The growth of a century: as illustrated in the history of Jefferson county, New York, from 1793-1894, Part 141

Author: Haddock, John A., b. 1823-
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Albany, N. Y., Weed-Parsons printing company
Number of Pages: 1098

USA > New York > Jefferson County > The growth of a century: as illustrated in the history of Jefferson county, New York, from 1793-1894 > Part 141

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ARTHUR J. HOUSE, only son of Rufus and Betsey (Whiting) House, was born in the town of Antwerp in 1870. He was reared upon a farm, obtaining his education at the district school. In 1887 he moved with his parents to Philadelphia, engaging with his father as express deliverer and drayman. He was married in 1891 to Miss Jennie M. Snell, of Autwerp. Mr. House has a pleasant way of doing business, which is much to the satisfaction of the public, for he is beyond question one of the few instances of the right man in the right place.

GEORGE E. TUCKER was born of Quaker parentage, October 3, 1831, and was a nephew of the late Miles Strickland. He was married October 1, 1863, to Mary G. Lamb, of Ogdensburg. He was supervisor of the town of Philadelphia for seven terms, and was justice of the peace for many years. He died March 28, 1893.

G. W. ROBERTS, oldest son of William Roberts, was born in Martinsburg, Lewis county, May 4, 1861. He received his edu- cation at the Lowville Academy. In 1884 he married Miss Jessie Netta, the estimable and accomplished daughter of E. L. and Char- lotte Parsons, of Leyden, Lewis county. In 1886 Mr. Roberts removed from Lowville to Philadelphia, in order to assist his father in his various branches of business, and is now engaged in that capacity. He is vice-presi- dent and treasurer of the Indian River Chair Company. His kind and genial ways have won for him the respect and confidence of his fellow-citizens. Mr. and Mrs. Roberts have travelled from ocean to ocean, visiting all the large cities and places of note from New York to California.

ROBERT E. PURCELL was born at Sterling- ville in 1845. His early life was spent upon the farm. At the age of 18 he enlisted in Robert F. Tallman's Company K, 14th N. Y. Heavy Artillery. This company garrisoned forts in New York Harbor until April 23, 1864, when it was ordered to the front and attached to Marshall's brigade, 1st division of the 9th army corps, Army of the Poto- mac, and participated in all the engagements of that command. Mr. Purcell was wounded at Petersburg, June 7, 1864, and sent to

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THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

Washington, D. C., then to Pennsylvania, and from there to Elmira, N. Y. He return- ed to his regiment at Petershurg. and was engaged at Fort Stedman, Va., March 25, 1865, and at the fall of Petersburg, April 2, 1865; was honorably discharged August 15, 1865, at the close of the war. He was appointed postmaster ot Philadelphia, N. Y., August 5, 1893, by Grover Cleveland, which position he now holds. He was married July 5, 1873, to Sarah L. Rogers, and they have had four children born to them-two boys and two girls. Mr. Purcell is of Irish descent, and there is nothing he is so proud of as bis nationality. James, his eldest son, is the able assistant in the postoffice. They are both very courteous and kind, serving the public in a manner that leaves no ground whatever for complaint.

CYRUS MOSHER was born in Stillwater, Saratoga county, N, Y., February 24, 1807, and was in his 89th year at the time of his death. He was a son of David and Esther Mosher, old-school Quakers. His parents removed to this neighborhood in 1819, and settled on what was known as the Post farm in Poagland. The journey was made with an ox team, and occupied several days. The son, Cyrus, stayed at home helping at farm work, for some time, but later chose the car- penter and joiner trade, which he followed all his life. Cyrus was a birth-right Quaker, and as such was expected to obey all the edicts of the church. But he was young and somewhat free of thought, and consequently charges were preferred against him in the Quaker church. It may be interesting in this day and age of the world to know of what those charges consisted. They were three in number, and were as follows: 1st- Paying attention to a young lady outside of the church, with intent to marry ; 2d- Wearing a coat out of plainness. In other words, wearing a coat such as other young men wore then, with a collar, as worn to- day ; 3d-Paying a military fine. The . young man, however, insisted on continuing his attention to the maiden outside of the church, and finally married her, thus sever- ing his connection with the Quakers. The wife of his choice was Miss Melvina Corp, and four children were the result of the union. They are all living, and are as follows : Isaac, Henry, Imogene (wife of John Coon, living in Holly, Mich.), and Mrs. Milo Hol- kins. This wife was removed by death in 1839, and two years after Mr. Mosher mar- ried Miss Julia Ann Coon. Two children blessed this union, Mrs. W. J. York, of Philadelphia, and Elijah Mosher, of Chicago. Mr. Mosher was a quiet man, modest, retir- ing ; but withal firm in his convictions, and unwavering in his steadfastness to what he believed to be right. He died at Philadel- phia, January 3, 1895, much regretted.

JOHN STRICKLAND was born in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, in 1757. In 1806 he emigrated to Jefferson county and located in Philadelphia, then a part of LeRay. He

was a member of the Society of Friends, and was possessed of a genial and kindly dis- position. He brought with him a sum ex- ceeding 825,000, with which he purchased 5,000 acres of land in this town. During the War of 1812 he bought supplies for the American army, and at the termination of the war had a large quantity of supplies on hand, for which he received less than half their original cost. He was obliged to dis- pose of a large portion of his land to pay his indebtedness, after the accomplishment of which he had left of his vast estate only 220 acres. He died September 15, 1849, aged 92 years. At the age of 25 years he married Margaret Stout, of German descent, with whom he resided 60 years. She died in 1853. Of their children, Elizabeth married Thomas Townsend, and died in 1864 ; John, Jr., mar- ried Rachel Townsend, and died in 1859; Sarah married Ezra Comley. and died in Pennsylvania in 1855; Deborah died in in- fancy ; Ann married Edmund Tucker, and died in 1863 ; Mahlon married Mary, daugh- ter of James Rogers, and died in 1871 ; Mar- garet married Samuel C'ase, and died in Chi- cago in 1888, aged 91 years ; Rachel married Samuel Rogers, and died in this town in 1863; Miles married Harriet A. Bronson (deceased); Martha married Robert Gray, and died in Wisconsin in 1875 ; Seth, who was born in 1808, married Jane, daughter of Thomas Bones, January 25, 1836. Of their children, Ellen (Mrs. Isaac Mosher) and William reside in this town, and John E. in Carthage. Wil- liam Strickland was born October 15, 1839, and was reared upon the homestead farm, which he inherited. He married Betsey J., daughter of Truman and Fanny (Allis) Oat- man, of Philadelphia, December 29, 1862, hy whom he has had two children, Seth T., born March 12, 1866, who died May 7, 1871, and Anna Jane. born April 2, 1874. Mr. Strickland is a farmer and resides in the vil- lage.

WILLIAM YORK was born in Galway, N. Y., in 1799, and was reared upon a farm. In 1815 he married Prudencia Danforth, and they had six children, namely : Stephen V., who died at the age of 17 years ; Frances D., who died in 1883 ; Mary, who married Har- low Frink, of this town ; William, who re- sides in Philadelphia ; Eliza Ann, who was born in 1836, and is now the wife of Daniel H. Scofield, of this town; and Eunice, who married Dexter Bennett, of this town. In 1815 William York located on Galway street (road 42), where he died at the age of 45 years. His wife died in 1883, aged 83 years.

DANIEL H. SCOFIELD came with his parents to Philadelphia in 1841. He was educated in the district and select schools, and at the age of 16 years engaged as salesman in E. D. Woodward's store, where he remained four years, when he removed to Evans Mills and clerked for A. M. Cook. He was in business with W. G. Holmes & Bro. 18 years, and with W. G. Holmes several years, when his son, William T., became associated with him.

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PHILADELPHIA.

He built the Scofield block in 1886. January 4, 1858, he married Eliza A , daughter of William and Prudence (Danforth) York. of Philadelphia, and they have one son and two daughters : Mary Eliza, born in 1860, who married Frank H. Brooks ; William T., born April 18, 1862; and Martha Adell, born August 22, 1865. Mr. Scofield is a liberal supporter of the Congregational Church.

SAMUEL B. SCOFIELD married Fanny Eliza- beth, daughter of Daniel and Fanny (Taylor) Rogers, January 10, 1860, and their children were Nettie E., who was accidentally burned to death, Lewis W., Jennie E., who married Fred. H. Smith, Ruth May ford and Thaddeus. Mr. Scofield is a carpenter and builder, and resides on Mill street, in Philadelphia.

ANDREW C. COMSTOCK was born May 16, 1847, was educated at the common schools, and at the age of 17 engaged as salesman in the store of Holmes & Scofield. He was also a clerk for Mosher & Tucker, and was subse- quently engaged in mercantile business with G. Rouse. He was proprietor of a grist and saw-mill for two years, and in 1876 engaged in the hardware business. Mr. Comstock was postmaster from 1877 to 1884, was super- visor from 1880 until 1888, with the excep- tion of 1881-82 ; was elected member of As- sembly in 1887, and re-elected by a plurality of 810 in 1888. He married Mary M., daughter of Robert and Mary (Scott) Melrose, March 29, 1871, and they have had children as follows : Eddie M., Harry M., Grace M. and John N. Mr. Comstock is now engaged in the hardware trade in his block on Main street, which he built in 1886.

EARL L. COMSTOCK was born August 8, 1854. He married Jennie A, daughter of John L. and Ann J. (Terkinson) Thomson, December 27, 1878, and they have three chil- dren, namely : Fanny Florence, Anna May and Lewis E. Mr. Comstock bought the Comstock House, at the depot, in 1881, and occupied the same until 1887. when he en- gaged in the hardware business with his brother Andrew C. In 1889 he bought the Eagle Hotel.

DE WITT C. RODENHURST was born Jan - uary 26, 1855, was educated at Whitestown Seminary, studied medicine with Drs. Sturte- vant and Kelsey at Theresa, graduated at Long Island College Hospital in 1879, and commenced practice at Ox Bow. January 10, 1884, he married Hattie H., daughter of Zalmon and Cyrena (Swan) Pool, of Theresa. In the fall of 1883 he located in Philadelphia village, where he has an extensive practice. He is the son of Mr. Richard Rodenhurst, a merchant of Theresa.

AZEL W. DANFORTH, son of Francis and Eunice (Warren) Danforth, was born in AI- bany county, where he married Mary Stick- les, by whom he had three children, namely : Mary (Mrs. H. L. Curtis), of Watertown; Eunice W. (Mrs. Reuben Curtis), also of Watertown; and Warren, of Iowa. Mr. Danforth married, second, Sarah Stickles, and their children were Margaret, of Iowa, and

James H., deceased. His third wife, Eliza Ann. daughter of Josiah Phillips, bore him three children, viz .: James H., of this town ; Julia (Mrs. Edwin Bush), of Watertown ; and Merrill, who died at the age of six years. Mr. Danforth served as supervisor, and was a member of the Assembly in 1844 46. He died in 1864, on the farm now occupied by his son James H.

JAMES H. DANFORTH was born in 1840. He married Julia E., daughter of Jonathan and Samantha (Shull) Marshall, in 1865, and they have a son, Warren, born in 1867. Their daughter, Grace Matilda, was born in 1873, and died in 1888. Mr. Danforth is a farmer, occupying the homestead on road 29.

CALEB ESSINGTON erected in 1839 a forge at Sterlingville, where he manufactured rolled and bar-iron for many years. He was an industrious, capable man. The forge has long been out of use.

BENJAMIN F. KENT, son of Benjamin and Emily (Stevens) Kent, was born in Clayton, January 17, 1853. He was reared upon a farm, and was educated in the district schools. He learned the jeweler's trade, and in 1876 engaged in business at Three Mile Bay, in the town of Lyme, where he con- tinued until 1884, when he located in Phila- delphia, aud in 1886 built the block where he now resides, and in which his jewelry and boot and shoe store is located. October 14, 1855, he married Jennie L., daughter of Jacob and Louisa (Gunn) Putnam.

ELON G. GARDNER, son of Samuel, was born in Pinckney, N. Y., in 1819. He mar- ried Caroline, daughter of Chauncey and Asenath (White) Doane, and they had three sons and three daughters, namely : Henry O., Delia (Mrs. J. P. Grosvenor), Lucia A., Carrie A. (Mrs. C. O. Garduer), of Water- town ; Fred. E., who married Josie St. Den- nis, and Adelbert N., a book-keeper. Henry O. Gardner spent his early life in Richville, and was reared upon a farm. He took a three-years' course in Oberlin (Ohio) College, and for three years was engaged in trade with C. D Gardner, at Richville. August 25, 1880, he married Abbie V., daughter of Joseph E. and Margaret (Borland) Smith, and they have three sons: A. Dow, Joseph E. and Earl E. Mr. Gardner taught school in In- diana for a time, when he returned to Belle- ville and again engaged in trade. In 1888 he came to Philadelphia and organized the bank. In June, 1888, he bought A. N. Britton & Son's chair factory in Theresa, and organized a stock company, "A. N. Britton Manufacturing Company, Limited." He has a. furniture and undertaking business in Philadelphia, in which his brother Fred E. is associated with him. H. O. Gardner re- sides in Theresa.

ERASMUS D. WOODWARD was born in the town of Lorraine in 1813. He was of Eng- lish descent, one of four brothers, and the son of Dr. Cobb and Dorcas (Conant) Woodward. He was with his father in the drug store until his marriage in 1838. He

THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

670

married Eunice Crandall, of Herkimer county, and soon afterward engaged in the dry goods trade, and also general merchan- dise at Philadelphia, and was the leading merchant for many years. He held various positions of trust in the town. He and his wife were original members of the Baptist Church of Philadelphia, which was organ- ized in their house. They reared seven children : Elon A., now in government em- ploy in the War Department at Washington, which position he has held since before the war, and who also served in Company C, 1st N. Y. Artillery ; Oscar D., of Leavenworth, Kas., who served in the same company with his brother ; Mary L., widow of John C. Fulton, for many years a lawyer at Carthage; Herbert E., of Washington, D. C .; Ira C., who died in March, 1894, in Chicago; Chas. E., of Rochester, N. Y .; and Ida F., wife of John B. Haygoone, of New York city. Erasmus D. Woodward died in Philadelphia, N. Y., in 1858, and his wife in 1886, the latter aged 72 years. Mr. Woodward was a man of strict integrity, and took a deep interest in public matters, and was respected by all.

ARTHUR S. WOOD, son of Col. John D. Wood, was born in Denton, Orange county, N. Y., April 18, 1869. His education was obtained at a graded school in his native town. When quite young he learned tele- graphy, and in 1883 engaged as operator for the N. Y., O. & W. R. R., at Middletown, N. Y., remaining in the employ of that com- pany until 1890. From 1890 to 1891 he was engaged as operator at Albany, N. Y. Feb-

ruary, 1892, he was employed as train dis- patcher at Watertown, N. Y., filling that position the remainder of that year. In May, 1892, he married Miss Emily Mapes, daughter of Mortimer L. Mapes, of Florida, N. Y. In October, 1893, he removed to Philadelphia, N. Y. He look well after the interests of the railroad company, which is no small affair, considering that over 30 passenger trains stop at this station every day during the summer season, besides an unlimited number of freight trains.

WILLIAM ROBERTS, son of Owen and Mary Roberts, was born in Remsen, Oneida county, December 29, 1834. His earlier days were spent upon his father's farm. ob- taining his education at the district school. In 1856 he married Miss Serepta Wilder, of Martinsburg. Two sons bless this union. In 1877 he located at Lowville, and engaged in lumbering. In 1882 he built a saw-mill at Philadelphia, forming a partnership with Otis Brooks, the co partnership existing until 1886. Mr. Brooks retired from the business that same year. Mr. Roberts re- moved his family from Lowville to Phila- delphia, and in 1890 he built a large chair factory, giving employment to over 50 people. The industry is now known as "The Indian River Chair Company." In 1891 Mr. Roberts erected a neat opera house, with a seating capacity of 500. In 1892 he built a

flour and feed mill, also several dwelling houses. No man has donc more for the village of Philadelphia. He is a kind and unassuming man, ever ready to assist in any good cause- never seeking notoriety nor taking any active part in politics. He is president of the Indian River Chair Com- pany.

EDMUND G. TUCKER, son of the late Geo. E. Tucker, who died March 21, 1893, was born May 28, 1867. He received his educa- cation at the Poughkeepsie Business College, and for several years was clerk in the Water- town National Bank. September 14, 1893, he married Miss Mary Field Boon, daughter of Maitland Boon, of Watertown. Mr. Tucker is now engaged at farming and fancy stock raising upon the old homestead in Philadelphia. Edmund Tucker, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was the first postmaster of this town, and the first build- ing used for a postoffice now stands upon his farm. Edmund G's. father was a highly respected citizen, and was supervisor of the town from 1873 to 1879, inclusive. He also held the office of justice of the peace for many years. He was an honest, upright, tender- hearted man, beloved by all who knew him, and left a memory peculiarly wholesome.

GEORGE S. FISHER, proprietor of Fisher's Hotel near the depot, at Philadelphia, was born in the town of Turin, Lewis county, in the year 1855. His early days were spent on his father's farm, attending the district school until the age of 15, when he finished his education at a select school. When bare- ly 17 years of age he engaged with the law firm of McCallister & Hough, of New York city, as clerk and bookkeeper, remaining with that firm three years. Returning to Lewis county, he found employment in the Lamphere House, Lowville, where he re- mained nearly three years, acting as clerk and looking after the business of the house. From this hotel he went to the Kellogg House, as general manager, filling this capacity for eight years. In 1881 he married Miss Bridget Hanly, a much respected lady of Martinsburg. Three children have been born to them. In 1882 he was elected sheriff of Lewis county by the largest majority ever given a candidate in that locality. At the expiration of his term as sheriff, he was elected county clerk. He served three years as chairman of the Demo- cratic County Committee. So efficiently did he serve the people while holding these offices, that they earnestly asked of him to accept the nomination for Member of Assem- bly, but having other business that nceded his entire attention, he retired from the political field with all the honors that were his due. In 1894 he purchased the hotel he now occupies. He has made several im- provements about the same. Mr. Fisher's kind and genial ways have made for him a host of friends, who wish him success in his venture.

671

RODMAN.

PREPARED BY MRS. E. J. CLARK.

THE town of Rodman was first known as "Harrison," but the name was changed in 1808 to Rodman, it is said, in honor of Dan- iel Rodman, who was then a clerk of the As- sembly. The town was surveyed in 1798, hy Benjamin Wright, of Oneida county. In 1801 it was opened for settlement, and several families moved in. Among them were Anson and Ebenezer Moody, Jonathan, Noah and Aaron Davis, Simeon Hunt, Benja- min Thomas and William Rice, who built log-houses and made small clearings. In September of that year Mrs. E. Moody joined her husband. Their son. born a few months later, was the first child born in Rodman. Descendants of the family still remain citi- zens of the town. The first town meeting was held at the house of Simeon Hunt. Thomas White was chosen supervisor ; George H. Thomas, clerk; Ozias H. Ram- son, Cyrus Stone and William Rice, asses- sors ; Jonathan Davis and Robert Stuart, poor masters; Daniel Nichols, S. Hunt and Calvin Clifford, commissioners of highways ; Peter Yendes, constable and collector ; George H. Thomas and John Fasset, fence viewers ; S. IIunt, pound-master.

SUPERVISORS.

1805, Thomas White; 1806-9, Jonathan Davis ; 1810-11, Enoch Murray ; 1812, Samuel C. Kanaday ; 1814, Abel Cole ; 1815 and 1830, Nathan Strong ; 1831-32, William M. Winslow ; 1833-36, Ora Coolcy ; 1837, George Gates; 1838, N. Strong ; 1839-40, Thomas Waite; 1841, Ora Cooley ; 1842, Henry C. Strong ; 1843, Herman Strong ; 1844 45, H. C. Strong ; 1846, William Gill ; 1847, Dennis M. Waite ; 1848-49, Benjamin F. Hunt ; 1850, Alanson Tibbetts; 1851-52, George Gates ; 1853, Ora Cooley. For con- tinuation of the list from 1854 to 1894, see pp. 337-344.

The town is about six miles square. It is much broken by hills. and there are deep gulfs and gorges, which, in former days, eaused trouble and expense in constructing roads and bridges. At one time a road was dug into the slate-rock to avoid bridging the stream at its base, which was so rapid and swollen at certain season of the year that bridges were thought impracticable. This road was known as "The Dug-way." It was a most dangerous causeway, and was dreaded by both man and beast. It came into disuse many years ago, and bridges were constructed at the hase of the precipice. Land varied in price, but, like other towns in the vicinity, it was generally sold for $3.50 per acre.

Thomas White, from whom Whitesville, East Rodman, takes its name, came from Litchfield, N. Y., in 1802, and settled on Sandy Creek, in the eastern part of the town,

but removed West in 1810. Daniel Todd came from Connecticut the same year, and settled near White's. He cleared and occu- pied a farm, and in 1806 built a tannery. He was the father of 12 children, seven sons and five daughters, all of whom, with the excep- tion of one, lived to maturity. He was an exemplary member of the Methodist Church, and died in 1867.

Ebenezer Blackstone was an early settler in Whitesville. He was the father of four sons and two daughters.

William Dodge settled on lot 13, where he reared three sons, John, Chester and Sylves- ter. The latter was killed in 1851 by acci- dent. Reuben Smith was also an carly set- tler, who built mills and otherwise added to the improvements of the town. Jesse Smith first settled in Rodman in 1804, but after- wards removed to Smithville. The same year Aaron Moody, Horace Townsend, Joseph Nichols, Arnold Stone, Nathan Whiteman, Avery Walsworth, Joseph Dana, Titus King, Leonard Farwell and others moved in. Jonathan Wyman came from New Hampshire, and settled on lot 12. He was the father of O. C. Wyman, who was at one time a member of the Legislature. The Utleys settled on lot 18. Jesse Wright, John Butterfield, Jacob Heath and Nathaniel Harrington were among those who owned large farms in this early day, and became prominent in the history of the town.

Nathaniel Harrington married a daughter of Judge Eliphalet Edmunds, of Adams, and was the father of nine children, several of whom still survive him, and among them are Eri, Harry and Franklin, all of them thrifty farmers and good citizens. Abel Cole be- came prominent in the history of the town, and was a member of the Legislature in 1818.

Simcon Hunt was one of the first settlers in the town of Rodman, having emigrated from Vermont in 1801. He, with others, endured many hardships incident to a new settlement, carrying his grain to Brownville on his back, a distance of 12 miles, that being the nearest grist-mill then accessible. He afterwards kept a tavern for many years. During the first ten years many settlers moved in, who cleared the land, built log-houses, crected saw and grist-mills, and otherwise added to the improvements. Among them were Ziba Buell, Jesse Wright, Darius Wood, Miles Ralph, Asa Cooley, John Fassett, Caleb Woodward and others. Jesse and Noah Merwin were also among the pioneer settlers. They came from Connecticut. Jesse died in 1862. Noah died in January, 1866. Two of his daughters still survive him.

Timothy Greenly, of Litchfield, N. Y., September 4, 1802, purchased 2,669 acres for $2.50 per acre. It lay in the southeastern portion of the town, and he soon after settled

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THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

on a part of his land. Moses, Jacob and Roger Washburn came to Rodman about 1820. They were prominent farmers and reared large families. Roger Washburn was the father of John Washburn, the present superintendent of the poor, and Levi Wash- burn, lately sheriff of the county.

It is a fact worthy to be recorded that the early settlers found in a small flat at the bottom of the gulf stream in this town, a luxuriant growth of medicinal herbs, such as were usually found around dwellings, and much used in families in early days, such as tansy, mint and balm, giving the impression that these lands had been occupied by a pre- historic race, whose medical plants had sur- vived while the very face of the country had been greatly changed by erosive action.

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The growth of a century: as illustrated in the history of Jefferson county, New York, from 1793-1894, Part 141

Author: Haddock, John A., b. 1823- Publication date: 1895 Publisher: Albany, N. Y., Weed-Parsons printing company Number of Pages: 1098

Author: Haddock, John A., b. 1823-
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Albany, N. Y., Weed-Parsons printing company
Number of Pages: 1098