Our county and its people : a memorial record of St. Lawrence County, New York, Part 87

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 87
USA > New York > St Lawrence County > Our county and its people: a memorial record of St. Lawrence County, New York > Part 87

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).

Manley, Gilbert B., Canton, was born in Johnstown, Fulton county, December 1, 1829. His parents moved to Brick Chapel, then to De Kalb, where both died when Gilbert was seven years old. His father, Rev. George Manley, and his mother, Esther (Smith) Manley, were both natives of Berkshire county, Mass. Our subject was adopted by Moses Huntley, of Potsdam, where he spent his boyhood, and there was fitted for college at the old St. Lawrence Academy. He entered Williams College in 1853, from which he graduated in 1857, and then taught school for sixteen years. In 1873 he bought the St. Lawrence Plaindealer, of Canton, from Colonel Remington, and has continued it as editor and proprietor ever since. Mr. Manley married in 1856 Martha L. Hyde, of Massena, daughter of Ephraim Hyde, and they have three children : Ada L., now Mrs. R. E. Sumner, of Potsdam, Williston and Mark, the latter a student in medicine at Brooklyn. Williston Manley is associate editor of the Plaindealer. He married in 1891, Mary, daughter of Dr. I. M. Atwood, president of the Canton Theo- logical School. They have two children, a son and a daughter. Mr. G. B. Manley is a member of the Presbyterian church of this town, president of its board of trustees, and an elder.

McVean, John C., Ogdensburg, the subject of our sketch, is the grandson of Duncan McVean, who was a native of Scotland and a graduate of Edinburgh College. He emigrated to America and settled in Johnstown, N. Y., soon after the Revolutionary war, where he married Grace Fraser and raised seven sons and three daughters. His son Charles was a graduate of Princeton College, also Chancellor Kent's Law School. He was a member of Congress, surrogate of city and county of New York and district attorney of southern district of New York; James, was a graduate of Princeton Col- lege and received titles D. D., LL.D. For fifteen years prior to his death he was teacher and president of the Theological Seminary, of Georgetown, D. C .; John, was liberally educated and edited the Northern Light, a paper published in New York city ; Peter, Daniel F., Duncan and Edward were all farmers. Daniel F., father to John C., at the age of twenty-two married, Catharine Carmichael, of Johnstown, N. Y., emi- grated to St. Lawrence county, and settled in Oswegatchie, near Black Lake in the woods. He took up 100 acres of land at $4.00 per acre to which he made several additions. He became a wealthy farmer and an influential citizen. In the days of "general training " he took great interest in the State Militia and was commissioned

PERSONAL SKETCHES.

colonel of the regiment. He died in 1862. His family consisted of five sons and two daughters: Helen, Charles, Grace A., James, Frasier, John C., and William H. Charles resides in St. Mary's, Pa., where he is well and favorably known. William H. resides in Los Angeles, Cal., and is a prosperous real estate broker. Helen, James and Frasier are dead. John C. was born November 12, 1838, was brought up on his father's farm, attended the district school and completed his education in Ogdensburg and Gouverneur Academies. He married Sarah E. Wheater, of Scotch and English parentage. He followed farming a few years, when he moved to Ogdensburg in the spring of 1866, where he now resides. He engaged in the grocery business which he followed some eighteen years. He then turned his attention to house painting and paper hanging. They have raised two children : Kittie A. and Fred J. Mrs. McVean died in 1888. Mr. McVean has held several offices of trust and has served on the board of health several terms, also alderman of the city. He was instrumental in the organization of the Congregational church, of which he is a member, and has contin- uously served as its secretary, and is director of its musical department.

Manning, John, Potsdam, was born on a farm in Potsdam, July, 4, 1843. The grandfather of our subject was a native of Dublin, Ireland, and when he came to this country located first in Canada, where he had lived but a few years when the war of 1812 broke out. He moved to this side and served as a soldier in the war on the side of the United States. After the war, he settled on a farm on the Hopkinton road where he spent the balance of his days. He married in the old country and was the father of four sons and three daughters. Patrick Manning, father of our subject, was the oldest son. He was born in Canada in 1808. His boyhood was spent in this town and when about twenty years of age he went with Levinus Clarkson to New York, where he spent two years, and there married Elizabeth Young, who died October 11, 1886, aged sixty-four. After his marriage he returned to this town and settled on the homestead farm. After the death of his father the farm was sold and Patrick moved into the village, where he lived until the breaking out of the war. In 1861, he enlisted in Co. H, 92d Regiment N. Y. Vols., and served with them three years and re-enlisted in the 142d serving until the close of the war. After his return he lived retired until his death, May 9, 1883. He was the father of two sons: Thomas, who died when about seventeen years of age; and John; also three daughters: Katherine, born Au- gust 15, 1844, who married P. J. Barnett, of Potsdam; Mary, born in 1858, who married John O'Neil; and Margaret, born in 1861, who married Thomas Mullin, of Potsdam. The whole life of our subject has been spent in this town. His boyhood was spent at home and when he was fifteen he went with J. L. Simons to learn the painter's trade, with whom he remained five and one-half years, and was for fourteen years with George B. Swan. In the fall of 1878 he bought a farm of 100 acres, where he has ever since made his home, conducting a dairy farm. The beantiful residence was erected here by Mr. Manning and he has since his first purchase bought sixty-three acres, which he uses for pasture. Mr. Manning is a staunch Democrat. He married in 1862, Nancy, daughter of Dennis Ryan, a native of Ireland, and they have three sons : Edward P., born January 5, 1863; John, born April 29, 1869; and Michael William, born March 16, 1872. Mr. Manning devotes his whole time to farming.

HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.

Mann, Warren, A. M., Potsdam, was born in Varick, Seneca county, December 10, 1846, a son of Matthias T., a native of New Jersey, who came to Seneca county when a lad, and died in 1889, at ninety-one years of age. Warren was the youngest of nine children and was educated at Genesee Wesleyan Seminary at Lima, and at Ovid Sem- inary. In 1868 he entered Genesee College (now Syracuse University) graduating at Syracuse in June, 1872. He taught all of his spare time while taking his course, and after his graduation accepted the position of teacher of Mathematics in the State Normal School at Potsdam He occupied this position for two years and in 1874, was elected to the chair of Natural Sciences, a position he has ever since held. Professor Mann has served as a member of the village board of health, and is a member of the board of excise. He married, July 7, 1874, Helen E., daughter of Rev. G. H. Blakeslee, of the Wyoming Methodist Conference (who died in 1876, at fifty-six years of age), and they have had three children, two of whom are living : Paul B., a student in the Normal School; and Claire L., who is in the training department. Professor Mann is the president of the St. Lawrence County Teachers Association.

Munro, Donald D., Gouverneur, was born in Thurso, Scotland, June 1, 1864. He studied at Harley College, London, England, New College, Edinburgh, and the Bap- tist Theological College, Edinburgh. He was ordained in Athens, Canada, in May, 1888, and was pastor of the Baptist church there for three years. He was called to Gouverneur in January, 1891, and his vigorous, honest religion has infused new life into the congregation, all the societies of the church being in a flourishing con- dition. Mr. Munro is a talented writer, as well as an earnest and convincing speaker.

McDonald, Edwin F., Potsdam, was born in the town of Parishville, October 22, 1862. The father of our subject, Charles W., is also a native of Parishville, born in 1831. He is a farmer by occupation, and a man who has acquired prominence in politics, holding some offices in his town. He married Julia M. Martin of Pierre- pont, December 29, 1852, and they have one child, Edwin F. Mrs. McDonald died August 24, 1887. Edwin F. was educated in the common schools and Potsdam Normal School, graduating in the classical course with the class of 1884. He spent two years as principal of the graded school at Spencerport, Columbia county, N. Y., and in 1886 accepted the position as principal of Norwood Union School and Acad- emy, where he has ever since been engaged. Mr. McDonald is an ardent Repub- lican. He married July 2, 1885, Emma A., daughter of the late Isaiah Shields of Potsdam, and they have one child, Lloyd R., now in his second year. Mr. Mc- Donald is also a student of the law and a member of several secret societies.

McTavish A., Ogdensburg, was born in Cornwall. Canada. His parents settled there early in the present century. They were originally from Scotland. Mr. Mc- Tavish was educated in the schools of that locality and came to Ogdensburg in 1853 and learned the trade of shoemaking and in 1869 established himself in the boot and shoe business, in which line of trade he has since been successfully engaged. Mr. McTavish is one of Ogdensburg's most respected citizens. He has never married and makes his home principally at the Seymour House. His establishment enjoys, probably the largest patronage in this city.

PERSONAL SKETCHES.

Miller, S. Harrison, Ogdensburg, was born in Orange county, Vt., December 9, 1842. His ancestors were New Hampshire people, and his parents settled in Vermont about 1838. In 1852 his father moved to Ogdensburg, and after young Miller ob- tained a good education in the schools here, he entered the Journal office and learned the printer's trade, remaining with the establishment for fourteen years. In 1871 he left and since than has been engaged in the lumber business, holding at present the position of accountant and manager of John Hannan's mills. Mr. Miller mar- ried in 1865, Miss Theresa M. Sessions of St. Albans, Vt., and they have five chil- dren. During his long residence Mr. Miller has become identified in a marked degree with the growth of Ogdensburg. He has held the office of alderman, is a high degree Mason and is master of Acacia Lodge.

Marceau, C. C., Ogdensburg, was born in Ogdensburg, of French extraction, May 31, 1840. He received an excellent education in the schools of this city and became an apprentice in his father's blacksmithing and foundry business, succeeding, in 1880, upon his father's death, to the entire business. His father, the late Charles Marceau, settled in Ogdensburg about 1838. C. C. Marceau married Julia Favreau, and they have six children. Mr. Marceau has served as supervisor two terms, alderman one term, presi- dent of St. John the Baptist Society, and in many other positions of trust, honor and responsibility. In politics he is a staunch Republican.

Mainville, John, Ogdensburg, was born in Canada, February 15, 1847. His father moved to Ogdensburg shortly after John was born. When quite a youth the latter learned the baker's trade, and after becoming expert at his trade was for about sixteen years connected with some of the leading bakery and confectionery establishments of this city. A few years ago he established himself in this business here and has been very successful, his goods reaching all parts of the city. Mr. Mainville married, in 1864, Caroline Scott, and they have seven children living: John M., Julia, Emma, George, Henry, Gertie and Ida. His son, John M., married in 1888, and has one daughter and one son. He attends to the outside business of the establishment, and is a very clever young business man.

Musgrave, Benjamin, Ogdensburg, was born in Leeds, England, April 20, 1836. In his native country he learned thoroughly the art of dyeing and in 1867 came to this country, and engaged in this business. In 1872 he started his dyeing and scouring house, and added later a carpet cleaning department. He now has machinery capable of dyeing, scouring and carpet cleaning, second to none in Northern New York. Branch offices have been located at Malone, Canton, Brockville, Prescott, Ont., Potsdam and many other points on railway lines. He keeps a number of assistants and his dye houses extend from No. 9 Water street back to the water, a distance of about 100 yards. Mr. Musgrave married in England, and has one son.

More, J. S., Hammond, was born in Scotland, Marchi 1, 1823, and came to America with his parents in 1830. They remained one and a half years in Quebec, and then came to Hammond. Mr. More has been a farmer all his life and very successful. He was one of the leading men of the town in his day, and was supervisor eight consecu- tive years. He was also assessor nine years. He married Elizabeth Rodgers, who

HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.

came from Scotland the same year as he did. Their children are: Christian S., David L., Helen V. and William B., all of whom are married. William B. is an elder in the Presbyterian church.

Mitchell, William H., Edwardsville, was born in Morristown, October 25, 1836. Farming has been the principal occupation of his life. In 1862 he enlisted in Company B, 106th New York Volunteers, and served two years and ten months; first in the Third and later in the Sixth corps. In 1868 he married Helen S. Lamphear, and they have two children, one son and one daughter: Willie L. Mitchell, aged 23, and Allie L. Mitchell, age 13.

Millard, W. L., Heuvelton, was born in Ogdensburg, April 25, 1865. He received an education in the schools of that city, after which he entered the mercantile estab- lishment of J. C. Chaffee, of Heuvelton, with whom he remained as assistant eight years, until in 1893, he, in conjunction with A. D. Giffin, purchased the interests of J. E. Chaffee, who now is carrying on the business under the firm name of Millard & Giffin, hardware dealers. Mr. Millard married, in 1887, Florence A. Chaffee, and they have one son. Mr. Millard is a Master Mason, and one of the most enterprising and ener- getic of Heuvelton's business men and citizens.

Mason, M. C., De Peyster, was born in De Peyster July 5, 1850. He received a good education in the schools of this town and afterwards clerked for a number of years in general stores. January 29, 1883, he purchased a corner business stand in De Peyster and has conducted a general mercantile business from that date, carrying about $6,000 in stock. Mr. Mason has served as supervisor, town clerk, member of the board of health, etc., many years. He is also secretary of the Methodist church and secretary of De Peyster Masonic Lodge No. 573. His wife was Miss C. E. Beach, and they have one son, Burton.

McGregor, R. B., Hammond, was born in Scotland, June 16, 1834, and came to America in 1854. He is a practical blacksmith and a prosperous farmer. He gives special attention to breeding, and has a very fine herd of Holstein cattle and also of Shropshire sheep. In 1857 he married Christina Moore, and they have four sons : David Elmer, James Allister, Frank Smith and Alric Capell.

Martin, Thomas, Waddington, was born in Chrinside, Berwickshire, Scotland, July 10, 1820, a son of William Martin, a woolen manufacturer of Scotland. William Mar- tin was twice married, and the father of sixteen children, of whom our subject was the oldest son. The latter was educated in Scotland, where he learned the tailor's trade. In 1844 he came to Waddington, where he has since been engaged in the merchant tailoring business. Starting with but little capital, Mr. Martin has enlarged his busi- ness until he now occupies a two-story building, fifty-seven feet deep, and carries a very heavy stock of dry-goods, cloths, hats, caps and men's furnishing goods. In 1878 he took his youngest son, George A., into partnership with him. He is a young man of thorough business capabilities, and an ardent member of the Presbyterian church, of which he has been an elder for two years. He married Ella Shepherd of Heuvelton, and they have one son, Carl. Mr. Martin and son are assisted in their business by two other members of the family. Henry, who has charge of the tailoring department,

PERSONAL SKETCHES.

married Effie Harkness of Inkerman, Ont., and has four children : Fred, Nora, Carrie and Ernest. He is a member of Waddington Lodge No. 393, F. & A. M. John clerks in the general store. William Martin is a mason by trade and resides in Watertown. He married Mary Quigley, by whom he has two children : Thomas and John H. Jen- nie, only surviving daughter of Thomas Martin, lives at home. The wife of Thomas Martin was a Miss Henry, whom he married in Edinburgh, Scotland, in April, 1844, and by whom he had ten children, five of whom are now deceased. Mr. Martin was for many years a Republican, but is now a Prohibitionist. He has served on the board of excise, and he and his family are members of the Presbyterian church of Wadding- ton.

More, James, Brier Hill, was born in Scotland, October 15, 1828, and came to Amer- ica in 1841. He has resided on his present farm for twenty-three years. In 1858 he married Catherine, daughter of William Smith, and they have a family of four sons : James A., William S., David J. and Warren R .; and two daughters, Agnes M., and Catherine Jeanette. Mrs. More's father was James, and his mother Margaret (Ander- son) More.

McCarty, Charles, Gouverneur, agent for the American Express Company at Gou- verneur, is a native of Hartford, Washington county, born April 13, 1852. His father, Patrick, was a farmer, and Charles spent his early life in the country. He learned the trade of machinist, and spent three years as superintendent of the Gouverneur Machine Company, which he organized. Mr. McCarty has been agent for the American Express Company twelve years, and enjoys the reputation of being one of its most thorough and reliable representatives. Recently he formed a partnership with H. S. Predmore for the manufacture of brick in the village of Gouverneur. He has lived in Gouverneur since 1875, with the exception of three years, and his business record is of the highest order. He is also well and favorably known in social circles, and is a prominent Mason, having passed to the fourteenth degree, Scottish Rite, is a Knight Templar, and a member of Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine.

Marsh, Morgan, Stockholm, was born in Stockholm, September, 5, 1814. He is a son of Isaac, a native of Sharon, Vt., born in 1775, son of James Marsh of Revolu- tionary fame. Isaac Marsh was twice married, first to Lucy Percival, by whom he had six children, and second to Mercy Fellows, a native of New Hampshire. They had one child, subject of sketch. Mercy Fellows was a daughter of Samuel Fellows, a British sea captain. Captain Fellows received as a gift for his faithful services 900 acres of land in New Hampshire. Here he made his home in later life. He discov- ered Hanover Island near Cape Horn and named it after his New Hampshire home. In 1806 Isaac Marsh emigrated to Stockholm, and took up 160 acres of land. Here he lived and died in 1857, and his wife in 1840. Morgan Marsh was reared on the farm he now owns. May 30, 1837, he married Sarah, daughter of George Pelsue. They have had nine children : Mercy and James, who died in infancy ; Hannah S., Joel N., who enlisted when eighteen years of age, and died February 3, 1861, at Alexandria ; George, who died in infancy ; Lucy I., died at the age of five years; Emma, died at

HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.

the age of sixteen ; Lois, wife of Spencer Sterns, of Winthrop; and James M., M. D., of Potsdam. Hannah S. married S. T. Armstrong, of Lisbon, N. Y., and they have had three children : Bertha A., wife of Frank J. Baird, a graduate of Cornell class of '91. Mr. Baird is at present a teacher in Ogden, Utah. Lois E. died in Chicago, Jan- uary 15, 1892; Morgan M., at home. Mr. Armstrong died December 6, 1882. Mr. Marsh owns ninety-six acres of land, and follows general farming and dairying. He and wife are members of the Universalist church of Winthrop.

Morrison, Rev. J. D., D. D., LL. D., Ogdensburg, rector of St. John's church, Og- densbnrg, was born in the town of Waddington, on the banks of the St. Lawrence river in the year of 1844. His father was the Rev. John Morrison, of Glasgow, Scotland, who removed to this country in 1838. Dr. Morrison's early education was received in a grammer school in Canada. In 1861 he entered McGill University, Mon- treal, and four years later graduated with first-class honors, and the Logan gold medal for natural sciences. In 1868 he took the degree of M. A. He was ordained deacon in the diocese of Quebec in 1869, and priest in the diocese of Montreal in 1870. His first charge was at Lake Memphramagog, Canada, to which he was appointed February, 1869, and in the following summer he was transferred to the parish of Hemmingford, Canada. In 1871 he accepted the rectorship of Christ church, Herkimer, in the dio- cese of Albany. Here he remained until he entered liis present work in 1875. In 1873 he was appointed examining chaplain to the Bishop of Albany. In 1879 he received the honorary degree of D. D. from Union College, and in 1880 he took the degree of LL. D from McGill University. He was elected Archdeacon of Ogdensburg in 1881, and Deputy to the General Convention in 1883. To both of these offices he has been continuously re-elected.

Merry, Edward, Ogdensburg, was born in Keysville, Essex county, January 7, 1840. After receiving a common school education he learned the trade of a machinist For three years he was with W. C. Alden, who formerly conducted business where Gates Curtis is now. He then went as engineer on a steamer, upon which he remained for one and a half years. Mr. Merry then returned to Ogdensburg and entered the employ of John Glass, with whom he has remained for the past thirty years as general manager of the practical departments of this machine shop, having under his direction a considerable force of skilled workmen. He has served the Second ward as alderman for four years, is a staunch Republican in politics and is among Ogdensburg's most respected citizens. Mr. Merry married in 1863, Eleanor Kelly, and has nine children. He is a member of Ogdensburg Lodge of Masons, and identified with other social and benevolent institu- tions.

Miller, Rev. L. Merrill, Ogdensburg, was born in Rochester, October 13, 1819. At the age of thirteen years he united with the First Presbyterian church of Rochester, and prepared for college in the old High School, over which the Rev. Dr. Chester Dewey for so many years presided, and graduated with honors at Hamilton College in the no- table class of 1840. He passed the examinations of one year and attended many lectures of the second year at Princeton Theological Seminary. When compelled by want of health to leave the seminary, he took charge of a small school in the family of the Hon.

PERSONAL SKETCHES.

Dr. Fitzhugh of Livingston county, and putting himself under the direction of Steuben (O. S) Presbytery was by them examined and licensed to preach, in November, 1843. In May, 1844, he was called to the Presbyterian church of Bath, Steuben county, and was ordained in October of the same year. In October of the year following he was installed as its pastor. In October, 1846, he married Lydia R., daughter of Hon. David Rumsey of Bath. After a service of seven years with that church, filling the offices of stated clerk of Steuben Presbytery and permanent clerk of the Synod of Buffalo, preaching and lecturing much outside of his own church, and acting as trustee to Gen- eseo Academy, he accepted a call to the pastorate of the First Presbyterian church of Ogdensburg in February, 1851. While en route via stage he received a severe injury, through an accident, and was laid up with a broken limb. His installation took place June 25, 1851. Though repeatedly called to enter other desirable fields of service, he still remains and is now completing the forty-third year of his pastorate here. His in- cessant labors in the field, over his own church and for other churches, have been inter- rupted only by a brief illness in the winter of 1856, and travels through Europe, Egypt and Syria in 1869-70. Dr. Miller has been corresponding secretary of the St. Lawrence County Bible Society for more than a quarter of a century, and intimately connected with various ecclesiastical and benevolent associations of the county. He received the honorary degree of S. L. T. D., from his alma mater in 1865, and was elected a trustee of Hamilton College in 1869. After the union of the old and new school branches of the Presbyterian church, the Synod of Central New York was formed, of which he was elected moderator at Utica in 1873, and afterwards when the several synods of the State were combined, he was, in 1885, elected moderator of the Synod of New York.

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Our county and its people : a memorial record of St. Lawrence County, New York, Part 87

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