Our county and its people : a memorial record of St. Lawrence County, New York, Part 83

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 83
USA > New York > St Lawrence County > Our county and its people: a memorial record of St. Lawrence County, New York > Part 83

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).

PERSONAL SKETCHES.

one and one-half miles west of Winthrop. Mr. Holmes was a farmer and lumberman. He was a Republican and held the office of high sheriff of Franklin county, Vermont, for several years. He was also supervisor of Stockholm. He died July 28, 1872, and his wife May 2, 1859. S. W. Holmes was eleven years of age when he came to Stockholm with his parents. He has spent his life in farming, but at present lives retired at Win- throp. He married in Fairfield, Vt., June 24, 1847, Harriet N. Burr, a native of that town and daughter of Col. Aaron Burr of Redding, Conn., a soldier in the war of 1812. The wife of the latter was Rebecca Cook, by whom he had ten children, five still living. Colonel Burr was the only child of Jabez (who died in 1825) and Mary (Bartrum) Burr. Mr. Holmes and wife have one child, Mary E., the wife of A. N. Trussell of Minneap- olis, Minn., and they have one child, Helen H. Mr. Holmes has always been a Republican but has never desired public office. He and his wife are members of the Congregational church at Winthrop.

Hannan, John, Ogdensburg, was born in Ireland, June 24, 1844, and came to this country with his parents in the fall of 1849. After receiving a good education he en- gaged in the tobacco business, eventually building up a large wholesale and retail trade in tobaccos and cigars. He then branched out into general coal and lumber business and carrying trade, which increased to its present magnitude. The company of which he is the president and general manager now controls from twelve to fifteen vessels. He also conducts a machine shop, and wood and iron works here. He married Mar- garet Walsh, and they have two sons and two daughters. Mr. Hannan is a staunch Democrat. He has served as mayor, alderman, etc., and is one of Ogdensburg's sub- stantial men.

Hall, Giles Jackson, Potsdam, was born in the town of Louisville, now Norfolk, March 7, 1811. The father of our subject, Erastus, was a native of Berkshire county, Mass., born April 7, 1786. The mother of our subject, Elizabeth Jackson, was the daughter of Giles Jackson, who while on General Gates' staff as chief drew up the arti- cles of capitulation of General Burgoyne to General Gates at Saratoga, October 16, 1777. Erastus Hall was the father of seven children, four of whom are living: Heze- kiah B., of Norwood; Anson S., a farmer of Norfolk; Thomas S., a ranchman of Los Angeles, Cal., and Giles J. Erastus emigrated to St. Lawrence county in 1808, and took up a tract of land in the town of Norfolk, where he reared his family and spent his whole life. At the time of his death, March 28, 1869, he was the owner of 600 or 700 acres of land. He held the agency for the wild lands of Louisville and Norfolk from 1824 up to within a short time of his death. Mrs. Hall died in March, 1859. The early life of our subject was spent on the farm of his birth. He was educated in the common schools and old St. Lawrence Academy, and assisted on the farm until 1829, when he went to Massena and was engaged in the store of Benjamin Phillips and Phil- lips & Andrews until the spring of 1833, when he returned to Norfolk and engaged in mercantile business and the manufacturing of lumber until 1872. During these years in his native town, Mr. Hall was interested in the erection of many of the principal buildings of the village of Raymondville. Among them is the grist mill, store and dwelling house and saw- mill, which are still standing. A portion of the other buildings have been carried away by flood. Mr. Hall was and is now a Democrat, and has held

HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.

the office of supervisor three years. In 1872 Mr. Hall moved to the village of Norwood where he lives retired. He married in 1842 Wealthy P., daughter of H. G. Munson, of Potsdam, and they had one son, Charles E., a farmer of Potsdam. Mrs. Hall died July 9, 1886. October 10, 1861, Thomas S. Hall, brother of our subject, enrolled in Co. E., 92d Regt., New York State Inf., Vols. In January, 1862, he was commissioned cap- tain of said company, subsequently promoted major of said regiment, serving as such through the Peninsular campaign under Gen. Geo. B. McClelland, participating in many engagements that occurred from Newport News in April to Harrison's Landing, where they arrived in August, 1862, at which time the regiment was transferred to Southern Virginia, and afterwards to North Carolina. Subsequently, and in August, 1863, Major Hall was commissioned colonel of said regiment, holding the office to the close of the war, receiving an honorable discharge therefrom. The losses of the Ninety-second regiment, then under the command of Major Hall, at the battle of Fair Oaks, was nearly one-half of the number engaged.

Havens, Samuel, Oswegatchie, grandfather of Alonzo, settled in Oswegatchie about 1798. He followed farming, and was killed in Oswegatchie during the war of 1812. His son, Horace (one of eight children), was the father of our subject. The latter was born October 4, 1832. He succeeded to eighty-one acres, and added by purchase until now he possesses a farm of 121 acres. He has been twice married, his first wife was Isabella Wetherhead, by whom he had three children. His second wife was Sarah Harvey, by whom he had eight children. Mr. Havens is a successful farmer.

Hamlin, Emory A., Potsdam, was born in Lawrence, N. Y., February 9, 1840. He is a son of Stephen S. Hamlin, of Vermont, who came to this county in 1828. He was a clergyman, but always owned a farm and conducted it himself. Beside preaching in his own town, he had a circuit extending through Franklin and Clinton counties. He died in 1870 aged sixty-two years. October 14, 1861, he enlisted in the 92d N. Y. Vols., and saw service with them at Fair Oaks, Malvern Hill, Newburn, N. C., Cold Harbor, Petersburg, and many others, participating in sixteen general engagements. He was discharged at the expiration of his term of service, January 7, 1865. He went out as a private, and rose to the rank of sergeant; in 1869 he moved to Potsdam, where he engaged in the manufacture of furniture for fifteen years; in 1887 he sold the fac- tory and engaged in the retail furniture trade; his store is located in the Brooks & Bicknell Block. He is a past commander of Marsh Post, G. A. R., and a member of the Methodist church. He married in 1866 Augusta M., a daughter of N. R. Merchant, of Merchant, St. Lawrence county, N. Y. Mr. Hamlin has two daughters, Inez S., a graduate of Prof. Roberts' College of Stenography in Elmira, and Florence M., a teacher in the schools of Elmira.

Heaton, Charles, Potsdam, was born in Potsdam, May 23, 1841, a son of Lorenzo D., who died August 5, 1891. He was well remembered as a politician and one of the earliest settlers of the town. He came to this town in 1810, and always lived here un - til his death. He was the father of nine children, of whom our subject was next to the youngest. He was educated in the common schools and St. Lawrence Academy, and enlisted October 12, 1861, in the Sixteenth N. Y. Vol. Inf., Co. B, and saw service with

PERSONAL SKETCHES.

this regiment until May 31, 1862, when he was discharged for disability. He was home only a year when he returned, and acted as sutler's clerk in Scott's 900 cavalry until December, 1863. After a winter at home he tried to enlist both in the navy and cavalry, but was rejected, and found his war service closed. He was at work for R. F. Welch the year he spent at home, and after his war service was ended he returned to Mr. Welch and finished his trade. On March 1, 1867, he started for himself, and has now spent twenty-six years in this business. In 1892 he purchased the block where the store is located. He is a member of Marsh Post, No. 214, G. A. R. Mr. Heaton married in 1869 Lydia E. Herrman, of Potsdam, and they have three children: Charles F., an optician and a graduate of Spencer's Optical College, New York ; Grace A. and Ruth E., who live at home.

Heath, Milton, Potsdam, commonly known as Colonel Heath, was of Puritan de- scent, his ancestors having come from England among the early Pilgrims and branched into New Hampshire and Vermont. He was the son of Benjamin Heath and Lucy Hidden, and was born in Wheelock, Vt., October 2, 1807. At the age of seventeen he came with his father to Dickinson, N.Y., where the family became prominent. The father established a stage house, the railway station of those days for the line of mail coaches that ran from Ogdensburg to Plattsburg. He became postmaster and agent for the sale of lands, and the house was headquarters for public business. This business fell ere long, by the father's death, into the hands of Milton, who pros- pered and became a sort of rural baron. He owned a farm of many hundred acres, he built a stately house, and employed many men, and with it all was generally honored and respected. When thirty he married Emily Bentley, then the widow of George Farrar. They had no children, but she had a son by the first husband, and to educate him they moved to Malone, and afterwards to various other places, and finally to Potsdam in St. Lawrence county, Meanwhile, about 1840, he raised a company of militia, and was made colonel of the regiment. He was of erect and noble bearing, fully six feet tall, and when mounted on his black charger, dressed in a blue and gold uniform with scarlet plume streaming from his half-moon hat, and attended by his black servant "Virginia," he made a figure that is still remembered by old men. His latter days were spent in Potsdam where he took great interest in public affairs, often serving as village trustee or school committee, but seeking no office of salary. He was specially interested in church matters, and for more than thirty years was an officer of the Episcopal church. When nearly seventy, his adopted son, his wife, and two adopted grandchildren, all died within a brief period, leaving him alone. Soon after his brother who lived in Maryland, and whom he had for some years supported, died also. No relative was left him except a sister who lived in New Jersey, and her son, his nephew. He visited them, and they agreed to join their fortunes with him. A firm was formed at Potsdam in 1880, under the firm name of Milton and Frederic Heath, for the purchase and sale of lands and the care of land agencies. Here his declining years were spent in peace. No word of discord ever marred the relations of uncle and nephew, and the nephew's children were an unfailing source of pleasure to him. No man ever loved children more dearly, and the genial sweet tempered old man was loved in return by them. Here, at the age of eighty-five, after a long life of usefulness and honor, he died of praralysis, November 1, 1892, and lies buried at Lawrenceville, N. Y.

HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.

Heath, Frederic M., Potsdam, appeared in Moira, N. Y. promptly with the year 1844, having been born there January 1. He was the son of F. H. Petit, a physician of local note, and of Mahala Heath. The father's ancestry were from Rochelle in France, but had settled at an early day in Saratoga county ; while the mother's stock were English Puritans from New Hampshire. Both parents had literary tastes and the father was for several years the county school commissioner, so that Frederick was brought up among books. At ten he gave lectures on astronomy, illustrated by an orrery of his own making. The sun and larger planets were balls of clay, and the moons whit- tled from pine. He had a taste for art, and drew a series of Bible pictures with pencil and red chalk that were meant to be serious, but should have appeared in a comic paper. At thirteen he read Barnaby Rudge and formed a dark and dreadful club among the boys, in imitation of Simon Tappertit. They met in distant woods where their lodge was made hideous with skulls and cross bones, and he kept their records in a secret alphabet of his invention. In due time he went to Lawrenceville Academy and graduated when eighteen, having made some reputation as a debator and a comic poet. He entered Union College, and remained there till partly through the Junior year. In December, 1863, news came that his father, who was a surgeon in the war, had been dangerously wounded. He hastened to Virginia, only to find him dead. It was now needful for him to think of a profession, and his taste led towards minerals and mining. Just then the first American School of mines was being founded at Columbia College, and his friend Prof. Chandler was chosen dean. He entered, and graduated there in 1877, with the degree of E. M. He soon found a situation as second manager of a Pittsburg iron firm, but the locality was malarial, and failing health obliged him to resign. The company were very kind and sent him to the mountains in hope of a cure, but in vain. Rest restored him partly, and he essayed mining, first in Ohio, and then near Easton, Pa., but he grew worse and at last went home to die, so the doctors said, a feeble skeleton of ninety pounds. He did not die, but with what energy was left him began search into hygiene and healthful living that has since been his chief study, and on which he has written two pamphlets. The first called "The Human Machine," was published in Potsdam in 1884, and the second in New York in 1892 by the Fowler & Wells Co. It may be added that Mr. Heath has attained such strength that he has not had the slightest illness for many years. In 1869 he removed to Pompton, N. J., and built a pleasant home in that beautiful region. He engaged first in mining engineering, and then in railroad work, finally becoming general agent of the Greenwood Lake railway. At the age of thirty -one he married Julia Fullerton, the daughter of a prominent lawyer, and from this union, a most happy one, have come two children : Julien a boy of sixteen, and Flora aged six. Twelve years later his mother's brother, Milton Heath, of Potsdam, proposed to him a partnership in his real estate business, which began to burden his advancing years. Being childless, and the last of the Heaths, he was anxious that Frederic should take his name and heir his property. This was arranged, and in 1880 he moved to Potsdam. In 1882 he traveled with Mrs. Heath through Europe, and wrote letters to the local paper that were widely read. He is now engaged in building a summer hotel at Lake Ozonia, to be known as Fernwood Hall. Mr. Heath is an amateur artist, and sometimes gives lectures with crayon illustrations. He owns a considerable library, and has been for several years

PERSONAL SKETCHES.

president of a literature club. He has never held political office, but has been school trustee and a vestryman of Trinity church.

Herriman, C. B., Ogdensburg, was born in Fort Covington, Franklin county, No- vember 10, 1833. He received an excellent education and immediately after leaving school, entered the establishment of William Hogie of that village. Afterwards he was identified with E. B. Allen & Son, and J. B. Averill, of Ogdensburg for a number of years, in positions of trust. In the spring of 1861 he purchased the grocery business of Jolin N. Oswell, and has since that period been actively identified with this special branch of mercantile industry, including butter and cheese for eastern markets. Mr. Herriman has served as town clerk (in 1860), as alderman for two years, 1868 and 1869, member of the water commission for the past twenty years and chairman for several years, supervisor of the town for the year 1876, fair ground commissioner (for the past twenty-two years of which he has been secretary), president of the Dairyman's Board of Trade for several years, president of the Grocer's Association of Ogdensburg, organized in 1892, etc. Mr. Herriman has been twice married. His first wife was Louisa S. Stark by whom he had three children, all of whom are married. His son, Dr. Wallace J. Herriman, is located in Rochester, and is one of that city's most talented and successful physicians. He is an expert upon insanity cases, and receives besides his extensive local practice many important cases from the government. His other children are: Edith, wife of G. W. Mckinley, and Ella, wife of John T. Groves.

Hill, W. S., Ogdensburg, was born in Ogdensburg, March 24, 1840. He received an excellent education in the common schools, after which he worked at the bakery and confectionery business for the late John Barber, for about eighteen years. In 1869 he started in business with L. E. Barber, at 44 State street, where he remained about five years, when he removed to 89 Ford street. In 1886 he built the fine business block in which he is now located and moved into it. Mr. Hill is one of the most accomplished confectioners in the State, or, in fact, in the country. His goods go to Frauce and other transatlantic countries, and he has many customers in New York city. He supplies such people as the Wetmores, the Benedicts and Lorillards, and his goods are in great and constant demand. Mr. Hill married in 1865, Miss Jennie H. Thrall, of Gouverneur. They have no family. He is a mem- ber of Ogdensburg Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, and is identified with several other social institutions.

[ Hilts, Wm. J., Gouverneur, was born in Boonville, Oneida county, N. Y., December 28, 1829, and came to Gouverneur, N. Y., in 1852. In 1855 he married Susan A. Hildreth, of Fowler, N. Y. They have these children : Sumner G., of Clear Lake, Iowa; Alice A., wife of O. J. Gardner, of Montrose. S. Dak .; Harriet E., wife of Wm. Thomson, of Montrose, S. D .; Nettie!E., wife of John Fitzgerald, of Walkerville, Mont. ; Helen M., teacher in the Lowell Business College, Binghamton, N. Y .; and Grace, public school teacher. Mr. Hilts' father was Geo. G. Hilts.

Hamell, Henry W., Ogdensburg, was born in Osgood, Ontario, August 7, 1853, a son of Louis Hamell, who came to Ogdensburg when Henry was fourteen years of age. The latter after receiving a good common school education learned the paint-

HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.

. er's trade, in which he has been extensively engaged. He was also identified with the furniture and undertaking business from 1874 to 1877, and now conducts a gro- cery store in his block near the Rome, W. & O. R. R. depot. To this building he has lately been making extensive additions, and he also owns other valuable real estate here. Mr. Hamell has been greatly interested in the patenting of carriage gear, and from 1884 to 1889 pushed the sale of his improvements with good success. In March, 1893, he obtained a patent on another improvement in this direction. No- vember 22, 1875, he married Miss Matilda Gilbert, of the same place, by whon he has had seven children, of whom five are living.

Harrigan, Jay D., Gouverneur, was born in Cayuga county, February 11, 1859, and began the harness trade when sixteen. In 1887 he came to Gouverneur and estab- lished his present business. Mr. Harrigan is a prominent Mason, having passed to the thirty-second degree Scotish rite, is also an Odd Fellow. and a member of the A. O. U. W.

Hall, Walter W., Gouverneur, one of three children of Edward and Catherine (Mc- Chesney) Hall, was born in Gouverneur, August 19, 1849. Edward, the father, was a native of Franklin county, Mass. He came to this State when twenty-one years of age, married and settled on the farm where they now live with their children, Lot and Ella M. The grandfather, Lot Hall, lived in Massachusetts and died in Niagara county, N. Y. Walter W. left home when twenty-one years of age, engaging in the manu- facture of butter and cheese. In the fall of 1873 he purchased a large cheese factory near Gouverneur, with the patronage of 1,000 cows. He owned and operated this fac- tory for seventeen years, when it was sold, he having been appointed June 1, 1888, by Dairy Commissioner Brown as cheese instructor for the State. As a skilled operator he at once commenced to instruct by actual process during the summer, and in winter addressing institutes and farmers' gatherings. The magnitude and importance of the dairy interests in the State (as well as in St. Lawrence county) may in a measure be appreciated when it is stated that there are 2,000 factories and 1,500,000 cows in the State. An important part of the work of the dairy commission through Mr. Hall and his associates, is the education of cheese makers to the production of a better article, in larger quantity. The results of the work of the commission will inevitably be of the greatest benefit to the dairy interest of St. Lawrence county.

Harris, H. J., Ogdensburg, was born in Renfrew county, Ontario, February 14, 1856. He received his education in the schools of that province, and in 1870 came to Ogdens- burg and engaged in the meat business, in which he has been prominently identified. May 1, 1892, he received the appointment of manager for the Ogdensburg branch of Armour's meats under the Oswego commission house of Mollison & Dowdle, which position he has since filled. Mr. Harris married in 1878 Hattie Worsley (since de- ceased), they had no children. Mr. Harris's father, William, was a well known news- paper proprietor and editor of Ottawa, who was for some years prior to his death a crown land agent for Canada. Mr. Harris is a Royal Arch Mason, an Odd Fellow, a member of St. Andrew's Brotherhood, and of the Episcopal church.

PERSONAL SKETCHES.

Harris, Allen E., Norfolk, was born in Louisville, N. Y., December 4, 1856. His father, Ezra G. Harris, is a son of Joseph Harris, whose grandfather with two brothers came from England in a very early day. The great-grandfather of Ezra G. settled in Rhode Island, one brother settled in Nova Scotia, and the other in Pennsylvania. Joseph Harris was born in Colerain, Mass. He was a blacksmith by trade, and came to Louisville in 1824. He went to Minnesota and engaged in farming. His wife was Polly Gleason, and they had four sons and four daughters. He died in Minnesota and his wife in Pennsylvania. Ezra G. Harris was born in Colerain, Mass., in July, 1821. When three years of age he came to Louisville, N. Y., with his parents. He learned the blacksmith trade, which has been his principal occupation. He married Diana White, of Heuvelton, N. Y., by whom he had three sons and one daughter. In 1867 Mr. Harris came to Norfolk and engaged in farming and blacksmithing on Plumb Brook, and in 1872 came to Raymondsville, where he has since resided. In politics he is a Republican. His wife died in 1876, and he married Kate Bennett, by whom he has one daughter. Allen E. was reared in Louisville until ten years ago, when he came to Norfolk with his parents and engaged in farming. At eighteen years of age he en- tered his father's blacksmith shop and served three years, and then worked at his trade two years. He then engaged in farming, and has since followed that occupation. In politics he is a Democrat. Mr. Harris is a member of What Cheer Lodge, No. 689, F. & A. M., of Norfolk. He is a member of the Norfolk Grange, No. 541, and he and wife are members of the Congregational church of Raymondsville. September 22, 1875, Mr. Harris married Julana A. Farnsworth, of Norfolk. Her father was Leland J., son of Joel Farnsworth, whose father, Moses, was born in 1767, and lived and died in New Hampshire. Joel Farnsworth was born in New Hampshire, April 26, 1807. His father died when he was a small boy, leaving his mother and eight children, who, when Joel was sixteen years of age, came to Norfolk. His mother soon settled on a farm, and Joel and Fisher Ames, a half brother of his, cut the first trees and erected a log house, and afterwards the house now occupied by our subject. Joel Farnsworth was a successful man, and in time owned 1,000 acres of land, none of which was acquired by speculation, but all by frugality, patient industry and laborious efforts. His wife was Lydia Johnson, born in 1809 in Middlebury, Vt., and they had three sons : Leland J., Silas J. and Alonzo L. Leland was reared and educated in Norfolk, and here mar- ried Lucy Glasby, of Brockville, Canada, by whom he had three children, wife of our subject, and Frank E., a resident of Michigan. Leland Farnsworth went to California when quite young, and has not been heard from by any one of his family for over twenty-five years His wife at present resides in Utica. N. Y. Silas J. was born in 1828, reared on a farm and educated in Potsdam Academy. He afterwards followed teaching and surveying. He was a noted civil engineer, and well known in St. Law - rence county and the State of New York, being employed by the latter at different times He was chief engineer, and one of the leading promotors of the Massena Springs and Fort Covington railroad. He never married, only to his profession, and of that he liad mastered all its details. Corners in land surveys were never established, or lines run incorrectly, and his evidence before the courts was never criticised. In politics he was a Democrat, was supervisor of Norfolk a number of years, and assessor many

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Our county and its people : a memorial record of St. Lawrence County, New York, Part 83

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