Our county and its people : a memorial record of St. Lawrence County, New York, Part 88

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 88
USA > New York > St Lawrence County > Our county and its people: a memorial record of St. Lawrence County, New York > Part 88

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).

Moulton, George A., Stockholm, was born in Stockholm, September 10, 1853, a son of Seth Moulton. who was a son of Jonathan, a native of Massachusetts, born in 1797. The latter after residing in various towns, finally went to Wisconsin and settled on a farm of eighty acres, where Milwaukee now stands, which he purchased for a small sum. He then went to Texas, and again returned to Wisconsin and settled at Port- age Prairie, forty miles south of Madison, where he lived uutil a few years of his death, then went to Winnebago, where he died in 1888. He was twice married, first to Fan- ny Taylor, by whom he had eight children. By his second wife he had six children. Seth Moulton was born in Stockholm in 1825. His wife was Harriet E., daughter of Horace Doud. They had three sons and one daughter. Mr. Moulton is a car- penter by trade, but farming has been his principal occupation. He bought the farm now owned by his son in 1863, and there resided until 1880. He now lives in Sandfordville, N. Y. Mrs. Moulton died in 1883. Seth Moulton is a Republi- can, a member of Evergreen Lodge No. 174, P. of I., and a member of the M. E. church. Except about three years in Vermont and the west, he has resided in Stockholm. George A. was reared as a farmer and has always followed that call- ing. He owns 133 acres of land and directs his attention largely to dairying, keep- ing ten cows. He married Ellen Rockwood, widow of Luther Hunt (by whom she had one son, Levi L. Hunt). Mr. Moulton and wife have four children, of whom two are living: Asa G. and Ray A. Mr. Moulton is a Republican, a member of P. of H. Stockholm Depot Lodge No. 538. He is a member of the Congregational

HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.

church of New Haven, Vt., where he resided from 1875 till 1880, when he bought the farm where he now resides.

Merry, I. T., Ogdensburg, was born in Essex county, November 8, 1837, where his parents settled about 1836, and he attended the district schools in Essex county until twelve years of age, when his parents moved to Ogdensburg, after which he was able to attend school for but a little over a year, when he was taken into the foundry of Chaney & Allen, with whom he remained one year, then for a year he clerked in the crockery store of A. M. & D. S. Herriman, and in his eighteenth year he commenced to learn the trade of miller with O. S. Cummings. He remained at this trade until the spring of 1861, when, at the call for volunteers to put down the rebellion, he enlisted, April 17, 1861, and was the first volunteer in St. Lawrence county to enter the service. Mr. Merry had joined an independent company and went to Albany where the com- pany was assigned to the 16th N. Y. Vols., Co. A. He served as first sergeant, first lieutenent and chaplain of the company, was in the Second and Sixth army corps, army of the Potomac, and participated in all the general battles and skirmishes of that time. After the war he went west and worked at his trade, and in agricultural shops in Wis- consin and Illinois until 1870, when he returned to Ogdensburg and entered the employ of the Skillings, Whitney & Barnes Lumber Company in the box factory, since which time Mr. Merry has been appointed foreman of this branch of the business, having charge of from seventy to seventy-five hands. He married in Bloomington, Ill., in 1869, Ella A. Stackhouse. Mr. Merry is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and commander of Ransom Post No. 354, G. A. R.

Martin, Joseph C., Lisbon, was born in Lisbon, April 27, 1820. His life has been spent as a farmer, and he has been remarkably successful. His father, Joseph Martin, came from Ireland and settled in Lisbon in 1805, being one of the first settlers of the town. His mother was Margaret ( Armstrong ) Martin. Mr. Martin married Alvira Sheldon, and they have one son, Miles R., who is in business in Lis- bon Centre. He married Laura B., daughter of Garrett P. Flack, of Lisbon. Mr. J. C. Martin is one of the oldest and most highly esteemed citizens of the town.

McCrea, A. L., jr., Gouverneur, was born in Milwaukee, Wis., 1852, a son of A. L, McCrea, of New York, who came to this region in 1875. He it was who first devel- oped the talc industry, the Wight mine at Little York, producing at his hands the first marketable material; the material being prepared in a little mill behind a sawmill in Gouverneur. One year later he built a steam mill at the mines in Fowler. About one year later he rented water power at Hailesboro, now known as the Agalite property. Mr. A. L. McCrea, jr., has been interested in the talc industry since 1876. The St. Law- rence, Gardner, Asbestos and Agalite mills were built under his supervision. He has for many years been an ardent admirer of the horse and has done very much to im- prove the quality and value of horses in 'northern New York. Among the horses owned and developed by him, is the noted trotting horse "Geneva," with a five-year-old record of 2:14, in 1892. Stamina, yearling record 2:44 1-4; Home Rule, two-year- old, 2:32 ; Marcus, 2:29 1-2; Malacca, 2:24 1-4; Cora B., 2:36 etc. The Patron Farm owned by him is located three and one half miles from Gouverneur, containig 300 acres where he breeds both runners and trotters.

PERSONAL SKETCHES.

Merritt, S. C., Gouverneur, was born in Evans Mills, Jefferson county, January 1, 1830. He learned his trade of blacksmith there, where he [also began the study of veterinary surgery with Leonard R. Hines and Oliver Nash, a veterinary from London, England. At twenty years of age he left Evans Mills, and about thirty years ago set- tled in Gouverneur, and during all this time has carried on a successful veterinary and blacksmith business, having retained a high reputation for honorable business methods and sterling integrity. Mr. Merritt has given no little attention to the study of miner- alogy, and in 1873, he went out one day with some friends looking for ore beds, and discovered a material which the others called soapstone, but which Mr. Merritt was satisfied was not such. He submitted the specimen to J. M. Minden, an eminent miner- alogist, who took it to New York, and, after some delay pronounced it to be talc. Soon a company was formed by Minden & McCraie, and a lease of the land where the talc was found was taken by Mr. Merritt from Abner White. This was the first talc lease taken in this country. He took the lease in his own name and allowed the com- pany to use it. He continued his search and found talk outcropped in various" places, and discovered at Freemansburg the first talc founds in Edwards. This is now the Palmer mine, the best bed now known in the world. It was at first pronounced inferior, but, when Col. Henry Palmer came to Gouverneur, Mr. Merritt showed him specimens, and he opened up the mine, making a fortune out of it. Mr. Merritt also found the talc on the Nelson Freeman farm, joining the Palmer bed. He also dis- covered it on the Anthony farm and by his industrious searching was instrumental in bringing to light several mines of valuable mineral, from which others have made for- tunes, while, strange to say, Mr. Merritt is grudgingly accorded the credit due to him for his important discoveries. He married Caroline Lester, of Jefferson county, town of La Rae, and they have four children: William H. and Charles B. Merritt, both superior mechanics, who are known all over this part of the country for their mechan- ical skill; and Mrs. Lavar and Mrs. Thomas Quill. One daughter, Pamelia, married Rufus Ball and died in 1891. William Merritt conducts a blacksmith business on Clin- ton street, and Charles B. is a machinist and blacksmith in the Webb quarry. Mr. Merritt's father, Gideon H., of Orange county, married Mary Drake, of Dutchess county, the former being of English descent, and the latter of Mohawk Dutch. Both grandfathers and both grandmothers were born in New York before the Revolutionary war, in which both grandfathers participated, with their fathers. Great-grandfather Merritt served as a clerk in the War Department at Washington.

Merriam, E. N., Ogdensburg, was born in Leyden, Lewis county, May 15, 1822, the eldest of seven sons of the late Gen. Ela Merriam. He received his business education at Mr. Charles Brown's Institute in Denmark, Jefferson county. At an early age he entered a financial institution, and from that time until his death, remained in. the busi- ness, with few interruptions of rest or change. Mr. Merriam was one of the oldest bankers in the State. Always a close student of banking law and finance, he was thoroughly educated in the theory and science of banking. As a sound conservative cashier and manager, he had no superior, and in financial circles was recognized as an authority. He was a man of culture and refinement. Although filling a high position in the world of finance, he was devoted to every interest that tended to improve and

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HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.

elevate the place and people among whom he passed the best years of his life. He was a strong man in his personality and convictions, an ardent Republican, loyal to his party and its traditions. In 1848 he married the second daughter of Hon. Richard Hulbert, of Oneida county, and they have oue accomplished da ighter. In 1880, with prominent, wealthy men, Mr. Merriam organized the National Bank of Ogdensburg, becoming one of the Board of Directors, as well as cashier and general manager, which position he held at the time of his death, May 22, 1893.

McCall, Harry W., Madrid, was born in the village of Waddington, June 17, 1859. In the fall of the same year he moved, with his parents, to the village of Madrid, where he has since resided. He was educated in the common schools, and at twenty years of age engaged in the livery business, which he followed until February, 1885, when he leased the Madrid hotel, conducting it under lease until January 29, 1891, when he purchased the property and has since been the proprietor. Since his purchase of the property, Mr. McCall has made many valuable improvements, including water system, drainage, hot water heating, and the erection of double verandas on the east and south sides of the hotel. Henry McCall, father of our subject, was a native of this country, born in Madrid November 23, 1828. He was always a resident of this town, with the exception of four years he spent in the village of Waddington, where he learned the shoemaker's trade. He established a shoe store and shop in Madrid, in 1853, and at one time did a very extensive custom trade, employing about twelve men. He was a staunch Democrat. In December, 1885, he was appointed postmaster of Madrid, an office he held until April, 1890. Mr. McCall died June 15, 1851, and at the time of his death was the oldest business man in the town. The mother of our subject, Mary Bethune, was also a native of this town. They were mar- ried, June 19, 1853, and were the parents of nine children. Mrs. McCall died January 23, 1882.

McGruer, A., Hammond, was born in Lancaster county, Canada, February 8, 1848. He came to this country with his parents in 1850. At the age of sixteen he entered mercantile life, and has since followed it with success. He has been thirteen years in Hammond and conducted a large general store, occupying a building 48x76 feet in dimensions. In 1880, Mr. McGruer married Harriet E., daughter of John Snyder, and Sarah Snyder, of Heuvelton, N. Y.

Nicolson, R., Morristown, was born in Glasgow, Scotland, May 27, 1834, and came to America 1837, landing at Brockville, Ont. His father was a baker and the son re- mained at home for sometime in assisting in the business. After leaving Brockville in 1866, he spent two years in Ogdensburg and then came to Morristown as foreman for Mr. Comstock in the pill factory where he is now general manager and has been for sixteen years. In 1863 Mr. Nicolson married Thomasin Rowe, and they have five children : Robert, William K., John H., Jennie and Annie C. Robert and Jennie are married. Mr. Nicolson was clerk of the village from 1881 to 1891, being the first clerk of the corporation.

Needham, Fred S., Stockholm, was born in Parishville, September 30, 1861, a son of H. K. Needham who was a son of Horace M., a native of Whiting Vt., born in 1804.

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PERSONAL SKETCHES.

About 1824 the latter came to Stockholm and settled on a farm. He afterwards returned to Vermont and married Eliza Kelsey a native of that State, and had two sons, George and Henry K. Mr. Needham resided in Stockholm about forty years, and then went to Wyoming county, N. Y. where he died in 1874, and his wife in 1888. Henry K. was born in Stockholm in 1833. He was educated in Potsdam Academy and Oberlin College, and learned civil engineering, but preferred farming. He owns 600 acres of land, being one of the largest farmers of the town. He was a Republican, and a member of I. O. O. F. Lodge. He and his wife were active members of the Presbyterian church of Potsdam, of which Mr. Needham was many years a deacon. They had three children : Fred S., Mary, who died aged eleven years; and Lizzie, died aged twenty-three years. Mr. Needham died in 1882, and Mrs. Needham resides on the old homestead. Fred S. was reared on a farm and educated in Potsdam Normal School. At the death of his father he took charge of the farm, and has since carried on general farming and dairying. He and his mother own 300 acres of land in Stock- holm, 300 acres in Parishville, and keep a dairy of thirty-five cows. September 20, 1892, he married Zulma Hubbard a native of Whiting, Vt., and a daughter of A. H. Hubbard, of that State. Mr. Needham is a Republican and is at present assessor of the town. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. No. 548, of Potsdam, and of P. of H. Lodge No. 39, of Potsdam.

Northrup, Hiram D., Ogdensburg, was the second child of six boys and four girls, a son of Lewis and Nancy (Simons) Northrup. He was born December 29, 1829, at the family home four miles east of Ogdensburg; or on the farm his grandfather Simons settled on in 1806. During his minority Hiram worked on his father's farm in the summer seasons, and at lumbering in the winter. In 1864, he with his brother Alvin S., started in Ogdensburg, making shingles and heading. After the death of Alvin, which occurred in 1867, he has carried on the business alone, adding to it the manufacture of barrels. His plant was burned on June 17, 1891, which was rebuilt on a more modern style, and also coupled with his business a coal and wood yard. He was married to Miss Eliza Norway on July 3, 1861. She was born at Lisborn, May 12, 1834. They have had born to them three chil- dren : Ella L., born April 15, 1862, she was married to J. H. Graham, October 22, 1889; Everet, was born August 1, 1869, and died June 15, 1870; May E., was born April 7, 1871. Mr. Northrup is not a politician, but has held several offices of trust, is now a member of the Board of Education, which place he has filled for a number of years, is a director of the First National Band, of which he is a stockholder. He is always ready to assist in contributing to promote the public wellfare, in preaching the gospel, and in home or foreign missionary work.

. Norman, J. H., second, Ogdensburg, was born in Ogdensburg, December 15, 1866, a son of James E., and Annie (McMarra) Norman. He received his education in the schools of this city after which he entered the Journal establishment, where he learned the trade of printing and where he remained five years. Subsequently Mr. Norman followed sailing for seven years, holding the position of steward on a line of steamers plying between Buffalo and Chicago. In 1892 he purchased the National Hotel in Ogdensburg, which he has since most successfully conducted. Mr. Norman is a mem-

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HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.

ber of the Catholic church here. He is president of the Y. M. C. Society, and a staunch and influential Democrat.

Newton, Charles W., Stockholm, was born in Stockholm, September 26, 1836. He is a son of Rev. Orange Newton, whose father, Samuel S. Newton, was a native of Stafford, Mass., born in 1783. In 1807 the latter married in Jericho, Vt., Patience Root, by whom he had nine children. He spent a short time in Canada and then re- turned to Vermont. In 1815 he went to Hopkinton and in 1821 to Stockholm. In 1828 he went to Michigan, and there died at the age of seventy years. Orange Newton was born in Jericho, Vt., January 13, 1807, and came to Stockholm with his parents in 1821, and there spent the remainder of his life. He was licensed to preach in 1837, and in 1839 was ordained an elder. He was a thorough Bible scholar, and was one of the leaders in organizing the Wesleyan Methodist church of Stockholm in 1843, of which church he was pastor many years. He traveled on the Parishville circuit and also in Franklin county many years, officiating at 125 weddings and at about 200 funerals. In September, 1861, Rev. Newton enlisted in Co. F, 92d N. Y. Vols., and was unanimously elected captain, October 15, 1862. The wife of Rev. Newton was Almira Schellinger, born January 25, 1831. with whom he lived fifty-one years. They had eleven children, six of whom survive. The death of Rev. Newton occurred February 18, 1886, and that of his wife March 20, 1882. Charles W. resided with his parents until the age of twenty-one, working on the farin for his father, and then started out for himself in the world, working by the month for several years, after which he went to Hopkinton and purchased a farm of 175 reres. Here he remained eight years and then bought the farm of 108 acres which he now owns. He is a general farmer and dairyman. No- vember 29, 1860, he married Emily A. Austin, a native of Stockholm and only child of Stillman and Sally (Pritchard) Austin, the former a native of Potsdam, born in 1815, and the latter a native of Stockholm. Mr. and Mrs. Newton have had one child, Lillie M. She was educated in the Lawrenceville Academy and at Winthrop Union School, and has followed teaching for several years. Mr. Newton is a Republican in politics. He was constable of Hopkinton one year, and has been inspector of elections in Stock- holm several years. He and family are members of P. of H. Winthrop Lodge No. 538, and he also belongs to the P. of I. Buckton No. 226. The family attend and support the M. E. church of Buckton.

Nichols, Calvin, Stockholm, was born in Crown Point, March 10, 1813. He was reared on a farm and his education was limited. His parents died when he was but seven years of age and he was bound out for a number of years. In 1830 he came to Stockholm and settled on a farm of 100 acres, and there lived and died. He married in Crown Point, Fannie A. Lane, a native of that place, by whom he had five children : Marion, wife of William Smith of Dickenson Centre, has two children, Belle and How- ard; Eunice M., wife of William McCumber of Parishville ; Lois A., wife of R. E. Reeve of Stockholm, has two children, Rose and Mary ; H. W., born February 6, 1851; and Howard M., born October 30, 1855. They live on a farm of 150 acres and follow general farming and dairying. H. W. Nichols is a Republican in politics. He is a member of P. of I. Buckton Lodge No. 226. Howard M. married Mary M. Weller, a native of Lawrence, N. Y., and daughter of John and Betsey (Carpenter) Weller, natives

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PERSONAL SKETCHES.

of Vermont. They had twelve children. Mr. Weller died February 20, 1882, and his wife now resides in Stockholm. Howard M. has one son, Arthur. He is a Republican and a member of Winthrop Lodge, P. of H. Mrs. Calvin Nichols died July 5, 1879, and he married July 13, 1880, Mrs. Phoebe Knapp. Mr. Nichols died November 10, 1881, and his widow resides with the sons on the farm.

Olmstead, Joel (deceased), Potsdam, was born in LeRoy, Genesee county, October 19, 1826, the oldest of four sons of David Olmstead, who was a native of Vermont. The mother of our subject, Huldah King, was also a native of Vermont. Joel was ten years of age when his parents moved into St. Lawrence county. They located on a farm in Potsdam, where Joel was reared and educated, and after he was of age he con- ducted his father's farm. The old homestead is still held as the estate of Eli Olmstead, being now carried on by a son of the latter. In 1854 Joel bought a farm of ninety acres, which he worked until 1888, when on account of failing health he took up his residence in Potsdam Village, where he died February 10, 1891. His widow, Olive A., daughter of Harry Tanner of Hermon, and one daughter survive him. Mr. Olmstead was a very successful farmer, but never took any great interest in public affairs. His widow is a member of the Methodist church of Potsdam. The daughter, Rhoda C., married, February 8, 1888, Arthur E. Ames of Potsdam, and they have one child, Harry Olmstead Ames, born August 10, 1891.

Owen, Frank, Ogdensburg, was born in Oneida, Madison county, September 24, 1839. His parents had settled there in 1810, and were originally a New England family from Rutland, Vt. Frank Owen came to Ogdensburg in July, 1859, being then in his twen- tieth year, and served as barkeeper in the St, Lawrence Hotel, now called the Seymour House, and in the spring of 1860 went on board the steamer Bay State as porter and barkeeper. He remained in this position until the fall of 1866, when he was appointed purser of the steamer Lord Elgin, running in connection with the lake lines between Ogdensburg and Montreal, and April 1, 1868, commenced work for the O. and L. C. railroad as tally clerk, since which time he has been through the various positions of billing clerk, accountant, clerk in the general office, and in November, 1878, was ap- pointed agent at Ogdensburg. On August 1, 1884, he was made general freight and passenger agent, and in the spring of 1886 was made general freight agent of the Cen- tral Vermont line of steamers, and is a member of the Freight Traffic Association of the Middle States and of the General Freight Agents' Association of New England and Canada. In this city Mr. Owen is interested in all social and benevolent in- stitutions, among which we mention the Ogdensburg Club, Osseagatchie Club, etc. He is a Sir Knight in the Masonic order, a member of the Mystic Shrine, has served as supervisor of the Third ward and as alderman for four years. Mr. Owen married in 1860, Margaret Richards, and they have one son living, William H. Owen, now in the employ of the O. and L. C. railroad, who was born July 18, 1863. He is married and has one daughter.

Oswell, George B., Ogdensburg, was born in Ogdensburg, May 18, 1836. After receiving a good education in the schools of this city, he entered the office of the St. Lawrence Republican with which paper he remained from eight to ten years, as type

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HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.

setter, and then went south and entered into the shoe business in Memphis, Tenn., and was there when the first gun was fired on Fort Sumter. After the breaking out of the war he returned to Ogdensburg and entered the employ of the Ogdensburg Steam- boat. Company, and about thirty-two years ago became an employee of the Grand Trunk Railroad, gradually being promoted for efficient service from a clerkship to the responsible position of District Passenger Agent, his jurisdiction extending over Ver- mont and the northern portion of the State of New York. Mr. Oswell's father was an Englishman, and settled in Ogdensburg about 1816. His mother was a native of this county. Mr. Oswell married in 1860, Mary H. Child, of Westborough, Mass. His only daughter was married to Charles G. Porter, son of Judge Wilber F. Porter, of Watertown, N. Y. He is prominently connected with all Masonic bodies in this city, and takes an active part in all things pertaining to Masonry and the good and welfare of his fellow man. His mother having died in March, 1893, leaves him the only living representative of a large family, and by her will, was appointed executor to her estate, which he will, no doubt, administer to the satisfaction of all concerned.

O'Brien, Michael, Waddington, was born in the town of Waddington, October 6, 1884. His father, Thomas, was born in Ireland in 1806, and came to Waddington when about twenty -one years of age, where he engaged as coachman for Colonel Ogden. He after- ward purchased a farm in Waddington, on which he lived and died. His wife was Mary, daughter of James McArdle, of Ireland, and they had three sons and five daughters. Mr. O'Brien died in February, 1892, and his wife resides with her son, Philip. Our subject was born on a farm and educated in the common and select schools of Waddington. At seventeen years of age he hired to John S. Chipman, looking after his horses and extensive farming interests for five years. He then went to Milwaukee, Wis., where he remained a short time, then returned to Ogdensburg, where he worked for a Mr. Wagner for a short time .. Next he went to Potsdam, and with Hutchins & Brown, learned the miller's trade, which occupation he has since successfully followed. For the last twenty years he has had charge of the Waddington mills, owned by L. J. Proctor, of that place. June 6, 1871, he married Elizabeth, daughter of Daniel Halli- gan, of Potsdam, and they have had four children : William H., Mary E., Sarah E. and Margaret T. Mr. O'Brien is a Democrat, and he and family are members of the Catholic Church. In 1892 Mr. O'Brien purchased one-half interest in the firm known as Will Harper's Sons, and the firm is now William Harper, Son & Co,

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Our county and its people : a memorial record of St. Lawrence County, New York, Part 88

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