Our county and its people : a memorial record of St. Lawrence County, New York, Part 98

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 98
USA > New York > St Lawrence County > Our county and its people: a memorial record of St. Lawrence County, New York > Part 98

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).

Skinner, John F., Brasher Center, a merchant at Brashier Center, was born in Salona, Clinton county, Pa., September 21, 1826, a son of John Cotton Skinner, and Deborah, Hanna. This family trace their ancestry from the year 1600, the founder of the family in America having been Joseph Skinner, born in England in that year, who came to America in 1620 with the Pilgrims. His son Joseph was born in 1668, his son John was born in 1725, the son of John being Cotton, born in 1770, and his son, John Cotton Skinner, father of our subject, was born in 1800, in Cayuga county. John F. Skinner was educated in the schools of his native town and Moravia Institute. He learned the trade of a moulder, serving three years, and for several years he worked at his trade. Then he became superintendent for his uncle, Isaac W. Skinner, in a large iron foundry, at Brasher Iron Works, N. Y., where he remained till the death of his uncle in 1874. Soon after this he bought the plant, which he conducted about ten years, when in 1887 he was burned out. Since that he has been in the mercantile business at Brasher Iron Works, until October, 1893, when he moved to Brasher Center. He is a Republican, and has been justice of the peace for about twenty-two years, justice of sessions for two years, supervisor of the town two years, town clerk two years, also overseer of the poor. He married first, January 24, 1847, Mary Ann McCune, born in 1829. They had ten children : Leonidas H., Deborah C., Margaret L., John C., Isaac W., Jacob B., Franklin R., Mary E., Joseph H., and Laura E. His wife died April 9, 1882, and he married second, July 10, 1883, Tryphena Collamer, of Ogdensburg, N. Y.

Kennehan, Patrick E., Brasher Falls, was born in Asnabrook, Ontario, April 26, 1848, a son of Patrick and Margaret (Mahon) Kennehan, of Kings county. Ireland, who came to Quebec and went to Asnabrook, where they remained until 1850, when they came to St. Lawrence county, where the father followed railroad work for a time, and later engaged with Hon. C. T. Hulburd as gardener, which was his trade, and which lre followed while living in Asnabrook. He worked as gardener for Mr. Hub- bard twenty-five years, when he engaged in farming for himself, now owning a fine

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HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.

tract of land east of Brasher Falls. Our subject was educated in the schools of Brasher, and served three years as a machinist in the shops of Davis & Co., which he now owns, engaging in business for himself at the age of twenty-five, in 1873. Soon after this, he and Joseph Dishan bought the whole business, under the firm name of Dishan & Kennehan, and in 1883 he bought the business interest of his partner. He is a Demo- crat in politics. In November, 1893 he was appointed postmaster. December 28, 1875, he married Anna J. Butler, born in this town in 1852 (August 9), a daughter of John and Eliza (Hamil) Butler. Mr. and Mrs. Kennehan have had five children : Oswald J , born July 26, 1878, who was drowned August 14, 1891, aged thirteen years; George P., born January 22, 1881; Francis Henry, born April 15, 1885, who died at the age of nine days; Marion M., born October 29, 1889; Mabel E., born July 20, 1892. Mr. Kennehan manufactures threshing machines, sawing machines and all kinds of agricul- tural implements. He also has a good repair shop and manufactures all kinds of creamery fixtures. His shop is the best equipped shop in northern New York.

Goodale, R. P., Colton, was born in Pittsford, Vt., March 11, 1822, a son of F. C. Goodale, of New Hampshire, born in 1793, who married in 1815, Ruth St. John, of Hubbardton, Vt., by whom be had six children. In 1825 he came to Parishville with his family. He and wife were prominent members of the Methodist church, and as- sisted in building the Parishville edifice. He died in 1842, in his forty-ninth year. His wife died in 1840, in her forty-third year. R. P. Goodale learned the blacksmith's trade at the age of eighteen and when twenty years of age went to Vermont and worked with his Uncle St. John, with whom he had lived since nine years of age till the time he was fourteen. Here he remained one year, then went to Framingham, Mass., and worked one summer at his trade, then went to Dedham and worked a short time. Returning to Parishville, he worked on a farm two years. He and his brother worked at the blacksmith trade one year. He married, August 8, 1846, Susan L. McOmber, a native of Bristol, Vt., and a member of the M. E. Church, of Colton, born September 3, 1829, a daughter of Harmon McOmber and Lydia E. Wright, the former a native of Vermont, (died December 29, 1869), and the latter of New Hampshire, (died February 14, 1887), who came to Parishville in 1837, and who were the parents of fifteen children. One son, Adolphus, was killed in the war, at the battle of Gaines Mill. Eleven children lived to maturity, and were married before another death occurred. Mr. and Mrs. Goodale had three children : Earl D., of Potsdam, who married Etta Lyman, and has three children; Grace C., Gertrude E., and Uel Rolla. The sec- ond son, Delmer I., a farmer, of Colton, who owns a half interest and has charge of his father's farm, married Catherine M. Sullivan, and has one child, Jessie M. The third child, Alice, married Jackson Collins, of Colton, and died November 22, 1882. Soon after his marriage, Mr. Goodale went to Rensselaer Falls, and worked at his trade. In 1847 he bought the farm he now owns, to which he has since added, owning now one hundred and fifty-three acres. His first house was a log cabin, with bark roof. He has been a railroad man for some time, having been connected with the Hudson River Railroad Company. He then went to Boundbrook, N. J., and was engaged in lengthening locks on the canal one winter, and then went to Connecticut and for a year was foreman of the grading department at Waterville. He worked at blasting

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and then went to Fort Deposit, and was foreman in taking dimensions for stone in bridge building. He next went to Dover and had charge of surfacing the track. Mr. Goodale is a Republican, and has been assessor, but resigned after serving one year. He has since served as assessor and highway commissioner. December 12, 1861, he en- listed in Company D., Scott's Nine Hundred, but changed to the Eleventh N. Y. Cavalry, and served two and a half years, He was orderly sergeant and was promoted second lieutenant, and then to first lieutenant. He is a member of the High Falls Lodge, No. 428, F. & A. M., and of the G. A. R., Wait Post, No. 581.

O'Driscoll, Father James, Canton, was born in Ireland, March 17, 1842, and re- ceived his education in Dublin. He was ordained in 1867, and came to America the same year, locating in Albany. He removed to Oswego and then to Lewis county. Twenty-two years ago he came to Canton, where he has done a great deal for the church and his people. He has built one of the finest edifices in Northern New York, at a cost of $60,000, and his congregation numbers 1,000 souls.

Howard, Gilfred E., Pierrepont, was born on the farm he now owns in Pierrepont, June 1, 1851. His father, Orrin A., was a son of Aaron, a native of Massachu- setts, born in 1780, who went to St. Albans, Vt., and there married Dolly Crary, by whom he had five sons and one daughter. In 1819 Mrs. Howard died and he married, second, Mrs. Lucy (Gates) Brooks, by whom he had two sons. In 1835 Mr. Howard came to Pierrepont, where he lived until his death in 1865. His wife died two years later. Orrin A. was born in St. Albans, Vt., September 16, 1816, and at the age of fourteen came to Pierrepont, where he was reared by his maternal grandfather, his mother having died when he was three years old. He was educated in Potsdam Academy, and when quite young began teaching, which he followed ten years. In 1850 he bought the farm now owned by our subject. He took an active part in politics, and for many years was one of the leading men of the town, holding the offices of town clerk, collector, constable, assessor, supervisor, highway commissioner and school superintendent. In 1843 he married Susan Tupper, born August 13, 1819, a daughter of Ansel and Callista (Reynolds) Tupper, and they had four children : Ansel T., Millie C., Gilfred E. and Nellie D. Mr. Howard died May 13, 1883. Gilfred E. was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools. He is a general farmer and dairyman and owns 153 acres of land. He has been twice married, first to Flora Moore of Potsdam, who died in 1876 ; and second, in 1878, he married Mamie Madden of Morristown, by whom he had six children : Grace, who died aged nine months; Florence C., Horton E., Wayne P., Eldon E. and Ruth E. Mr. Howard is a Republican and he and wife are members of Crary' Mills Grange No. 54.

Russell, Oscar, Colton, was born in Colton, August 20, 1851, a son of S. K. Rus- sell, elsewhere mentioned here. Oscar was reared on a farm and received his education in the common schools, having also been a farmer all his life. He owns 100 acres of land, and keeps an average of about fourteen cows for dairying. Jan- uary 28, 1879, Mr. Russell married Relief Leonard, a native of Colton, and a daugh- ter of James Leonard of Vermont, born September 4, 1822, who came to this town

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HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.

at an early date. Mr. and Mrs. Russell have had one son, O. Leonard. Our sub- ject is a Republican and has been assessor one term.

Baker, Alexander W., Brasher, a veterinary surgeon, was born in North George- town, Quebec, October 28, 1844. His was George W. Baker of Burlington, Vt., a farmer and justice of the peace who died there June 7, 1863, aged sixty-two years. The wife of the latter was Mary Ann De Boovis, a native of France, who died in 1872 aged sixty-eight years. Naham Baker, father of George, was born in Massachusetts, April 9, 1762, and married Rhoda Adams, born in Farmington, Conn., February 19, 1769. They were married October 29, 1792, and had two children : George W. and Rhoda, Maria. Naham died October 12, 1821, and his wife April 11, 1852. Their son George W., was born November 11, 1801, and the daughter, Rhoda M., was born No- vamber 11, 1803. Naham served in Revolution and was at Bunker Hill. He was one of the sentry guards over Major Andre the night before he was executed. The Bakers and Adams were from Puritan stock and can trace their lineage back to the landing of the Mayflower. The grandmother was connected to both Presidents J. Q. and John Adams. Our subject, Alexander W., was reared in Canada until his twentieth year and learned blacksmithing and then studied veterinary surgery at Ottawa. He located at North Lawrence, this county, for about a year, then came to Brasher Falls and carried on blacksmithing in connection with his profession. He is the only veterinary surgeon in this section of the county, and he has by patience and industry accumulated a nice property. He married in 1863, Eliza March, a native of Canada, born in Elgin, Hunt- ington county, June 22, 1846. Her father was from Ireland, and her mother was born in Franklin county, of Irish parentage. Mr. and Mrs. Baker have had six children, five surviving: George A., born December 28, 1864, who is also a blacksmith and veterinary surgeon ; Agnes E., born August 22, 1866; Frank J., born June 2, 1872, also a black- smith; Anna E., born February 22, 1875; and May B., born May 17, 1877. Mr. Baker and his sons are Republicans.

Wrigglesworth, Mrs. Jane, widow of Andrew Wrigglesworth, Russell, who was born in De Kalb, January 6, 1833, a daughter of Enoch Taylor, who was a son of Nathan Taylor, born in South Hadley, Mass., who married Deborah Robinson, by whom he had two sons and two daughters. They spent their last days in Hammond, N. Y., where he died in 1838, and his wife in 1851. Enoch Taylor came to Hammond when a young man and followed teaching for several years, being also a farmer and mechanic. He was a great reader and a well informed man. He married, in 1837, Ruhama Dudy, born in Georgia, Vt., in 1815, a daughter of Obediah and Zilpha Dudy, natives of Ver- mont. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor had three children : George, a farmer of Russell; Jane, as above; and Mary, who lives with her sister. Mr. Taylor died May 6, 1876, and his wife, who still survives, resides with our subject. Jane began teaching at the age of fifteen, which vocation she followed many years. She married Andrew Wrigglesworth, by whom she had one daughter, who graduated from the St. Lawrence University, class of 1890, and is now a teacher in Brooklyn. Mr. Wrigglesworth was a farmer, owning a place in North Russell. He died August 25, 1868. His father, Joseph, was a native of England, who came to De Kalb when a young man. He married Sarah, widow of

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James Aastman, by whom he had nine children. After the death of her husband Mrs. Wrigglesworth sold the farm and followed teaching until 1885, when she bought the cheese factory now known as the Palmersville Factory, of which she has since been pro- prietor, the output being about 90,000 pounds annually.

Benham, S. R., Colton, was born in Shiek's Island, Canada, December 2, 1829, a son of Harvey Benham, a native of Stansted, Vt., born June 25, 1802. He married in Lower Canada Orrilla Hackett, a native of Massachusetts, who went to Canada with her parents at an early day. They went to Shiek's Island, which was owned by two of his uncles, Solomon and William Raymond. After a short time Mr. and Mrs. Ben- ham came to Louisville, N. Y., where they resided till 1842, and then came to Colton, where he died in 1891, and his wife in 1885. They had eight children. S. R. Benham was reared on a farm, and at the age of twelve came with his parents to Colton, and has there spent his life chiefly, though he was in Michigan about two years and in Hanawa six years. He has acted as guide in the woods for many years, and spent the winters in lumbering. July 29, 1862, he enlisted in Company K, One Hundred and Sixth N. Y. Volunteers, and served till the close of the war, being honorably discharged in July, 1865. He participated in the following battles : Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, Kelly's Ford, Manassas Gap, Locust Grove, Mine Run, Martinsburg, Phil- lipi, Five Forks, Petersburg, and Sailor's Creek. He was also at Appomattox. Sep- tember 9, 1854, he married Augusta Glidden, of Essex county, daughter of James and Emeline (Hill) Glidden, she being the widow of Mr. Hill, maiden name Hodgkin. She died in 1850 and Mr. Glidden in 1859. They had five children. Mr. and Mrs. Ben- ham have had two children : James D., who married Sylvia Bicknell, and has one daughter, Grace; and Nina A., wife of Warren Daniels, of Sing Sing. They are both graduates of Potsdam Norman School. Mr. Benham is a Republican, a member of the G. A. R., Wait Post of Colton, and he and wife are members of the M. E. Church.

Gates, Arba, Russell, was born in Lewis county, July 24, 1830. His father, Arba, sr., was a native of Windsor, Vt., and came to Champion, Jefferson county, with his parents, who later went to Lewis county, where they died. Arba, sr., was married in Lewis county to Susan Clintsman, by whom he had eleven children. He moved to Fowler in 1838, and about twenty years later went west. He died in Wisconsin in 1888, and his wife in 1890. Arba Gates, jr., came with his parents to Fowler, and has since been a resident of this county. He has always followed agriculture, and owns seventy acres in one place and sixty in another. He came to Russell in 1868 and bought the Palmer- ville saw-mill, which he still owns. In 1885 he added a grist mill, and does a success- ful business. He also has one burr and two metal mills. He manufactures from 500,- 000 to 600,000 feet of lumber yearly, and from 500,000 to 700,000 shit gles yearly. Mr. Gates is a Democrat, and has served as commissioner of highways two terms. He has been twice married, first to Minerva Stone, of Fowler, by whom he had four chil- dren : Emma Ett, Abram F., Dora, and one who died in infancy. His second wife was Sarah A. Brown, born in Wilna, Jefferson county, but a resident of Russell, and they have had eight children : John F., Thomas H., Susan, George, Mona, Charles, Harry, and Carl, who died aged two years. Mr. Gates is a Universalist in religious belief, and

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his family attend the M. E. Church. He is a Mason of Russell Lodge No. 566, and was a member of the State militia.

Fletcher, Calvin T., Brasher, was born in Lawrence, September 17, 1838, a son of Chauncey and Orpha S. (Ketch) Fletcher, the former born in Mansfield, Conn., June 2, 1800, and the latter born in Starkboro, Vt., October 11, 1800. They came to this county when it was a wilderness, and had these children: Nancy, Janet, Julius A., Cleora A., Franklin R., Charles A., Olive A., Clark, Calvin T., and Martha S. Chauncey Fletcher died February 3, 1886, and his wife November 25, 1860. The family trace their ancestry in a direct line back to William the Conqueror. Rev. Richard Fletcher, chaplain to Queen Elizabeth, was also one of the family. He afterwards became bishop of London. The American branch of the family have many of them followed agricult- ure, and descended in direct line from Robert Fletcher, who came to America in 1630 and settled near Boston. Our subject was educated in the Lawrenceville Academy, studied law at Malone, and was admitted to the bar in 1864, practicing a few years, and then engaging in mercantile pursuits with his first wife's father, J. G. Reynolds, at Bombay. In 1871 he came to Helena, where he engaged in trade. October 12, 1865, he married Fredonia A., daughter of J. G. Reynolds, of Bombay. She died August 30, 1870. Their children were : Gates R., born in 1866, died in 1868; Ernest T., born No- vember 2, 1868; Ormel, born and died in 1870. He married second Augusta A., daughter of John Sengfeld, of West Chazy, N. Y., November 9, 1871, and their chil- dren were: Lura F., born November 29, 1875; Clark E., born October 14, 1879; Charles F., born October 16, 1881. Mr. Fletcher is a Democrat, and has been supervi- sor several years, also notary public for many years. He has a fine trade, and owns several farms. His oldest son, Ernest T., is a successful merchant in Tupper Lake, N. Y., and was recently appointed postmaster.

Burt, G. W., Russell, was born in Dickerson, this county, May 15, 1848. His father, David, was a son of Seaborn, who was so named from having been born on the ocean while coming from England to America. His parents settled in Canada, and later came to Dickinson in Franklin county, and to Russell, where they spent their days. David Burt was born in Canada and came with his parents to St. Lawrence county when a young man. He was a carpenter. He married Evaline Wood, of Jefferson county, by whom he had six sons and four daughters. Three of the sons, John, Silas, and Elmer, also our subject, were in the late war, where all were killed save the latter. Mr. Burt lived in Russell about forty-three years. G. W. Burt was reared and educated in Rus- sell, and at the age of fourteen enlisted in Company E, Fourteenth N. Y. Heavy Ar- tillery, serving till the close of the war. He participated in the battle of the Wilder- ness, Spottsylvania, North Anna River, and others. He was taken sick at North Anna River and carried to the First Division Hospital, then to Mount Pleasant Hospital, Washington, and after two months was transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps, then sent to Indianapolis, and later to Cleveland, O., most of the time on detached service. At the close of the war he returned to Russell, and after one year in school went to Illinois and Wisconsin, remaining about five months, when he married, November 26, 1866, Anna Hill, a native of Louisville, N. Y., and daughter of William Hill, whose

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father, William, sr., came from England. The father of the latter fitted out a ship to send him to the West Indies to settle the estate of his two brothers, but he was ship- wrecked, and by chance brought to America, and settled in Vermont, removed to Louis- ville, St. Lawrence county, where he died aged ninety-three years. Mr. and Mrs. Burt have had six sons, one who died in infancy ; Mayon E., who died aged seven; Rolla O., who died aged twelve; George M., Wilton D., and Roy D., now living. Mr. Burt is a painter by trade, which he followed till 1882, when he engaged in the mercantile business, where he carries a general stock of millinery goods, groceries, boots and shoes, clothing, patent medicines, etc. Previous to this Mr. Burt was in business in Rich- ville. He is a Prohibitionist in politics, and has served as town clerk one year. He is a member of Rice Post No. 169 G. A. R., and he and wife are members of the M. E. Church, of which he has been Sunday-school superintendent for thirteen or fourteen years.

Sheldon, George A., De Kalb Junction, was born in Brooklyn, December 22, 1860. At the age of five years he removed with his parents to Rutland, Vt., where he lived fourteen years, and learned the tinner's trade. He then spent a year and a half in Gouverneur, and then, on account of ill health, went to Brooklyn for the winter, spend- ing the following summer in Rutland. In October he returned to Gouverneur, but after a stay of only a week he came to De Kalb Junction, and at once took a position with S. T. Walker, October 30, 1882, and worked for him five and a half years. He then entered the employ of M. D. Alvison, and after ten months with that house embarked in business for himself; November 1, 1888, he took the stand where lie now is. The business at that time was very small, but by excellent work, superior business methods and close attention he has built up a large and constantly increasing trade. He carries a full and complete stock of shelf and heavy hardware, stoves, crockery, paints, glass, etc., besides doing a large tinning business, requiring the services of three skilled work- men. In 1884 Mr. Sheldon married Ida Smith, and they have one daughter, Mabel. He is a staunch Republican.

Horton, W. J., Colton, was born in London, England, July 30, 1848, a son of Jacob and Emma (Wetland) Horton, also of England, who reared six sons and four daughters. In 1853 Mr. Horton and family, and Mrs. Horton's mother and stepfather, Mr. Murry, with an uncle, Robert Wetland, a sailor who brought the family, all came to this coun- try. The sailor returned to the ocean and has never since been heard of. The family lived in Boston for five years, and in 1858 came to Colton, where the father died in 1885, his widow now residing in the town. Wm. J. Horton was about five years of age when he came to America. The family came to a farm in Colton when he was ten years old. When about twenty-one he engaged in jobbing, and soon bought a farm of 150 acres improved land and about 1,800 acres of wild land. In 1888 he engaged in mercantile business at South Colton, buying out F. F. Flint & Co., and has a fine store, keeping a good stock of general merchandise. Mr. Horton married first, January 1, 1871, Sarah Tilton, by whom he had three children: Harriette, Willie Royal, and Sarah. Harriette is the wife of James Bump, of Parishville ; Sarah married a Mr. Hol- lenbeck, an inspector of car wheels at Norwood; and Willie is now in Colton. Mrs.

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HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.

Horton died January 28, 1875, and our subject married second Wealtha E., daughter of the late Edward Spear, of Parishville, and they have had four children : Etta, Mary, Myrtle, and Winifred. Mr. Horton is a Republican, and has been collector and con- stable eleven years. He enlisted in the late war under Edward Knapp, of Potsdam, but the company being full he was returned.

Libbey, George E., Colton, was born in Benton, Me., February 20, 1836, a son of Aaron, a native of Socco, Me., and of the seventh generation from John Libbey who came from England. Aaron married Emily Woodsome, of Maine, by whom he had seven children. He was a prominent inan of affairs in the town and held many public offices. He died September 25, 1866, and his wife died August 3, 1867. George E. Libbey started out in life for himself at the age of nineteen and first learned the carpen- ter's trade, following this for a number of years. In 1863 he went to California, work- ing at his trade and also in the manufacture of wagons, and in 1867 returned to Maine and engaged in farming and lumbering until 1879, when he came to Colton as agent for F. Shaw & Bros., of Boston, who owned the St. Lawrence Tannery and the St. Regis Tannery. Mr. Libbey has since lived here continuously. He is one of the stockholders of the First National Bank at Canton, is a Democrat, and held several town offices in Maine. He married first Rosella Humphrey, of Maine, by whom he had no children. She died in 1861, and he married second Mahala M. Mills, also a native of Maine, and they have two children : George W., a student in medicine at the university of Bur- lington ; and Rose M., a teacher in Minnesota. Mr. Libbey is a member of High Falls Lodge No. 428 F. & A. M., also of Potsdam Chapter No. 39 and St. Lawrence Com- mandery No. 28, K. T. of Canton.

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Our county and its people : a memorial record of St. Lawrence County, New York, Part 98

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