Our county and its people : a memorial record of St. Lawrence County, New York, Part 99

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 99
USA > New York > St Lawrence County > Our county and its people: a memorial record of St. Lawrence County, New York > Part 99

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).

Bullis, Lewis, Pierrepont, was born in Plattsburg, Clinton county, June 16, 1837, a son of John W., a native of that place, born in 1804, who married Mercy R. Fonda, by whom he had five sons and five daughters. In 1841 Mr. Bullis came to Pierrepont and settled on what is known as the " Waterman Hill Stock Farm," owned by our subject and his brother Miad, who was born in Pierrepont. J. W. died in Canton in 1884, and his wife died in 1887. Lewis Bullis has always followed farming and dairying, and now owns 200 acres of the old homestead and 200 additional in Canton, Russell and Pierrepont, and also keeps about thirty-five cows. In 1870 he married Susan E. Lewis, a native of Hermon, and daughter of Roswell and Betsey (Thompson) Lewis, early settlers of Hermon. Mr. and Mrs. Bullis have had two children: Jerm and Mernie.

Baker, Lucius B., M.D., Russell, is a native of Russell, born February 17, 1846, a son of the Rev. Lucius S. Baker, the oldest Baptist minister in St. Lawrence county, who was born in Chester, Vt., August 8, 1810. He was the oldest son, in a family of ten children, of Bezaleel Baker, born in New Hampshire, whose father was a native of Nova Scotia. Rev. L. S. Baker came to this county in 1842, where he has since lived. He was educated in Colgate University, formerly Madison, and commenced the ministry in 1837, which he has continued until within about five years, since which time he has ceased from active work. January 27, 1837, he married Hannah G. Walker, a native of, Vermont, born April 21, 1814, died August 8, 1887, and they had three children :

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Celestine N., born March 28, 1839, died October 6, 1890 ; Lucius B., as above; and Roger J., born November 17, 1854, died February 6, 1882. Lucius B. was educated in St. Lawrence Academy, Potsdam, N. Y., and the medical department of the University of Vermont, from which he graduated in 1868. He began practice in Clifton, N. Y., and in September, 1869, was appointed house physician in the Rochester City Hospital, where he remained three years, then was elected city physician, practicing six years, and then came to Russell, where he has since lived, giving his time entirely to his chosen profession. He married in Rochester, in 1874, Sarah C. Markley, a native of Winchester, Va., by whom he had one child, Kittie H., born June 28, 1875, died Sep- tember 3, 1893. Dr. Baker is a charter member of the board of trustees of the Roches- ter Free Dispensatory and the Rochester Pathological Society ; he is also a member of the St. Lawrence County Medical Society, and for several years health officer of the towns of Russell, Clifton and Clare. He is liberal in religious belief, and a Republican in politics.

Brown, Orson L., Colton, was born in Colton, June 5, 1847, a son of David Brown, whose father came from Vermont to Colton about 1825. David was born in Plymouth, Mass., in 1805, and married Eunice Long, born in Potsdam in 1808, a daughter of Jona- than Long. Mr. Brown came to Colton about 1822 and settled on the farm now owned by Orson L. Here he died February 9, 1881, and his wife March 23, 1890. They had one son, Orson L., who was reared on the farm he now owns, and has here spent his life. He was educated in the St. Lawrence Academy, and has always been a farmer, owning now over 300 acres and keeping a dairy of twenty-eight cows. December 7, 1869, he married Alzina Adams, of Parishville, a daughter of Ambrose Adams, one of the first settlers of the town. They had one child, Louisa E., born June 28, 1876. September 19, 1884, Mrs. Brown died, and he married, September 29, 1885, Edna A. Howe, of Parishville, daughter of Roderick Howe. Mr. Brown is a Republican, and one of the assessors of the town. He is a member of High Falls Lodge No. 428, F. & A. M. He and his wife are members of Adirondack Chapter O. E. S. of Colton, N. Y.

Bedal, T. W., Colton, was born in 1815 at Hartford, N. Y., a son of Joshua, a native of Bath, N. H., born January 25, 1782, whose father, Joshua Bedal, was a native of France, born in 1740, who came to America with two brothers, Jacob and Richard, who were killed at the battle of Bunker Hill. Joshua fought in the French and Indian and the Revolutionary Wars, and was under Wolfe, Washington, and Lafayette. Joseph's children were : Joshua, Jacob, Ruth, Louisa. Of these children Jacob married Nellie Carr, of Royalton, N. H., whose father was taken captive by the Indians at the mas- sacre at Royalton and kept in captivity seven years. Jacob and wife had seven chil- dren : Daniel, William, Henry, Amasa, George, Albert and Hiram. Timothy Bedal, our subject, was one of fourteen children, of whom Louisa died in 1829; George died aged eighteen, being shot by a robber ; Angeline died in Vermont when a child; Isabel mar- ried Benjamin Patch, of Vermont; Alonzo is a farmer of Vermont; Lafayette was killed in the late war; Cynthia married a Mr. Ellenwood, and died in Vermont about 1867 ; Langdon died in Sheldon, Vt., about 1887 ; Harriet married a Mr. May, son of Judge May, of Detroit ; Maria married George Mihill, of Essex county, N. Y. ; Sarah,

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wife of Nathan Wheeler, of Wisconsin; Augusta, married Joseph Petit and lives in Wisconsin ; Jane married Frank Carr, of Meridan, Minn. ; and Timothy, who came from Vermont to Chateaugay in 1840. In 1846 he came to Colton, when the town was but a wilderness, and here he cleared a home for himself and earned a living by making black salts. He bought 100 acres of land, later disposing of fifty acres. He married in June, 1835, Miss Ann Bean, and they had seven children : one who died in infancy ; Mary, born November 25, 1836, wife of James Irish. She died December 7, 1864, and left two children, Viroqua and Elva, both of whom are deceased. Melvina, born June 19, 1838, died December 10, 1841 ; Jane, born May 20, 184], died October 9, 1880, the wife of Frank Carr, of Minnesota, and had seven children : Ellen, Allen, Edson, Clar- ence, Elsie, Frank, Mary, Alva S. The latter was born March 1, 1843, and married Lucy L. Smith, of Colton, by whom he had four children : Bertha, born August 6, 1871, niar- ried, August 30, 1890, Lewis R. Crump, now of Colton ; Arvilla, born September 4, 1873 ; Edson A., born March 21, 1876 ; Lydia L., born December 13, 1878. They are all musicians, and under the name Crump's Orchestra furnish music for many of the leading balls. Alvah Bedal enlisted in the Thirteenth N. Y. Cavalry on August 27, 1864, with his brother, Allen F., and served till the close of the war; Allan F. was born April 19, 1845, and was killed at what was known as the hay fight in 1865; Rose Augusta was born February 4, 1847, and died in youth. Alvah Bedal now resides at home with his parents, and is the owner of 157 acres of land. He and his father are both Republicans, and liberal in religious views.

Botsford, Dr. Llewellyn T., Colton, was born in Canton, May 27, 1852, a son of Cyrenus Z., a native of Lewis county, N. Y., born in 1813, who settled about 1830 in Canton and was there educated. In early life he was turnkey of the jail at Canton and attended school, later he followed teaching. He was thrice married, his last wife being Aurilla King, of Canton, and soon after his marriage he moved on the farm where he now lives. He is a Republican, and was a prominent member of the Union League. He had three children : Elizabeth, wife of William H. Lewis, of West Potsdam ; Jen nie, wife of Adelbert C. Clark, of North Russell ; and Llewellyn T. The latter attended the public schools and Canton Academy, and after reaching his majority he worked on a farm and taught school to earn funds to continue his education. He then entered St. Lawrence University, remaining two years, then began the study of medicine with Sanford S. Hoag, of Canton. He spent one year in the medical department of Bur- lington (Vt.) University, and graduated from the New York Homoeopathic Medical College in 1878. Since this, with the exception of three years in Canton, he has had a successful practice in Colton. In 1880 Dr. Botsford married Jennie Potter, daughter of Pelopides Potter, of Colton, and they had three children : Lelon P., Julia G., and Millie R. Mrs. Botsford died December 10, 1890. Dr. Botsford is a Republican, and has served several years as health officer, coroner for six years, and was one of the Board of Education three years. He is a member of High Falls Lodge No. 428, F. & A. M., and he and family attend the Episcopal Church.

Ashton, William H., Brasher Falls, dealer in and manufacturer of carriages, also general dealer in farm implements. Born May 18, 1834. A son of Walker and Pris-

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cilla (Evans) Ashton. They came to America in the years 1819-1822 from England. Walker, the father, was a dealer in silks and jewelry, dealing between New York and Montreal until 1828; in the years from 1835 to 1838 was high sheriff of Yamaskia county, P. Q. He died May 20, 1838, aged fifty-two years. Priscilla, the mother, was married first to Samuel Goulding, 1815, who died in 1821 in Montreal, Canada. She again was married to Samnel McCall, 1823, who died in 1830. She, the widow McCall, married Walker Ashton in 1832, who died May 20, 1838. After being a widow for forty - eight years, and after passing through many of the hardships and trials of this world, she died at Waterloo, Canada, March 8, 1886, in her ninetieth year. They were all mem- bers of the church of England. Walker Ashton, son of Mathew Ashton, had four brothers and three sisters: John, Robert, William, James, Mary, Salley and Eliza. John died in Parishville, N. Y., in 1857, aged seventy-four years ; Robert died in Shef- ford, Canada, in 1874, aged eighty-four years ; William died in 1882, aged eighty. eight years, in Shefford, Canada ; James, residence unknown; Mary, wife of Thomas Stone, died in Parishville in 1880, aged ninety years; Salley died in Montreal, aged eighty- five years ; Eliza died in Merryworth Castle, Kent, England, wife of Lord Fallmouth, in her ninety seventh year. Our subject began to learn his carriage trade at the age of nineteen with E. B. Rounds, of Swanton, Vt., and in the year 1856 came to Brasher Falls, N. Y., where he has always been in business, conducting his carriage shop and also a farmer. He has been a constable for twenty years and deputy sheriff for six years; is now serving his ninth year as a township assessor. He has been a Re- publican ever since the party was organized in 1856. August 14, 1859, W. H. Ashton married Julia A. Frary, of Stockholm, N. Y. Her parents came from Lewis county, N. Y. She died May 24, 1884, aged forty-five years, leaving three children : Arthur D., born December 14, 1860, who is in business with his father, married Jessie Tripp, of Stockholm, N. Y., daughter of John Tripp ; Agnes P., a twin sister of Arthur D., who lives with her father; and Charles W., born June, 1862, who is also in business with his father at Brasher Falls, N. Y.

Close, Henry J., Colton, was born in Canada, March 22, 1867, a son of William, a native of Chateaugay, born March 17, 1834, and the latter was a son of John Close, who was engaged in the manufacture of shingles. In 1868 Mr. Close came to Colton, where he and his brother John bought the farm now owned by John Close. William sold his interest in this and bought the S. D. Buttles farm of 175 acres, and for three years resided in South Colton, having erected the building now owned by our sub- ject. He was postmaster three years during Cleveland's first administration. He died February 3, 1889, and his son, Henry J., held the office the balance of the term. Will- iam and wife had four sons and four daughters, all now living except Gertrude, who died aged two years. Mrs. Close died January 19, 1893. Henry J. was raised on a farm, educated in the common schools, and engaged in farming until November, 1893, when he was appointed postmaster of South Colton, and has since lived there. He is a Democrat, and has been inspector of elections three years. Mr. Close and family are members of the Catholic church.

Day, Chester, Colton, was born in Canton in 1825. He is the son of Jonathan Day, a native of Cheshire, Mass., born in 1771, who married at Addison, Vt., Rebecca Olin,

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born in 1782. They had ten children. In 1801 Mr. Day came to Canton, there being but four families in the town at the time. Here he resided on a farm until within a few years of his death, when he removed to another farm, and died in 1866 (February 28), his wife having died May 8, 1862. He had charge of the county house, the first one built, for several years. Chester Day was reared on a farm and had a common school education. He learned the cooper's trade, and is also a carpenter, and for a number of years built boats. He married Sarah L. Ames, of Canton, born June 19, 1825, by whom he has had seven children : Sarah L., born November 18, 1845, who married William Smith, of Stockholm, and they have one son, William H., born December 19, 1847 ; Frances L., born May 16, 1852, who died in 1893, and who was the wife of Stillman Loop. She had two children, Harley D. and Edith M. ; Marion A., who lives at home, born in 1854; Eva E., born July 24, 1864, died in infancy ; Mary L., born April 18, 1863, married Wilbur Page, of Potsdam; Eva M., born June 2, 1865, married Orin Bradish, of Colton, and has one child, Ila. Mr. Day came to Colton in 1852, and has lived here ever since. He has been a guide in the South woods for the Kildare and Hollywood clubs for fifteen years, and has been employed in the woods for thirty- five years. Mrs. Day died May 4, 1879. He went to work for Pratt & Co. in the spring of 1852, and worked for the company about seven years, having charge of the lumber yard five years. In 1882 he went to Jourdon Pond with Henry Day ; he had charge of the building of the Kildare club house which was built that year.

Reynolds, J., Colton, was born in Canada, February 8, 1820, a son of J. C. and Polly (Mooney) Reynolds, both of New Hampshire, who raised eleven children. In 1835 they came to Pierrepont, and settled on a farm, where they died. Joseph, grandfather of our subject, was a native of Massachusetts, and died in Canada. His wife was Mary Reynolds, by whom he had twelve children. Our subject was raised on a farm, and in 1848 he married Mary J., daughter of George W. and Mary E. (Reynolds) Marden. He was a native of New Hampshire and she of Vermont, and they had twelve children. They came to Parishville about 1840, and now reside in South Colton with their son. Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds have had seven children: Milton E., Charles, Hector, Ernest, Minnie, Nellie B. and William. Mr. Reynolds came to Colton in 1853, and has lived here ever since. He built the hotel which burned down on the site of the present Em- pire Exchange of Colton (also built by him), and was its proprietor three years, when he sold out and built the Reynolds block, opposite. He sold this and removed to the Plains in 1877, where he bought a farm of 500 acres, and now resides thereon. He also built a hotel at Hollywood, Stillwater, in 1889, of which his son, William W., is now proprietor. This summer resort is pleasantly located on the west side of Racket River, has good conveniences for travelers, and its rates are reasonable. The daily stage from Potsdam connects with the daily at South Colton for the Hollywood House, and the hotel has a livery in connection. Mr. Reynolds is a Democrat, and has been assessor four years, poormaster many years, inspector of elections two years, and has always been a worker in his party. He has been postmaster at Hollywood four years.

Aikens, John, Colton, was born in Barnard, Vt., May 7, 1795, a son of Nathaniel, who married a Miss Mary Tupper, and had two sons and six daughters. In 1811 he

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came to Potsdam and settled on a farm, where he remained until his death in 1839. John was sixteen years old when he came to Potsdam, and was educated in the com- mon schools and Potsdam Academy. In 1840 he married Eliza Beach, of Pierrepont, born in Vermont, August 3, 1812, who came with her parents in 1818 to Pierrepont. Mr. and Mrs. Aikens had two children, John H., born in 1841, who enlisted in the Six- teenth N. Y. Infantry, was transferred to the One Hundred and Twenty-first, and was wounded at the battle of the Wilderness May 10, and died in Fredericksburgh May 13, 186 -. The second child, Mary E., was born in 1847, and died at the age of nine months. Mr. Aikens came to Colton in 1841 and settled on the farm now owned by Mrs. Aikens. He died January 25, 1883, and his wife is still living at the age of eighty- two years. Ebenezer and Mabel (Henry) Beach, the parents of Mrs. Aikens, had seven children, and came to Pierrepont, where they settled on a farm now owned by a Mr. Sabin. They later went to Wayne county, where Mr. Beach died in 1841, and his wife in 1848, in Illinois.

Rodger, G. H., M.D., Hermon, was born in Hammond, this county, April 4, 1860. He was educated in Gouverneur Wesleyan Seminary and Hamilton College, from which he graduated in 1883. He studied medicine in the University of New York, and grad- uated in 1888, beginning practice in Seattle, Wash., where he remained three years, but on November 26, 1892, he returned to Hermon, this county, where he has since prac- ticed successfully. William, father of Dr. Rodgers, married Isabella Shiell, they being both of Scotch descent.

Wilson, John, Brasher, of Helena, was born in Brasher, May 30, 1847, a son of John and Lavina (Vosburg) Wilson, both of Canada. The father was a farmer and came to this county in 1835, making for himself a fine home in the wilderness. He was a Whig and Republican, and several of his wife's ancestors were soldiers in the Revolution. The father died at the age of eighty-two in 1888, and the mother aged seventy-five years. Of their five children our subject was the fourth. He was a soldier in the civil war in Company -, Sixth N. Y. Heavy Artillery, serving from December, 1863, to August, 1865, and participating in the battle of the Wilderness, front of Petersburg, etc. He is now a pensioner and a member of the G. A. R. He is a Republican in politics, and has held offices in his town. October 3, 1869, Mr. Wilson married Nancy Payden (who died June 10, 1876), a daughter of Joseph and Mary J. Payden, of Ireland, who came to this country while young. May 24, 1877, he married second Mrs. Agnes O'Brien Bowns, born October 12, 1852, widow of Thomas Bowns. Mr. Wilson's chil- dren are as follows : Agnes, aged -; Frank, aged twenty-four ; Mary Lovina, aged twenty-two; Chloe, Elizabeth, aged twenty ; Frederick, aged nineteen ; Eva, aged twenty-one; Joseph John, aged eighteen ; Mabel, aged fifteen; Bertha, aged thirteen ; Alice, aged ten; George, aged four; Ida, who died February 2, 1893, aged two years ; and Eddie, aged seventeen.

Richards, James A., Brasher, of Helena, was born in Waterford, Vt., February 1, 1826, a son of Samuel and Rachel (Jacobs) Richards, also natives of Vermont, who came to Brasher in 1839 and settled at Helena. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and died aged eighty-seven years, his wife dying at the same age. Our subject grew

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up on the farm, and has always followed agriculture, having accumulated a fine prop- erty. He is one of the most successful farmers in the town. Mr. Richards married, January 12, 1853, Jane Houghton, a native of this town, whose parents were among the pioneers. They have had nine children, seven of whom survive: Amelia, wife of Arthur Cunningham, of Tilton, N. H. ; Emma, wife of Edward Cunningham, of Helena; Philena, wife of Daniel Ward, of Boston, Mass .; Sarah, wife of C. Turner, of Moira, N. Y. ; Effie, wife of Harry Blanchard, of Bombay, N. Y. ; Horace, and James W., who live at home. Mr. Richards is a Republican, and has held several offices in the township.

Day, William H., Colton, was born in Canton, December 19, 1847, a son of Chester Day. He married Lucinda H. Morrison, and they have had five children: Alfred C., who married Carrie Hogle and had two children, Henry and Almond, Almond 2d next dead ; Charles H., who married Dora Coleman, and has two sons, Harry and Walter ; Leon and Lila, who live at home. Mr. Day has been a guide in the South woods for many years, and for twelve years has been superintendent of the Vanderbilt Kildare club house, holding that position now. Mr. Day is a Republican, but not an aspirant to office. He is a member of High Falls Lodge No. 428, F. & A. M.

Pelsue, Orson J., Colton, was born in Stockholm, October 17, 1843, a son of George Pelsue, a native of the same place, born December 22, 1820, and died at Antwerp, De- cember 6, 1879. He was a son of George Pelsue, a native of Vermont, mentioned elsewhere in this book. George, father of Orson J., married Fannie J. Eldridge, and they had four children. Orson J. came to this town with his parents at the age of six, and four years later went to live with his uncle, F. V. Ellis, of Stockholm, remaining till he was seventeen, when he and his father enlisted in the One Hundred and Sixth N. Y. Volunteers, and served three years, being honorably discharged in 1865. They were in the battles of Cold Harbor, Monaccay and the Wilderness, among others. Soon after their return from the war they bought the hotel property at Stark, where they kept hotel for eleven years. Mr. Pelsue married first Sarah Remington, and they had one child, Frank R., born November 3, 1870, who married Mabel Richey, Novem- ber 1, 1893. Mr. Pelsue married second, May 9, 1872, Melinda, daughter of Woodard Brown, of Parishville, born September 22, 1848, and they have had two children : Nel- lie, born June 8, 1878, died January 14, 1879; and Grace B., born March 1, 1874, now living at home. From the hotel our subject went into the livery business at Norwood for about a year, then kept hotel at Parishville for the same length of time, and then kept hotel at the Head of Bog for two years. Soon after leaving the Bog he engaged as book-keeper for L. Usher, of Potsdam, and kept his boarding-house at the Head of Plains for four years. Next he came to Stark and bought a small farm, where he now lives. He has been justice of the peace about fifteen years, and his wife is at present postmistress at Stark.

Webster, W. A., Hammond, was born in Hammond on the farm where he now lives May 12, 1843. He followed farming actively up to ten years ago, since which time he has been giving his attention to the lumber trade principally. He owns a fine sash, door and blind factory in Clayton and 475 acres of land. In 1871 he married Charlotte

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Dygert, of Herkimer county, and they have one son, William L., who is studying medi- cine. Mr. Webster is one of the best known magistrates of this county. His father was Samuel Webster, a native of New Hampshire. His mother was Harriet (Beach) Webster, of Connecticut. Mr. Webster enlisted in Company A, Sixteenth N. Y. Heavy Artillery in 1863, and served until the end of the war. He is a member of J. B. Camp- bell Post 424, department Redwood.

Gustin, A. H., Colton, was born in Stanstead, Canada, March 6, 1828, a son of Aaron, son of Josiah Gustin, of New Hampshire, who was a captain in the Revolution. His wife was Margaret Wardner, born on the ocean while her parents were coming from Holland to America. Aaron was born in Marlow, N. H., April 5, 1793, and married Miriam Flanders, of Strafford, N. H., February 15, 1817, she having been born Novem- ber 9, 1799. They had thirteen children : Lyman H., born March 5, 1818; Laura, born October 21, 1817, died in Illinois in 1893 ; Emily, born February 7, 1822; Levi B., born April 10, 1824; John E., born April 12, 1826, died in 1890; A. H., as above ; Joseph F., born June 8, 1830, died aged five years ; Orlin, born June 11, 1832, died April 19, 1837 ; Marshall, born March 7, 1834, died in Iowa in 1879; Samantha, born in 1836; Mary, born July 22, 1838, died June 8, 1853; Lovina, born February 15, 1841, died in Missouri in 1871; and Julia A., born October 3, 1846. Mr. Gustin died in 1864, and his wife died in 1890 in Canada. A. H., our subject, was educated at the common schools, and at the age of twenty-two years came to this county (May 17, 1850). He married, January 4, 1853, Harriet, daughter of Richard Roberson, an early settler of Hammond, and they had three children : Florence E., born October 14, 1853; Charles J., born February 12, 1860; and Albert L., born December 31, 1865. Mrs. Gustin died December 10, 1879, aged fifty years, and on December 5, 1883, our subject married second Elma A. Perkins, daughter of Amos F. Perkins, of Stockholm, and they have one child, Hazel M., born July 15, 1887. Mr. Gustin is well known throughout the county and surrounding localities as a builder and contractor, and has built or superin- tended over half of the buildings in Colton village ; also the steam laundry at Potsdam, the American Hotel at Norwood, Stark Falls Hotel, and the hotel at Hollywood. He is a Republican, and has been assessor ten years, also has served as constable, collector, highway commissioner, etc. He is a member of High Falls Lodge No. 428, F. & A. M., and president of the Pleasant Mound Cemetery Association, which office he has held twelve years.

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Our county and its people : a memorial record of St. Lawrence County, New York, Part 99

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