of his birth, educated in the common schools and took up farming. He married Mary, daughter of Joseph Lepper, of Dauube, Herkimer county, and they were the parents of eight children, five of whom are living: Amos, a banker of Watertown, Wis .; Oliver, a farmer of Marathon, Cortland county ; Mrs. Martha McVean, of Mar- athon; Mrs. Barbara Baker, of Auburn; and James N. James was only about a year old when his parents moved into Jefferson county, and settled in the town of Leray, where our subject was reared and educated in the common schools and Theresa High School. In 1856 the family moved to Marathon, Cortland county, where Jacob Baum died the same year. James made his home in that county, engaged in the mercantile business for fourteen years. In 1872 he came to St. Lawrence county, buying a farm in the towns of Potsdam and Stockholm, where he has a vast farm of 300 acres, devoted to dairying and the cultivation of hay and grain. He has now sixty head of stock, and the milk produced is taken to Hewittville butter factory. Mr. Baum has always taken an active interest in politics, and while in Cortland county was town clerk of Freetown. Mr. Baum has been twice married, first in 1860, to Nancy Squires, of Marathon, and had one daughter, Elma, who died December 27, 1883, at twenty-one years of age. Mrs. Baum died August 13, 1868, and he married his second wife in February, 1871, Delia, daughter of Isaac Ellis, and widow of Henry Allen. They have three children: Lovisa, Alida and Edwin Ellis. A daughter of

PERSONAL SKETCHES.

Mrs. Baum, Bertha Lovisa Allen, a teacher in Westchester county, makes her home with Mr. Baum. The beautiful residence of Mr. Baum was erected in 1883.

Bartell, W. V., Morristown, was born in the town of Morristown, August 6, 1823, and after receiving a common school education taught school for fourteen consecutive terms. He then took up farming until 1865, when he moved to Brier Hill and entered the mercantile business. After spending twelve years there he returned to Morristown village. He served the town as justice of the peace for twenty years, also filled other offices in town, and was chosen one of the directors of the Morristown and Black River R. R., serving as such until its consolidation with the U. and B. R. R. R. Mr. Bartell married in 1852 Martha Robinson of Vermont, by whom he had one son and two daughters. His wife died in 1858, and in 1860 he married Pures I. Long, who died September 20, 1892, and by her he had two daughters, Bessie E. and Mary Gertrude. His father, James Bartell, and his grandfather were both natives of Massachusetts.

Bradly, Oral, Norfolk, was born in Williston, Vt., June 15, 1800. He came to Nor- folk when a young man, being one of the early settlers of the town. Here he married Mella Elms, by whom he had six children, Fordy ce G., Celia, Adelaide, Delia E., An- gelia and George M., all of whom he survived, with the exception of the first men- tioned. Mr. Bradley was the first to engage in business at East Norfolk, where he bought a tract of land and built a saw mill During his residence in the town he was foremost in encouraging local improvements and it was mainly through his efforts that the present town hall was erected. He held the offices of highway commissioners and justice of the peace, besides filling other positions of trust. His wife died in 1871, and after a few years he went to Chicago, where he resided with his son, F. G. Bradley, till his death in March, 1891.

Bailey, Sylvester S., Potsdam, was born on his present farm, November 10, 1831. Ansel Bailey, father of subject, was a native of Massachusetts, born in Chesterfield, April 8, 1781, came here when a young man and took up a large tract of land, that has ever since been in the hands of the family. The mother of our subject was Sarah Akin, a native of Vermont, born in Ferrisburg. Ansel Bailey had seven children, three of whom are living: Sarah, widow of John A. Carman of Iroquois, Ontario; Julia A. Bailey of Potsdam ; and Sylvester S. Ansel Bailey died August 24, 1853. The whole life of our subject was spent on the homestead farm. He was educated in the old St. Lawrence Academy and took up farming. He has here a beautiful home with a farm of 156 acres, which is devoted to dairying. Mr. Bailey has always taken a great inter- est in politics. He is a member of the Presbyterian church of Canton. He married in 1862, Esther, daughter of Thomas Marshall, a farmer of Lisbon, who has since died.

Bolton, Thomas H., Stockholm, was born in Madrid, N. Y., March 25, 1840. His father was James Bolton, a native of Northumberland county, England, born March 20, 1795. He was the son of a land holder of England and had three brothers and two sisters. He and his brothers nad to oversee the business of their father. James Bol- ton was a merchant in England for some years and also owned stage routes. He was a man of good education. He married in England Jane Harrison, a native of New- castle-on-Tyne. They had a family of three sons and five daughters. About 1836 Mr.

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Our county and its people : a memorial record of St. Lawrence County, New York, Part 77

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